The Prevalence of Self-Medication Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Engineering and Computing Students at University of Sciences and Technology in Aden

Background: Self-medication is a public health concern, especially among university students facing academic pressure. This practice carries risks, including misdiagnosis and antibiotic resistance.


Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of self-medication among engineering students at the University of Sciences and Technology-Aden, Yemen.


Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 277 engineering students, categorized by academic year and department.


Results: This study of 277 engineering students found that self-medication is a highly common practice, with 39.7% of students using it more than twice in the last month. The primary reason was "no time to visit doctors" (46.9%). Students most often self-medicated for headaches (34.7%) and fever (17.0%), sourcing medicines primarily from pharmacies (64.3%). A significant knowledge gap was evident, as 33.6% did not know how to define self-medication. Despite 71.8% recognizing that self-medication can be harmful, its practice remains widespread. Crucially, students showed a strong desire for education, with 81.9% believing workshops would be beneficial and 88.8% willing to attend, preferring to get information via social media and from health professionals.


Conclusion: Self-medication is highly prevalent among students despite limited knowledge and mixed attitudes. It is mainly driven by time constraints and easy access to pharmacies. The strong interest in educational workshops highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce associated health risks.