Prevalence and factors associated with self medication with antibiotics among University students in Moshi Kilimanjaro Tanzania

Comparison of knowledge, attitude, practice and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics among medical and non-medical students in Tanzania

Introduction: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a widespread problem in developing nations, including Tanzania. Methods: This study compared knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors influencing antibiotic SMA among medical and non-medical students. Results: The prevalence of SMA among medical students was 49.1% and 59.2% among non-medical students, respectively. The mean knowledge score of medical students (6.4) was significantly higher (p-value <0.001) than that of non-medical students (5.6). The main factors influencing SMA practices were the availability of antibiotics without a prescription, easy access to pharmacies, and a lack of knowledge about the risks of SMA. This experience was pivotal in influencing medical students to take antibiotics, with a substantial proportion of 67.5% as opposed to 59.4% of non-medical students. Medical students were 1.6 times more likely to self-medicate with antibiotics than non-medical students (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.6; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.2-2.3, p-value = 0.004). Age was also associated with self-medication, with an AOR of 1.1 (95% CI: 1.04-1.2, p-value = 0.006) per year increase in age. Additionally, attitude was associated with self-medication, with an AOR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04-1.1, p-value = 0.001) per unit increase in attitude score. Discussion: No significant associations were found between sex, marital status, having children, year of study, knowledge score, and self-medication with antibiotics. This study emphasizes the importance of educational interventions and public awareness campaigns to promote antimicrobial stewardship, appropriate antibiotic use, and preventing pharmacies from dispensing antibiotics without a prescription.

Practices and drivers of self-medication with antibiotics among undergraduate medical students in Eastern Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Self-medication with antibiotics remains one of the major drivers of antimicrobial resistance. Practices of self-medication among nursing and medical students have not been explored in our setting. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication with antibiotics among undergraduate university students pursuing health-related courses in Eastern Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study was done among undergraduate students who were doing undergraduate programs in Nursing, Anesthesia, and medicine at Busitema University. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 326 participants. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 93.8% (n = 300) of which 80% were either currently using self-medication or had self-medicated in the past six months. The common reasons for self-medication were the perception that it was a minor illness (55%), previous use of antibiotic (52%), a perception that they were health workers (50%), and the notion that they knew the right antibiotic for their condition (44%). Metronidazole (64%) and amoxicillin (65%) were the most commonly used antibiotics. Self-medication was most common for conditions such as peptic ulcer, diarrhea, and wound infections. Inappropriate drug use was common among participants on self-medication which occurred in the form of multiple use of antibiotics (64.4%, n = 194) and a tendency to switch to other antibiotics (58.5%) mostly because the former antibiotic was perceived not to be an effective treatment. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was high among medical students. Prior use of the antibiotic and having a minor illness were the most common drivers of self-medication. Public health strategies should address the high misuse of antibiotics among medical students to negate the likely consequence of antimicrobial resistance.

Self-Medication with Antibiotics Among Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study of Parents' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices

Background

Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) among children is a common practice in low-income and middle-income countries, which has accelerated antibacterial abuse.

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of SMA among children in China, including parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antibiotic use.

Methods

A cross-sectional study based on a structured questionnaire survey of parents was conducted in Nantong between July and September 2020. A total of 1699 respondents participated. Information on participants' demographic and family characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antibiotics use was collected. Hierarchical binary logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of SMA among children.

Results

Among 1699 participants, 23.31% practiced SMA to their children in the past year. Cough (59.6%) was the most common symptom leading to self-medication and penicillins (85.4%) were the most commonly used drugs. Hierarchical regression indicated that parents with higher level of antibiotic knowledge scores (OR=1.163, 95% CI: 1.067-1.268) and buying antibiotics without a prescription from pharmacy (OR=1.475, 95% CI: 1.097-1.983) were more likely to practice SMA to their children both in urban and in rural areas. Storing antibiotics at home resulted in an increased likelihood of self-medication in urban areas but not in rural areas. In addition, there was also a higher probability of non-prescribed antibiotics in children without chronic diseases (OR=1.959, 95% CI:1.072-3.578).

Conclusion

The prevalence of SMA in children is high in China. Higher knowledge scores and practices of buying and storing non-prescribed antibiotics behaviors increased parents' antibiotic self-medication in their children. Practical and effective education intervention for children's rational use of antibiotics is urgently strengthened.

Antimicrobial stewardship: knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among non-healthcare students at the University of Zambia

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to the world and could become humanity's next major challenge. This study assessed non-healthcare students' knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR at the University of Zambia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 443 non-healthcare students from August to October 2022 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 24.0.

Results

Of the 433 participants, 55.2%, 63.5% and 45% had moderate KAP scores regarding AMU and AMR. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 76.7%. Male participants were less likely to have good knowledge (OR = 0.524, 95% CI: 0.347-0.792) and positive attitudes (OR = 0.585, 95% CI: 0.364-0.940) towards AMU and AMR compared with females. Students who were studying Engineering and Mining were more likely to have good knowledge of AMR (OR = 1.891, 95% CI: 1.197-2.987) compared with those in Social Sciences. Those who were in their fourth and fifth years were more likely to have positive attitudes towards AMU and AMR (OR = 1.851, 95% CI: 1.147-2.986) compared with those who were in the first, second and third years. Finally, students who practised self-medication were less likely to have good self-reported practice towards AMR (OR = 0.442, 95% CI: 0.278-0.702) compared with those who did not.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that non-healthcare students had moderate KAP regarding AMU and AMR. All university students should be provided with education about AMU and AMR through free short courses, seminars, workshops, and AMR and antimicrobial stewardship awareness campaigns.

