ABSTRACT
This
study examined factors influencing practice of self medication among
undergraduates of University of Lagos, Akoka. The sample studied consisted of
125 undergraduates from four faculties of University of Lagos, Akoka. The
research instrument used in carrying out this study is a self developed questionnaire
of 20 items. The data gathered was analysed using simple percentage table.
Results from the findings show that peer, attitude of school clinic staff, over
the counter sale of drugs and the nature of illness have significant influence
on the practice of self medication among undergraduates. The study recommended
that the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant government agencies create
more awareness on the dangers of self medication and also ensure that street
drug vendors and other unauthorized agencies are totally prevented from selling
drugs.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment
iv
Abstract v
List
of Tables vi
Table
of Content vii
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
a.
Background of Study 1
b.
Statement of the Problem 5
c.
Purpose of Study 6
d.
Research Question 6
e.
Research Hypotheses 7
f.
Delimitation of Study 7
g.
Limitations of the Study 8
h.
Significance of Study 8
i.
Operation Definition of Terms 9
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF
RELEVANT LITERATURE
a.
Concept and Basics of Self – Medication 11
b.
Characteristics of Undergraduates 19
c.
Brief History of University of Lagos 26
d.
Determinants of Practice of Self –
Medication 31
e.
Factors Responsible for Self –
Medication 36
f.
Products Commonly Used for Self –
Medication 38
g.
Dangers of Self – Medication 39
CHAPTER THREE:
METHODOLOGY
a.
Research Methodology 45
b.
Population 46
c.
Sample and Sampling Technique 47
d.
Instrument of Data Collection 48
e.
Validity of Research Instrument 48
f.
Procedure for Data Collection 48
g.
Procedure for Data Analysis 49
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
a.
Description Analysis of Data 50
b.
Statistical Testing of Hypotheses 53
c.
Discussion of Findings 59
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
a.
Summary 62
b.
Conclusion 64
c.
Recommendation 64
REFERENCES
APPENDIX:
Questionnaire on Practice of Self - Medication
LISTS OF TABLES
Table 1: Distribution of respondents by gender 50
Table 2: Distribution of respondents by age 51
Table 3: Distribution of respondents by marital status 51
Table 4: Distribution of respondents by faculty 52
Table 5: Distribution of respondents by level of study 53
Table 6: Peer influence and practice of self medication 54
Table 7: Attitude of school clinic staff and the practice of self medication 56
Table 8: Over the counter sale of drugs and practice of self medication 58
Table 9: Nature of illness and practice of self medication
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
a.
Background
of the Study
Medication refers to the act of consuming medicines
for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases correct medication is
observed by reporting any disease to the physician at the hospital or clinic
who diagnoses and prescribes the needed drugs to alleviate the condition. This
is usually followed by filling of such prescription at the pharmacy by pharmacists
Femi-Oyewo et al (2002).Self medication can be defined as the use of drugs to
treat self-diagnosed disorder or symptoms or the intermittent or confined use
of a prescribed drugs for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. Over the
counter drugs are a form of self-medication, the buyer diagnoses his own
illness and buys a specific drug to treat it WHO (2007).
Self medication is often seen as gaining personal
independence from established Medicare. According to the joint statement by the
International Pharmaceutical Federation & World Self-medication Industry, self
Medication is the use of non-prescription medicines by people on their own initiative.
It also states that:
1.
Self-care which includes self medication
has been a feature of health care for many years.
2.
Nowadays people are beginning to accept
more personal responsibility for their health status and to obtain as much
sound information as possible from expert sources in order to help them make
appropriate decision in healthcare.
3.
Government and health insurers are
increasingly encouraging self-care, including self-medication when appropriate
as one means of limiting the rate of increase in third party funding of health
care.
4.
Pharmacists are advisors to the public
on everyday healthcare and key factors in the supply of and advice on
medicines.
5.
Advertising is helpful in informing
people about medicines that are available without prescription. It should
always be responsible and should not discourage the individual from seeking
advice from a pharmacist or physician.
Generally people usually have different remedies for
whatever illness you can think of. For example, fever, cold, catarrh, diarrhea,
constipation, indigestion, body pains, headache etc. friends or even strangers
are always ready to advice on which medication to take, this can be dangerous,
even though there is usually no immediate consequence. This suggests that
self-medication has become a public health threat in our society at large.
Consider the fact that in Nigeria most prescription drugs can be bought from
pharmacies and patent medicine stores and even along the streets without
prescription.
