Patterns in the use of medicines by university students in Maputo, Mozambique

Abstract

Patterns in the use of medicines are expected to reflect distinct health features between populations. This study aimed to describe the self-reported use of medication by a sample of university students in Maputo, Mozambique. We conducted a survey of 797 students in a private university in Maputo. Participants completed a questionnaire including socio-demographic data and pattern of medication use in the preceding month. Information was collected on the number and names of drugs, duration of use, and prescription. The drugs were grouped according to therapeutic indication. In the previous month, 56% of students had used at least one pharmaceutical drug, with higher prevalence for women (65.2% vs. 42.2%) and men attending health-related courses (67.4% vs. 53.2%). The most commonly used medicines were anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs (62.2%), anti-infectives (25.9%), and vitamins/minerals (13.6%). The most frequently used single drugs were paracetamol (42.8%), amoxicillin (12.6%), and ibuprofen (8.4%). Duration of use was lowest for anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs and highest for oral contraceptives. Use of medication by Mozambican students was similar to that observed in other university populations.