Prevalence and patterns of over-the-counter analgesic use among health sciences students in Aden, Yemen: A cross-sectional study

Objective The unsupervised use of over-the-counter analgesics constitutes a significant public health concern, particularly in environments with limited regulatory oversight. This study assessed the prevalence, usage patterns, and unadjusted associations of over-the-counter analgesic use among health sciences students in Aden, Yemen. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, enrolling 422 randomly selected students from medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, medical laboratory sciences, and nursing. Data were collected via a structured, pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were applied; all inferential analyses were unadjusted. Results The six-month prevalence of over-the-counter analgesic use was 88.9%. Medical Laboratory Sciences students demonstrated the highest observed prevalence (100.0%), whereas nursing students exhibited the lowest (71.4%). Headache was the most frequently cited reason (48.8%). Paracetamol was the most utilised analgesic (74.7%), and community pharmacies served as the primary source (70.9%). Self-reported gastric upset (42%) and vomiting (17%) were common. Fisher's exact test revealed no significant association between faculty and use ( p = 0.179), whereas sex was significantly associated with reasons for use ( p = 0.004). Conclusions Over-the-counter analgesic use was highly prevalent and predominantly driven by health-related complaints, though study-related motivations were reported. Targeted educational interventions and research investigating local dispensing practices are recommended.