Self-medication is also the act of obtaining and
consuming drugs without advice of a doctor either for diagnosis, prescription
or surveillance treatment. It should be known that medicines are chemicals
which can have both good and bad effect on the human body.
Indeed
just as medicines can cure, they can also harm. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s
dictionary defined an undergraduate, as a universally or college student who is
studying for their first degree. Some studies have reported alarming rates of
self-medication in student population. An example is a study carried out by the
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, microbiology faculty of
Pharmaceutical sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria, titled
“Evaluation of Antibiotics self-medication pattern amongst Undergraduate
students of Ahmadu Bello University (Main Campus), Zaria”, it was found that
self-medication was practiced by a majority of the respondents. And that
self-medication with antibiotics was mostly practiced among students of health
related faculties i.e pharmaceutical sciences and medicine the major reasons
given for self medicating with antibiotics were:
a.
Assumed knowledge on antibiotics
b.
Prior experience on the use
c.
Lack of time to go for consultation
d.
Attitude of school clinic staff.
While the conditions for which antibiotics were
taken include; Gastro intestinal tract infections urinary tract infections and
skin infection. More so the university environment is also a contributing
factor in the involvement of youth in self medication. This is because there is
no parental supervision and it is the students’ first opportunity outside home
and opportunity to be part of a larger group without any form of constraint or
rule. Also tertiary institutions have been alleged as the last period of freedom
before adulthood which comes with responsibilities and duties thus students are
more vulnerable and gullible to try out new things however harmful.
In spite of several awareness and enlightment
campaign the practice of self medication is still eminent. In combating
self-medication, there is a need to know the factors that influence the
practice of self-medication (i.e those factors that encourage the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates.
This study was carried out among undergraduate of
university of lagos Akoka, Lagos State.
b. Statement of the Problem
As a medical personnel, the researcher has observed
that several cases of allergic reactions and severe adverse effects following
drug use have been traced down to self-medication. It has also been observed
that an increasing number of people presenting at the hospitals for treatment
practice self-medication which in most cases worsen their state of health.
Self medication also leads to drugs-interactions,
wrong treatment for the wrong problem, drug-resentence, insanity and even
death. More and more young people are becoming victims of self-medication, may
be due to their experimental nature. It is therefore important to study the
influence of self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
c.
Purpose of Study
The purpose of the study is to examine those factors
that influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduate of
University of Lagos.
d. Research Questions
The study intends to answer the following questions:
1.
Will peers influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos?
2.
Will attitude of school clinic staff
influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos?
3.
Will over-the-counter sale of drugs
influence the practice of self medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos?
4.
Will nature
of illness influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of
University of Lagos?
e. Research Hypotheses
1.
Peers will influence the practice of
self-medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
2.
Attitude of school clinic staff will not
influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos.
3.
Over-the-counter sale of drugs will influence
the practice of self medication among undergraduates of University of Lagos.
4.
Nature of illness will not
influence the practice of self-medication among undergraduates of University of
Lagos.
f. Delimitation of the Study
This
is study is delimitated to:
1.
University of Lagos.
2.
Undergraduate in 100 to 500 level.
3.
Four faculties of social sciences,
environmental science, engineering, and education.
4.
A self developed questionnaire.
5.
Self medication.
6.
Determinant factors of peer influence,
gender, attitude of school clinic staff, over the counter sale of drugs, nature
of illness.
g.
Limitations of the Study
During
the study, the researcher encountered the following limitations:
1.
The number of questionnaires distributed
is not enough to represent the University of Lagos.
2.
Little information is available about
the influence of the practice of self medication.
3.
Some students who were approached
declined participation in the research.
h.
Significance of the Study
The researcher expects that through this study the University
of Lagos could create strategic solutions to tackle the practice of
self-medication among its students. This study is expected to assist future
researchers on this topic as a reference.
This research might be an eye-opener to the factors
that influence undergraduate of University of Lagos to practice self medication
through the specific findings of the study.
i. Operational Definition of Terms
Self
medication: it is the use of drug without a doctor’s prescription to treat
perceived or real malady or to alleviate distress or pain.
Factors:
Things that contribute or lead to the practice of self medication.
Influence:
A power affecting undergraduates’ choice to practice or not to practice self
medication.
Practice: To perform self
medication habitually or usually.
Undergraduates:
Persons studying at the University of Lagos for a first degree, in both
full-time and sandwich programmes.
Gender: Characteristics of the undergraduate being
male or female.
Peer:
People who are of equal age, education or social class with the undergraduate.
Over-
the –counter: Medicines that are sold directly to consumers without prescription
from a healthcare professional
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