Inappropriate Use Of Antibiotics In The General Population

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a significant and growing threat to global health. While the vast majority of antimicrobial use occurs in communities where antibiotics are available without a prescription, we were unable to locate any studies examining community-level factors that influence the inappropriate use of antibiotics in settings where nonprescription antibiotic use is common. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from 1 April to 5 May 2019 and consisted of in- depth, semi-structured interviews with adult household heads recruited via purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Participants with diverse educational and medical backgrounds were chosen. We utilized a thematic analysis methodology to investigate the community's knowledge and usage of antibiotics in the sampled population.

Results: Interviews were conducted with 18 participants with a median age of 35 years. The majority were female (77.7%), had completed at least secondary school (83.4%), and were unemployed (61.1%). We discovered that participants were familiar with the term "antibiotics" but had limited understanding of the indications and hazards of antibiotics, including the risk of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic misuse was prevalent, as was self-medication with non-prescribed medications for a variety of non-indicated conditions, such as menstruation. The most frequently reported reason for not visiting a health facility for appropriate health care was limited income. Conclusion: Lack of adequate knowledge of antibiotic use, indications, and risks, prevalent self- medication, and financial barriers to accessing appropriate health care all contribute to pervasive inappropriate antibiotic use. To reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics, both community education and structural interventions addressing poverty are required.