Exploring the Understanding of the Health Effects of Self-Medicating for Malaria Among Port Harcourt Residents

Self-medication is an increasing global public health issue that affects both low and middle-income countries and developed nations. The residents of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, face a serious malaria problem and have limited access to healthcare. Consequently, many of them resort to self-medication to treat the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of awareness among Port Harcourt residents about the negative consequences of self-medication for malaria on their health. A descriptive survey method was employed to select 105 participants randomly from two local government districts in Port Harcourt. The collected data were analyzed using percentage-based descriptive statistics. The study found that the majority of the participants engaged in self-medication, but they were mostly uninformed about the adverse effects of self-medication for malaria on their health. The participants in the study believed that they could handle their malaria symptoms, likely due to prior experiences and a proper diagnostic laboratory test confirming their diagnosis. Low income and a lack of health insurance were identified as the main reasons for self-medication, while other factors included limited healthcare facilities, expensive drugs, the inability to afford medical expenses, proximity to hospitals, and negative perceptions of healthcare professionals. The study indicates that self-medication for malaria will persist as a problem in the research region unless measures are taken by authorities and the government to address the issue.