The Paradox of Self-Medication among Future Public Health Leaders: Evidence from MPH Students in Nigeria

Background Self-medication (SM) is a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with weak drug regulatory frameworks. Alarmingly, healthcare professionals, including future public health leaders, are often frequent practitioners. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors of SM among Master of Public Health (MPH) students at a Nigerian university. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among MPH students at Ahmadu Bello University's Distance Learning Centre from July to August 2025. A Google Forms questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp, employing a convenience sampling technique. Data on socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices of SM were collected. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 27, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results Out of 357 participants (mean age 31.2 ± 5.8 years; 64.2% female), the vast majority were healthcare professionals. A high proportion (82.0%) had good knowledge of SM. Paradoxically, the prevalence of SM practice in the preceding six months was 82.7%. The most common reasons for SM were easy access to pharmacies (75.5%), self-perceived knowledge of correct drugs (72.0%), expensive hospital bills (68.3%), and prior experience with the illness (68.2%). Analgesics (63.8%) and antimalarials (49.6%) were the most frequently used drugs, primarily for headaches (86.0%) and cough/flu (47.2%). SM was significantly associated with younger age (< 30 years), being single, lower educational level (BSc/MSc vs. PhD), monogamous family structure, and, notably, a higher knowledge score (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions Despite high knowledge levels regarding SM risks, its practice remains pervasive among future public health professionals in Nigeria. Confidence in personal medical knowledge and easy drug access appear to override risk awareness. These findings highlight an urgent need for targeted educational interventions and stricter enforcement of drug dispensing policies within this key demographic to curb this dangerous trend and align their practices with their public health advocacy roles.