Prevalence and factors associated with self-medication among schoolchildren in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication at some point in life and its current use among high school students in the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Region, Espírito Santo. Method: This cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted between March and December 2023 with 4,416 students. The outcome was experimentation with and current use of nonprescribed medication. The categorical independent variables were sex, age group, gender identity, race/skin color, socioeconomic status, type of school, current employment or business, religion, and parental marital status. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test and Poisson regression. Results: The prevalence of lifetime self-medication among schoolchildren was 22.7% (95%CI: 21.5–23.9), being more prevalent among females (28.5%; 95%CI: 26.8–30.3). There was a higher prevalence of lifetime self-medication and current self-medication among female students, LGBT+ individuals, those from higher socioeconomic classes, and those with employment. Conclusion: The findings reinforce the complexity of self-medication among adolescents, which involves not only issues of access to and availability of medications, but also psychosocial and cultural aspects.