SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG THE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF SWAT, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between self-medication and demographic characteristics and poverty among University of Swat students in Pakistan. Self-medication, or taking medications without a prescription from a doctor, can have major negative impacts on one's health, including treatment failure, drug resistance, and adverse side effects. Stratified random sampling was used to choose a sample of 367 BS students, and binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the results. The findings indicate that the most important factor is poverty. Self-medication is 129% more common among students from high-poverty households (p < 0.01). Another factor is gender: male students are 88% more likely than female students to self-medicate (p = 0.02). Another important consideration is family structure. Self-medication is 67% more common among students from extended families and 42% more common among students from joint households (p < 0.05). Additionally, the likelihood of urban students self-medicating is 51% higher than that of rural students (p = 0.06). Other variables, including faculty, academic semester, and age, did not significantly affect the results. These results demonstrate how family dynamics and poverty have a significant impact on self-medication behaviors. The study highlights the significance of raising awareness and formulating plans to lower student self-medication, particularly among those who are struggling financially. By addressing these problems, students' health and wellbeing can be enhanced and the dangers of self-medication can be decreased