Self-medication with antibiotics is a form of irrational drug use that is a major global public health issue.
Irrational use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, treatment failure, adverse effects, and increased
healthcare costs. This cross-sectional study aimed to establish the factors associated with self-medication with
antibiotics among community members in Ishaka Division, Bushenyi District, Uganda. The study employed a
quantitative approach using a structured questionnaire to collect data from 108 randomly selected household
representatives aged 18 years and above who were permanent residents of Ishaka Division. Descriptive statistics
were used to analyze the data. The results showed that 57% of participants self-medicated with antibiotics. Sociodemographic
factors significantly associated with self-medication included being unmarried (p=0.004) and
unemployment (p=0.019). Personal factors included lack of knowledge about antibiotics (p=0.002), obtaining drug
information from non-health facility sources (p=0.001), and negative attitudes towards healthcare workers
(p=0.000). Health system factors included living far from health facilities (p=0.003), long waiting times (p=0.119),
unfriendly healthcare worker attitudes (p=0.000), and inadequate drug counseling (p=0.000).The study concluded
that self-medication with antibiotics is highly prevalent in Ishaka Division and is influenced by socio-demographic,
personal, and health system factors. Interventions are needed to address these factors through community
education, improving access to quality healthcare services, enforcing regulations on antibiotic dispensing, and
promoting rational antibiotic use