PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG NIGERIANS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Self medication as a health seeking behavior Self medication is a health seeking behavior that involves the use of any medication for curing any disease or other symptoms without seeking any sound professional advice at the point of using medication. This can involve use of any available over the counter drug, any prescribed drug antibiotic anti-malaria, analgesic, or even alternative or traditional medicine. Self medication, which is accurate may help one address minor health problems but incorrect use may subject the individual to many avoidable health risks..

In Nigeria, self-medication has been noted to be a major public health concern since patients can take medications based on past experiences, family and friends' advice, suggestions from medication sellers, and social media. Factors such as the cost of healthcare services, long waits in the hospital, distance from the hospitals, and severity of symptoms can also influence the choice of patients to treat their conditions through self-medication. According to the systematic review conducted by Muoka et al. (2026) using 91 studies and 37,359 participants, the pooled prevalence rate of self-medication in Nigeria was found to be 67.8%. Some of the reasons behind this prevalence were the perceived illness, treatment experience, time limitations, financial constrains, and availability of medications. It is worth noting that a lot of variance exists in the studies used for the systematic review.

The north of Nigeria is an essential area in which to study the perceived impact of self-medication since health-care seeking behaviour could be different depending on geographical location, economic status, education level, cultural beliefs, proximity to health facilities, and the presence of professional health-care providers. The north of Nigeria is made up of different communities located in various states, and includes urban, semi-urban, and rural communities. As such, perceptions about the safety of medicine, effectiveness of treatments, and necessity to seek help from professional health-care providers can differ greatly. It is therefore important to conduct research among the people residing in this region and not assume that results from south Nigeria are relevant there too..

Self-medication involves the improper utilization of antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to cure certain forms of bacterial infections but cannot treat any viral infection like the common cold. The misuse of antibiotics may increase the risk of antimicrobial resistance when the drug is taken inappropriately, in the wrong dose, or without the need for a clinical assessment. WHO (2025) has revealed that the abuse and overutilization of antibiotics are major challenges in the fight against antimicrobial resistance at a global level. The resistant disease becomes harder to treat and may require complicated and costly medical interventions. One of the effects of self-medication is believed to be the impact of such an action on one's economic and social wellbeing. Self-medication can seem cheaper and easier than the treatment at a hospital for some people. Improper drug use can result in unnecessary expenses if the symptoms persist, there are some side effects, or the patient's illness gets worse. Improper utilization of the medicine will decrease symptoms temporarily without eliminating the underlying reason for the disease..

Data from Nigeria also highlights the role of public perceptions of medicine safety. In a study from south-western Nigeria, Akande-Sholabi, and Akinyemi (2023) found that 85.4% of adult consumers surveyed practised OTC self-medication; over 95% of those who self-medicated adopted practices, which are deemed risky. The participants were found to believe that they could care for minor health issues themselves; and some felt it was time-consuming to go to hospital. While the study was undertaken before 2025 and outside of Northern Nigeria, contextually it shows how beliefs on medicine safety may make self-medication more prevalent, and needs to be complemented by similar evidence from the north.

However, self-medication might be seen in a positive or negative light. It might be regarded as a cheap and effective way of managing a certain condition with known symptoms. On the other hand, it might be taken as an indication of the ineffectiveness of a certain treatment, undesirable side effects of a drug, deterioration of one's state or wasteful spending of money. It is best that these preconceptions are kept in mind since they can affect the decision making process.

Thus, there is a need to look into the effects of self-medication amongst Nigerians in Northern Nigeria in order to understand their perspectives on the issue of medicine use. Information obtained can help medical practitioners, pharmacists, public health educators and policy makers plan culturally sensitive health education programs and encourage proper use of medicines..

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Medication may be used irrationally because of the practice of Self medication, which remains a health problem, as much can be used by individuals who are unaware of the drug dose duration, contraindications, or possible adverse reactions. Although some see it as practical and economical, improper use of medications can bring a range of adverse effects.

Another study was done in Nigeria in the year 2025 by Adeke et al., focusing on the study of health-seeking practices and antibiotic self-medication in adults in Abakaliki. Out of 448 respondents in the study, 96.2% had practiced antibiotic self-medication sometime in their lives, while 58.5% were practicing it in the past three months of the time of data collection. The influencing factors included past successful experience with the treatment, availability of antibiotics, and high costs of seeking healthcare (Adeke et al., 2025)..

Even though there have been indications of self-medication in Nigeria, there is a need for information about the perceptions of the effects of the act on health, finances, and decision to visit a doctor in Northern Nigeria. This kind of information is necessary to avoid failure in designing any public health strategy due to ignorance of these determinants of medicine consumption.

Hence, this study aims at analyzing the perceived effects of self-medication among Nigerians in Northern Nigeria and the factors influencing the practice.

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1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to examine the perceived effects of self-medication among Nigerians in Northern Nigeria.

1. Determine the awareness of self medication among the Nigerian's in Northern Nigeria.

2. To know  typical reasons that people resort to self-medication

3. Identify the potential health impacts of self-medication (e.g. adverse reactions, treatment failure).

4. Evaluate the social and financial impacts related to self-medicating.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How aware are Nigerians in Northern Nigeria about self-medication?

2. Why do people practice self-medication?

3. What are the health consequences of self-medication?

4. What are the impacts of self-medication on perceived expenditure and activities of people?