Awareness and Determinants of Analgesic Abuse Among Undergraduate Students of University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
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Keywords
Analgesic, Analgesic abuse, Awareness, Determinants
Abstract
Background: Rising incidents of deaths due to analgesic abuse are public health concerns globally. A good level of awareness and understanding of the determinants of analgesic abuse can reduce mortalities associated with the condition. This study assessed the awareness and determinants of analgesic abuse among undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design with multi-stage sampling was employed. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 362 undergraduate students at the University of Port Harcourt. The data was analyzed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 27. Data were summarized using means, frequency, proportions, Chi-square, and regression analysis; a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The awareness of risks associated with analgesic abuse was low in 47.4% and high in 10.9% of the respondents. Pharmacy students and females had higher levels of awareness. Peer pressure, availability of analgesics on campus/local stores, offer of analgesics by peer(s), and knowledge of someone who has experienced the adverse effects of analgesic abuse were significant determinants; however, only availability of analgesics on campus/local stores and offer of analgesics by peer were significant determinants of analgesic abuse from the bivariate logistic regression.
Conclusion: The result showed that the majority of the respondents had low levels of awareness of risks associated with analgesic abuse, with females and pharmacy students showing higher levels of awareness. Peer pressure, availability of analgesics on campus/local stores, offer of analgesics by peers, and knowledge of someone who has experienced the adverse effects of analgesic abuse were significant determinants of analgesic abuse. Comprehensive educational/awareness programmes that cut across all departments and genders addressing analgesic abuse and policies to regulate the availability of analgesics on campus should be established in the institution.
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ThankGod C. Bethel, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
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