Background: Self -medication with antibiotics is quite high in developing countries as opposed to developed countries. Antibiotics are often taken erroneously for certain ailments, without having the appropriate knowledge of their use. This carries potential risks for the individual as well as the community such as antibiotic resistance. This study concerned the self-medication with antibiotics in the university of Rwanda non-medical students, CST, Nyarugenge Campus. The main objective of this study was to assess the self-medication with antibiotics and the specific objectives were to assess the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, to identify the common types of perceived illness/symptoms that necessitate self-medication with antibiotics, to determine major antibiotics used for self-medication and to find out the reasons for self-medication with antibiotics among the University of Rwanda non-medical students, CST, Nyarugenge Campus.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at University of Rwanda non-medical students, College of Science and Technology, Nyarugenge campus (UR/CST). 386 students were included in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed accordingly. Results: the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in this study was 20.2%. The average number of times of SMA was 2.5. Reasons for self-medication were, disease was not serious 52.56%, successful previous experience 16.66%, no money/ time for hospital bill with 14.1%, discomforting attitude of the health care providers/ no confidence in doctor with 10.25%, and frustrated with tiring protocol with 3.84%. Most used antibiotics were, Amoxicillin 55.12%, ciprofloxacin with 14.10%, cloxacillin 11.53%, tetracycline 8.97%, metronidazole 2.56%, and co-trimoxazole 1.28%. Common illnesses and/or symptoms treated with antibiotics were, Cough at 47.43%, cold at 23.07%, diarrhea at 14.1%, Fever at 10.25%, and Headache at 2.5%. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics is high among University of Rwanda non-medical students. There is an urgent need to educate students on the rational use of antibiotics and enforce implementation of laws restricting access to antibiotics in Rwanda.