Self-medication among school students.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) medications is a widespread community health concern.
• Adolescence is a critical period when self-medication practices often begin.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of self-medication in school-aged populations is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of self-medication among school students in Mafraq Governorate, Jordan.
• To identify the primary reasons for self-medication in this demographic.
• To provide data supporting the development of targeted health education strategies.

Main Methods:

• A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mafraq Governorate, Jordan.
• Simple random sampling selected 6 public schools from 34, involving 422 students in Grades 7-12.
• Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of self-medication among the surveyed school students was remarkably high at 87.0%.
• Pain relief was the most common reason for self-medication, accounting for approximately 75% of cases.
• Self-medication prevalence increased with age among the participants.

Conclusions:

• The high prevalence of self-medication among school students necessitates immediate attention and intervention.
• Targeted health education campaigns, involving school nurses and healthcare workers, are essential to promote safe medication use.
• Educating students, parents, and families on the risks and safe practices of self-medication is vital for community well-being.