Abstract

To assess the types of self medication for urinary tract infection in a female secondary school in Enugu, South East Nigeria. rnMethod: A total of 340 female students were studied in August 2018. The students responded to questions focused mainly on the type of medication they used for the treatment of urinary tract infection. rnResults: Out of a total of 340 students who were used for the study 50 or 14.7% admitted that they had UTI. 76% of those who had UTI went to the hospital for proper investigation and treatment while the rest did not. Only 50% of those who attended a hospital completed the drugs as prescribed. Those who did not go to hospital used different strategies ranging from self medication, chemist shops to spiritual houses etc. Various reasons were given by those who did not go to the hospital 2.9% said it is because they were ashamed to talk about it. 99.4% because of financial constraints and because they believed it could be a sexually transmitted infection, followed by those who felt it was against their faith and those who didn’t have time (99.1%). Those who embarked on self medication used drugs like septrin, ampicillin, ampiclox, amoxicillin, canesten cream etc. rnConclusion: The prevalence of UTI in the secondary school is about 15% which is high but most disheartening is the fact that about 25% of those affected do not go to hospital for proper medication and only 50% of those who attended the hospital completed their drugs as prescribed. This issue coupled with the fact that the students embark on consumption of different brands of antibiotics which they prescribe for themselves would give rise to high prevalence of resistant strains of the infective organisms. There is need to embark on intensive health education in the school and other female schools in the state.