Risk Perception of Paracetamol Use among Undergraduate Students of University of Jos

摘要

The literature is replete with studies on prevalence of paracetamol abuse; however, a paucity of literature on risk perception of paracetamol use es-pecially in Nigeria was discovered by the researcher. This study describes the risk perception of paracetamol use among undergraduate students of the University of Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria. A descriptive research design was used in this study. Recruitment was done by simple random sampling technique and a close-ended questionnaire was employed in collecting the desired data. Frequency distribution tables and percentages were used to present and analyze the data generated while chi-square was used to test the null hypothesis. Almost all participants, 93.1% had taken paracetamol in their lifetime. Also, 63.6% of participants said paracetamol is very easy to get and most of them (49.7%) had taken paracetamol on 40 or more occasions indicating high prevalence of paracetamol use among them. More than half, 53.6% of participants do not believe self-medication with paracetamol can harm them. Only 34.9% of respondents knew the normal maximum daily dose of paracetamol. Also, only 39.5% of participants knew that combining paracetamol with procold is harmful. Just 25.1% respondents read the patient information leaflet always before taking paracetamol. Most of them, 73.6% knew that combining paracetamol intake with alcohol can cause liver failure; however only 23.1% of them knew that people with liver diseases are not to take paracetamol. A significant relationship existed between courses of study of students and risk perception of paracetamol use. The participants showed poor risk perception of paracetamol use. It was recommended that the federal ministry of health should intensify awareness campaign through the mass media and outreach program to educate the masses on the adverse effects of paracetamol use.