Table 6 Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showing predictors of self-medication among study participants^b

Age

Mean (SD)

24.7 (8.4)

26.2 (9.9)

1.02 (1.01–1.02, p < 0.001)

1.01 (1.00–1.02, p = 0.008)

Gender

Male

976 (37.1)

1657 (62.9)

–

–

female

1874 (37.4)

3136 (62.6)

0.99 (0.89–1.09, p = 0.772)

1.06 (0.96–1.18, p = 0.257)

Area

rural

683 (38.6)

1087 (61.4)

–

–

urban

2167 (37.0)

3695 (63.0)

1.07 (0.96–1.19, p = 0.217)

1.05 (0.93–1.18, p = 0.459)

Education level

unlearned

11 (18.3)

49 (81.7)

–

–

preuniversity education

263 (36.9)

450 (63.1)

0.38 (0.19–0.72, p = 0.005)

0.50 (0.23–0.99, p = 0.057)

university education

2318 (37.7)

3831 (62.3)

0.37 (0.18–0.69, p = 0.003)

0.60 (0.29–1.17, p = 0.156)

high level

258 (35.8)

462 (64.2)

0.40 (0.20–0.76, p = 0.008)

0.61 (0.28–1.20, p = 0.170)

Governmental employee

no

2623 (38.2)

4252 (61.8)

–

–

yes

227 (29.6)

541 (70.4)

1.47 (1.25–1.73, p < 0.001)

0.89 (0.70–1.15, p = 0.380)

Private employee

no

2595 (37.4)

4338 (62.6)

–

–

yes

255 (35.9)

455 (64.1)

1.07 (0.91–1.25, p = 0.427)

0.79 (0.62–1.01, p = 0.060)

freelancer

no

2702 (38.4)

4332 (61.6)

–

–

yes

148 (24.3)

461 (75.7)

1.94 (1.61–2.36, p < 0.001)

1.57 (1.22–2.03, p = 0.001)

Not working or retired

no

2389 (36.3)

4201 (63.7)

–

–

yes

461 (43.8)

592 (56.2)

0.73 (0.64–0.83, p < 0.001)

0.61 (0.49–0.77, p < 0.001)

Medical field

no

1599 (36.1)

2827 (63.9)

–

–

yes

1251 (38.9)

1966 (61.1)

0.89 (0.81–0.98, p = 0.014)

0.73 (0.59–0.90, p = 0.003)

Nonmedical student

no

2208 (36.4)

3862 (63.6)

–

–

yes

642 (40.8)

931 (59.2)

0.83 (0.74–0.93, p = 0.001)

0.72 (0.58–0.90, p = 0.003)

Monthly Income

Prefer not to say

320 (36.5)

556 (63.5)

–

–

no

164 (36.9)

280 (63.1)

0.98 (0.78–1.25, p = 0.885)

1.03 (0.80–1.32, p = 0.811)

Yes, but it does not cover the treatment cost

480 (32.0)

1021 (68.0)

1.22 (1.03–1.46, p = 0.024)

1.38 (1.15–1.66, p = 0.001)

Yes, and it covers the treatment cost

1885 (39.1)

2935 (60.9)

0.90 (0.77–1.04, p = 0.150)

1.02 (0.87–1.19, p = 0.812)

Medical insurance

No, I don’t have medical insurance

1647 (37.1)

2796 (62.9)

–

–

Yes, but it does not cover the treatment cost

601 (33.8)

1175 (66.2)

1.15 (1.03–1.29, p = 0.017)

1.34 (1.17–1.52, p < 0.001)

Yes, and it covers the treatment cost

602 (42.3)

821 (57.7)

0.80 (0.71–0.91, p < 0.001)

1.03 (0.89–1.19, p = 0.695)

Chronic disease

no

2562 (38.2)

4140 (61.8)

–

–

yes

288 (30.6)

653 (69.4)

1.40 (1.21–1.63, p < 0.001)

1.22 (1.04–1.43, p = 0.015)