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Abstract

Self-medication, defined as the use of medicines without professional supervision, is a prevalent global issue that poses significant health risks, including misuse, adverse reactions, and resistance. Despite its widespread practice, limited knowledge about safe self-medication practices remains a concern. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward self-medication and explore their relationship with educational and demographic factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 510 respondents, and data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. The average knowledge score was 44.4±16.7%, categorized as poor, while the attitude score was 71.7±8.5%, reflecting a generally positive outlook. Education significantly influenced both knowledge (p < 0.05) and attitudes (p < 0.05), while age affected knowledge (p < 0.05), and gender influenced attitudes (p < 0,05). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.529, p < 0.001) indicated that greater knowledge led to more cautious attitudes. The most common ailments treated through self-medication were fever, cough, and headache, with non-professional advice being the predominant source of medications. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted educational interventions to improve public awareness of safe and rational self-medication practices. Such efforts are essential to mitigate the risks associated with self-medication and promote safer health behaviors within the population‎.

Keywords: Self-medication, Knowledge, Attitudes, Sociodemographic factors, Education

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