A Comparative Piloting of Determinants of Self-Medication Among University Students in the MENA Region; UAE and Jordan as an Example

PURPOSE: Unsupervised self-medication (SM) is a global public health concern. University students are particularly vulnerable due to misperceptions of improved academic performance and thus are at risk of dependence, addiction, and drug overdose. Past studies have shown an alarming prevalence of SM among university students in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. However, there is a scarcity of reports from the region dissecting determinants of SM. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and epidemiological correlates of SM among university students and its perceived impact on their academic performance. METHODS: Two countries in the MENA region were surveyed in a cross-sectional design; UAE and Jordan. Through a stratified sampling technique, undergraduate students in both healthcare and non-healthcare majors of study were recruited to participate. A structured, self-administered questionnaire developed for the purpose of this study was distributed to consented participants via the university’s official email. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 362 students participated in the study (74% were females, 60% were from the UAE, and 59% were in healthcare majors). Significantly higher prevalence rates and adjusted odds of SM were found among females, students from Jordan, and those in healthcare majors, particularly for paracetamol (90.2% of females [p=0.001], 88.3% from Jordan [p=0.03], 92.5% in healthcare majors [p=0.001]) and antibacterial drugs (48.9% of females [p=0.01], 60.7% from Jordan [p=0.001], 53.3% in healthcare majors [p=0.001]). Majoring in healthcare fields was the most consistent determinant of such practice, while social influences of family and friends represented the chief source of recommendation. Only 21% of respondents assumed SM boosts their academic performance. CONCLUSION: Our pilot study underlines the predominant determinants of SM among university students in the MENA region, namely female gender, students from Jordan, and those in healthcare majors. Informed data-driven awareness campaigns to mitigate such practice should be designed to focus on these susceptible populations.