Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors Among University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nuhamin Zeru,1 Destaw Fetene,2 Demiss Mulatu Geberu,3 Alemakef Wagnew Melesse,2 Asmamaw Atnafu3 1University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia; 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Health Systems and Policy, University of Gondar, Gondar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Asmamaw AtnafuUniversity of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, EthiopiaTel +251-918776945Email asme2002@gmail.comPurpose: Self-medication is the use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms without any medical supervision. Such practices may cause antimicrobial resistance, which causes treatment failure, economic loss, serious health hazards, missed diagnosis, delayed appropriate treatment, drug dependency, and adverse drug effects. However, empirical evidence is limited to the current status of its practices and associated factors among university students. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude and associated factors of self-medication practices among medicine and health science students at the University of Gondar.Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was employed from February to March 2017. A total of 792 randomly selected students were surveyed with a self-administered structured questionnaire. Epi Info version 7 and SPSS version 20 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed. In multivariable analysis, P-value < 0.05 and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to identify associated factors.Results: Self-medication practice was found to be 52.4% (95% CI: (49%, 56%)) among university students. For most students, the major reason for using self-medication was taking the illness as less serious (71.1%). Females (AOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.08– 2.01), income category (USD 44.01– 175.87) (AOR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.29– 0.78), sixth year students