Introduction
This chapter shows data collected from the nursing students at Mayanja memorial medical training institute in this study; it includes socio-demographic data, self-medication prevalence and practices of self-medication with antibiotics.
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDY PARTICIPANTS
The socio-demographic variables included age, gender and level of education (Table1). Out of the 358 participants, 168 were females and 190 were males. With regard to the level of education, it was found out that 259(72.3%) were offering certificate in nursing while 99 (27.7%) were offering diploma in nursing at Mayanja memorial technical institute. Of the study participants, 269 (75.1%) were aged under 24 years, 70(19.6%) were aged 25-30 years, 16(4.5%) were aged 31-35 years and 3(0.8%) above 36 years. The minimum age was 19 years and maximum 39 years. The mean age was 23.37±3.471 years
Table 1: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF NURSING STUDENTS AT MAYANJA MEMORIAL MEDICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
Characteristic
|
Frequency
N=358
|
Percentage
(%)
|
Gender
|
Female
|
168
|
46.9
|
Male
|
190
|
53.1
|
Level of education
|
Certificate
|
259
|
72.3
|
Diploma
|
99
|
27.7
|
Age groups
|
Under 24
|
269
|
75.1
|
25-30
|
70
|
19.6
|
31-35
|
16
|
4.5
|
36 and above
|
3
|
0.8
|
Source; primary research data
Among the participants, there were more females offering certificate in nursing 143(55.2%) compared to 116 (44.8%) who were males. There were 25 (25.3%) females offering the diploma in nursing compared to 74(74-7%) who were males.
Table 2 shows that there were more certificate in nursing student participants than the diploma in nursing student participants in the study. We also found out that, 237 (91.5%) of the certificate nursing students practiced self-medication and that 69.5% of the diploma nursing students at the institute practiced self-medication.
Table 2: THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALES AND MALES AND PREVALENCE OF SELF-MEDICATION AT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATION
Characteristic
|
GENDER
|
FEMALE
|
MALE
|
EDUCATION
|
CERTIFICATE (n)%
|
143(55.2%)
|
116 (44.8%)
|
DIPLOMA (n)%
|
25(25.3%)
|
74 (74.7%)
|
Source; primary research data
Of the 358 participants, the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 307 (85.7 %) while the 51 (14.2%) students did not self-medicate with antibiotics as shown in figure1
It was also noted that of all the participants who self-medicated 156 (92.9%) were females and 151 (79.5%) were males. Among the students who had never practiced self-medication, 12(7.1%) were females while 39(20.5%) were males as shown in table3 below. It was also noted that 91.5 % (237) of certificate nursing students and 69.5% (66) of diploma nursing students practiced self-medication as shown in table 4 below
Table 3: A CROSS TABLE SHOWING THE PREVALENCE OF THE PRACTICE OF SELF MEDICATION AMONGST BOTH THE FEMALE AND MALE NURSING STUDENTS AT MAYANJA MEMORIAL MEDICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
SELF MEDICATION
|
NO
|
YES
|
GENDER
|
FEMALE
|
Count (%)
|
12(7.1%)
|
156(92.9%)
|
MALE
|
Count (%)
|
39(20.5%)
|
151(79.5%)
|
Source; primary research data
Table 4: ACROSS TABLE SHOWING THE PREVALENCE OF SELF MEDICATION AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT MAYANJA MEMORIAL MEDICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE AT THE TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATIONS
|
SELF MEDICATION
|
NO
|
YES
|
EDUCATION
|
CERTIFICATE
|
Count (%)
|
22(8.5%)
|
237(91.5%)
|
DIPLOMA
|
Count (%)
|
29(30.5%)
|
66(69.5%)
|
Source: primary research data
SELF MEDICATION PRACTICES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS
Of the 307 nursing students who practiced self-medication, 58 (16.2%) students had self-medicated once last year, 103(28.8%) twice, 32 (8.9%) thrice, 42(11.7%) four times, 13(3.6%) five times and 59(16.5%) more than 5 times. Students reported to practice self-medication mostly because it is cost saving 150 (41.9%) and 85(23.7%) because it is convenient for them. Other reasons as to why students self-medicated included lack of trust in prescriptions by doctors 27 (7.6%) and drugs being readily available 2(0.6 %). Other students, 18(5.0%) gave more than one reason as to why they self-medicated. Self-medication practices of these students was mainly based on; 182(50.8%) students' own experience, 43 (12.0%) previous doctor’s prescription, 19(5.3%) opinion of family members, 18(5.0%) opinions of friends, 8(2.3%) recommendation from NET citizens and 8(2.3%) advertisements. The students also reported to have been getting the antibiotics from community pharmacists 143(39.9%), drug shop 112(31.4%), left over from previous prescription 51(14.2%) and online shopping 1(0.3%) as shown in table 5 below
Table 5: A TABLE SHOWING THE SELF MEDICATION PRACTICES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT MAYANJA MEMORIAL MEDICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE
|
How many times did you treat yourself with antibiotics in the past 1 year?
