Jie Chang1,2,3,4, Bing Lv1,2,3,4, Shan Zhu1,2,3,4, Jiale Yu1,2,3,4, Yu Zhang1,2,3,4, Dan Ye1,2,3,4, Muhammad Majid Aziz1,2,3,4, Caijun Yang1,2,3,4, Yu Fang1,2,3,4. 1. a Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , China. 2. b Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , China. 3. c The Global Health Institute , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , China. 4. d Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research , Xi'an , China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-prescription use of antibiotics in children is an important public health problem. We aimed to investigate primary caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of antibiotics use among children in urban China. METHODS: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotics use in children were assessed through a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 4200 caregivers of children under-7 years from three cities in China. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Caregivers' knowledge gaps and undesirables attitudes regarding appropriate use of antibiotics were identified. 48.2% of respondents reported non-prescription use of antibiotics for children in the past 6 months. The most common sources of antibiotics used without a prescription are community pharmacies and leftovers. Storing antibiotics at home and caregivers' supportive attitude were positively and significantly associated with non-prescription use of antibiotics in children, while significant inverse associations were found for caregiver's knowledge of prescription-only regulation on antibiotics sales at community pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high proportion of primary caregivers self-medicate antibiotics for children in urban China, despite their insufficient knowledge about antibiotic use. Public health initiatives are needed such as public education campaigns and stricter government regulation of antibiotic use and availability in community pharmacies.
BACKGROUND: Non-prescription use of antibiotics in children is an important public health problem. We aimed to investigate primary caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of antibiotics use among children in urban China. METHODS: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotics use in children were assessed through a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 4200 caregivers of children under-7 years from three cities in China. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Caregivers' knowledge gaps and undesirables attitudes regarding appropriate use of antibiotics were identified. 48.2% of respondents reported non-prescription use of antibiotics for children in the past 6 months. The most common sources of antibiotics used without a prescription are community pharmacies and leftovers. Storing antibiotics at home and caregivers' supportive attitude were positively and significantly associated with non-prescription use of antibiotics in children, while significant inverse associations were found for caregiver's knowledge of prescription-only regulation on antibiotics sales at community pharmacies. CONCLUSIONS: There was a high proportion of primary caregivers self-medicate antibiotics for children in urban China, despite their insufficient knowledge about antibiotic use. Public health initiatives are needed such as public education campaigns and stricter government regulation of antibiotic use and availability in community pharmacies.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antibiotics; KAP; medicating children; self-medication; urban China
Authors: Yu Zhang; John Kabba; Jie Chang; Wenjing Ji; Shan Zhu; Jiale Yu; Sen Xu; Yu Fang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-09-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Yao Zhu; Xuewen Tang; Rui Yan; Zhujun Shao; Yang Zhou; Xuan Deng; Shuying Luo; Hanqing He Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-12-14 Impact factor: 2.692