Exploring self-care choices: a qualitative study of self-medication insights among university students in Lira City, Northern Uganda.

Background: Self-medication, the practice of treating health issues without professional medical guidance, is a widespread phenomenon among students globally, raising concerns about potential consequences. This study investigates perceptions and knowledge of self-medication among students from a university in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study, with 20 in-depth interviews and 3 focus group discussions among students. Data were processed and analysed using NVivo V.12. Results: This study found both positive and negative perceptions of self-medication among university students. Positive views highlighted the perception that self-medication was convenient and time-efficient method for managing health concerns as access drug shops enabled students to swiftly acquire medications, bypassing prolonged wait times. Self-medication shielded female students from potential stigma and judgement, by enabling them to discretely manage their menstrual health. By bypassing the need for clinic visits and accessing medications directly from drug shops, students could avoid the discomfort and inconvenience associated with public healthcare facilities, and allowing them to allocate time more productively for academic pursuits. However, students were concerned about potential negative consequences that encompassed drug resistance, overdose, complications, and potential fatality. Conclusion: Limited access to convenient healthcare options, the concern for discrete access, particularly for potentially stigmatised conditions, coupled with the exigencies of academic life that demanded them to optimise time management, create a conducive environment for the prevalence of self-medication practices among university students. These themes demonstrate the intersection of health-seeking behaviours and contextual factors, shedding light on the pragmatic strategies adopted by students to navigate healthcare challenges, sometimes at the risk of harmful consequences. These issues also show the need for culturally and gender-sensitive healthcare approaches, regulatory oversight on medication practices and public health campaigns promoting safe medication practices among students.