|
1
|
58
|
16.2
|
2
|
103
|
28.8
|
3
|
32
|
8.9
|
4
|
42
|
11.7
|
5
|
13
|
3.6
|
More than 5 times
|
59
|
16.5
|
Missing
|
51
|
14.2
|
|
What was (were) your self-medication reason( circle more than 1 if applicable)
|
Cost Saving
|
150
|
41.9
|
Cost saving and convenience
|
17
|
4.7
|
Cost saving and lack of trust in prescribing doctor
|
1
|
.3
|
Convenience
|
85
|
23.7
|
Lack of trust in prescribing doctor
|
27
|
7.6
|
Drug readily available
|
2
|
0.6
|
Missing
|
51
|
14.2
|
Your selection for antibiotics was based on?(tick more than 1 if applicable)
|
Recommendation by community pharmacists
|
29
|
8.1
|
opinion of family members
|
19
|
5.3
|
Opinion of friends
|
18
|
5.0
|
My own experience
|
182
|
50.8
|
Recommendation by NET citizens
|
8
|
2.3
|
Previous doctor’s prescription
|
43
|
12.0
|
Advertisement
|
8
|
2.3
|
Missing
|
51
|
14.2
|
where do you usually get antibiotics from for self-medication
|
community pharmacist
|
143
|
39.9
|
drug shop
|
112
|
31.4
|
leftover from previous prescription
|
51
|
14.2
|
online shopping/pharmacies
|
1
|
.3
|
Missing
|
51
|
14.2
|
The most common medical complaint for which students used antibiotics was sore throat 40(11.2%), followed by fever 32(8.9%). Other complaints for which students self-medicated for included runny nose, cough, nasal congestion, aches and pain, skin wounds, vomiting and diarrhea as shown in figure2 below.
INAPROPRIATE ANTIBIOTIC USE PRACTICES AS A RESULT OF SELF MEDICATION
Also, among students who self-medicated, 73 (20.4%) reported to have been always changing dosage of the antibiotic deliberately during the course of medication, 124(34.5%) reported to do it sometimes while 110 (30.7%) reported not to have done it at all. The reason for changing dosage included; improving condition 122(34.1%), worsening condition 21(5.9%), reducing adverse effects 34(9.5%) and drug being insufficient for complete treatment 20(5.6%). Students also reported to have been switching antibiotics during course of self-treatment and these were 112 (31.3%) always switched, 138(38.5%) sometimes switched antibiotics and 57(15.9%) never switched antibiotics and the reasons for switching were; the former antibiotic did not work 96 (26.8%), the former antibiotics ran out 85 (23.7%), the latter was cheaper 24 (6.7%) and to reduce adverse effects 108 (30.2%) as shown in table 6
Table 6: A TABLE SHOWING INAPPROPRIATE ANTIBIOTIC USE PRACTICES (CHANGE OF DOSAGE AND SWITICHING ANTIBIOTICS) THAT CAME ALONG WITH SELF –MEDICATION
Practice
|
Scale
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
Change dosage of antibiotic deliberately during the course of self-medication
|
Yes ,always
|
73
|
20.4
|
Yes sometimes
|
124
|
34.6
|
Never
|
110
|
30.7
|
Reason for change of antibiotics during the course of self-medication
|
improving condition
|
122
|
34.1
|
worsening condition
|
21
|
5.9
|
to reduce adverse effects
|
34
|
9.5
|
drug insufficient for complete treatment
|
20
|
5.6
|
Switching antibiotics during the course of antibiotic treatment
|
yes, always
|
112
|
31.3
|
yes, sometimes
|
138
|
38.5
|
Never
|
57
|
15.9
|
Reason for switch antibiotic during course of treatment
|
the former antibiotics did not work
|
96
|
26.8
|
the former antibiotics ran out
|
85
|
23.7
|
the latter one was cheaper
|
24
|
6.7
|
to reduce adverse effects
|
45
|
12.6
|
SOURCE; primary research data
MOST COMMONLY USED ANTIBIOTICS FOR SELF MEDICATION
Most of commonly used antibiotics for self-medication included amoxyl 128 (35.8%), metronidazole 49 (13.7%), ceftriaxone 38(10.6%), penicillin 10 (2.8%), 1(0.3%), ciprofloxacin 1 (0.3%), ampiclox 67 (18.7%), levofloxacin 5 (1.4%), amoxiclav 8(2.2%). See table 7
Table 7: A TABLE SHOWING THE ANTIBIOTICS MOST COMMONLY USED FOR SELF MEDICATION AMONG NURSING STUDENTS
Characteristic
|
Frequency
|
Percentage (%)
|
Antibiotics self-medicated
|
Amoxyl
|
128
|
35.8
|
metronidazole
|
49
|
13.7
|
ceftriaxone
|
38
|
10.6
|
Penicillin
|
10
|
2.8
|
doxycycline
|
1
|
.3
|
ciprofloxacin
|
1
|
.3
|
Amopiclox
|
67
|
18.7
|
Levofloxacin
|
5
|
1.4
|
Amoxiclav
|
8
|
2.2
|
Missing
|
51
|
14.2
|
Source; primary research data