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Self-Medication Practices with Antibiotics and Antimalarials Among Sudanese Undergraduate University Students

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Idris B Eltayeb, PhD

Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Reprints: Dr. Awad, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kuwait University, PO Box 24923, Safat 13110 Kuwait, fax 965/4986840, amoneim{at}hsc.edu.kw

BACKGROUND: In many developing countries, up to 60-80% of health problems are self-medicated.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics and/or antimalarials and identify factors promoting such use among university students in Sudan.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed, using a pretested questionnaire on a sample of 1300 students selected from 5 universities in Khartoum State, Sudan.

RESULTS: Eight hundred ninety-one (79.5%; 95% CI 77.0 to 81.8) students from the study population had used antibiotics or antimalarials without a prescription within 1-2 months prior to the study. Four hundred ninety (55%; 95% CI 51.7 to 58.3) of the respondents stated that they had used antibiotics, 39 (4.4%; 95% CI 3.2 to 6.0) had used antimalarials, and 362 (40.6%; 95% CI 37.4 to 43.9) had used both. Overall, self-medication with antibiotics or antimalarials was significantly more common among students 21 years of age or older compared with those 20 years of age or younger (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.09; p = 0.004) and among students attending private universities compared with those attending public universities (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.95; p = 0.028). Self-medication with antibiotics followed a similar pattern, which was significantly more common among students 21 years of age or older (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.81; p = 0.03) and private university respondents (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.02; p = 0.003). Self-medication with antimalarials was found to be significantly less common among females (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.97; p = 0.028) and higher among the 21 years or older age group (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.42 to 2.40; p < 0.001). The most common reason indicated for self-medication was the respondents' previous experiences with similar ailments. The main source of drugs was community pharmacies.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics/antimalarials among undergraduate university students in Khartoum State is high. Our findings highlight the need for planning interventions to promote the judicious use of antibiotics/antimicrobials.

Key Words: antibiotics, antimalarials, Khartoum State, self-medication, Sudan, undergraduate students

Published Online, June 12, 2007. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1K068