Self-medication Practices among Adolescents and Youth in India: A Systematic Scoping Review

Objective: In this review, we explore the prevalence, patterns, and contributing factors of self-medication among Indian youth, encompassing both healthcare and non-healthcare students, to support targeted interventions. Methods: The review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, employing the Arksey and O'Malley framework for methodological rigor and the PAGER framework for synthesis. Systematic searches were performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Indian repositories for studies published in English between January 2010 and December 2024. Inclusion was based on PICO criteria, and a quality appraisal checklist for observational studies was used. Results: We included 76 studies involving 23,497 students (14,639 females and 8858 males). The prevalence of self-medication was 69% among healthcare students and 70% among non-healthcare students. Analgesics (70%-91%) and antibiotics (20%-90.7%) were most commonly used. We identified major knowledge gaps in dosage, side effects, and safety, with pharmacies and previous prescriptions serving as the primary sources. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 19.9% of participants. Conclusion: High rates of self-medication among Indian youth underscore the urgent need for educational strategies and regulatory actions to promote safe, informed medication practices.