The Utility of Internet-Enabled Antibiotic Self-Medication and Its Associated Factors Among Patients Attending Private Clinics in Kawempe Division in Kampala Capital City, Uganda: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

The expanding practice of internet-based antibiotic self-medication raises public health concerns as it increases antibiotic resistance and introduces avoidable risks. This study aims to examine the utility of internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication and its associated factors among patients attending private clinics in Kawempe division in Kampala Capital City, Uganda.

Methods

This was an analytical cross-sectional study that enrolled participants attending private clinics in Kawempe Division's randomly selected zones. These were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using STATA version 12 software. Logistic regression analysis was used, and variables with p ≤ 0.05 were considered as significantly associated with internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication.

Results

Out of the 313 respondents, 246 (79%) reportedly had ever used internet sources to self-medicate with antibiotics. Factors such as being male; single; had knowledge of antibiotics; believed that Internet should be used for antibiotic self-medication; Distance to the nearest medical center/hospital from your residence/workplace of about 5 km and residing near a drug shop/pharmacy that gives antibiotics without a prescription increased internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication. Furthermore, the variables of more than three household members; common practice of antibiotic self-medication in a household; did not agree that one can recover from the illness without a doctor's prescription and medical workers who did not explain adequately the antibiotics medication given for the illness decreased internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication.

Conclusion

This study found that internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication practice is highly utilized and is associated with a variety of individual, household, and healthcare system factors. This necessitates strict adherence to national drug policy regulations governing antibiotic use. Furthermore, community health education is critical in combating such medication practices.

Effectiveness of the application of an educational program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in Adopting

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of the application of an educational program based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in Adopting Preventive Behaviors from Self-Medication among Women in Iran.

METHODS

Interventional study with pre and post phases. 200 women referring to the health centers of Urmia were selected by simple random sampling, divided into two groups of treatment and control. Data collection instruments were researcher-devised questionnaire including the questionnaire of Knowledge of Self-medication, the Questionnaire of Preventive Behaviors from Self-medication, and the questionnaire of Health Belief Model. The questionnaires were assessed for expert validity and then, were checked for reliability. The educational intervention was conducted for the treatment group during four weeks four 45-minute sessions.

RESULTS

The average scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, self-efficiency, and post-intervention performance in have increased in treatment group, comparing to the control group, All findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Furthermore, social media, doctors, and disbelief in self-medication were more effective in increasing awareness and encouraging to have proper medication, also, the highest self-medication was in taking pain-relievers, cold tablets and antibiotics, which showed significant decrease in treatment group after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The educational program based on Health Belief Model was effective in reducing the self-medication among the studied women. Furthermore, it is recommended to use social media and doctors to improve the awareness and motivation among people. Thus, applying the educational programs and plans according to the Health Belief Model can be influential in reducing the self-medication.

Self-Medication as an Important Risk Factor for Antibiotic Resistance: A Multi-Institutional Survey among Students

Self-medication is an important issue, especially in developing countries. Self-medication is the concept in which individuals use medicine to ease and manage their minor illnesses. The current survey was designed to conduct interviews at different universities based on the availability of the students from August 2021 to October 2021 in Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Overall, 1250 questionnaires were distributed to students from various departments. Students of microbiology (n = 305, 24.4%) and agriculture 236 (n = 18.8%) were the most elevated members in this study, while other participants were from medical lab technology (n = 118, 9.4%), chemistry (n = 103, 8.2%), food science (n = 92, 7.3%), business administration (n = 83, 6.6%), sociology (n = 78, 6.2%), math/physics (n = 6, 14.8%), Pak study (n = 58, 4.6%), English (n = 47, 3.7%), and psychology (n = 19, 1.5%). Students working towards their Bachelor numbered (n = 913, 73.0%), Master (minor) numbered (n = 80, 6.4%), Master (major) numbered (n = 221, 17.6%), and Doctorate numbered (n = 36, 2.8%). The age group of participants was majorly 20–25 years (61.0%), while others belonged to the age groups 25–30 years (20.6%), 30–35 years (9.8%), and 35–40 years (8.4%). The mean and standard deviation of daily practices of self-medication were observed (M = 416.667, SD = 1,026,108.667) and p = 0.002. The mean and standard deviation of daily practices of antibiotic knowledge was (M = 431.5, SD = 1,615,917) and p = 0.002. Antimicrobial agents were leading over others with 631 (50.4%), followed by anti-inflammatory with 331 (26.4%), multivitamins with 142 (11.3%), gynecological purpose with 59 (4.7%), and analgesic with 72 (5.7%), while the lowest frequency rate was observed against herbal remedies with 15 (1.2%). The results of the current study concluded that students practiced self-medication for reasons such as convenience to obtain these medications from cheap sources and to avoid the fee of a physician. They searched for the medicine on social media platforms and purchased it blindly from the pharmacy without any prescription from a physician.

Editorial: Infectious diseases and NCDs persist despite concerted effort

Nil.