Jing Cheng1,2, Caroline Coope3,4, Jing Chai1,2, Isabel Oliver3,4, Anthony Kessel5, Debin Wang2, Yehuan Sun1. 1. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. 2. School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. 3. NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. 4. Public Health England, London, UK. 5. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine antibiotic-related knowledge and behaviors in rural Anhui, identify factors associated with knowledge, and explore the relationship between knowledge and antibiotic use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a random sample of 2760 residents of rural China using structured interviews. RESULTS: The response rate was 94.6%. A total of 2390 respondents (91.6%) believed that antibiotics can control viruses; 2007 (77.5%) respondents thought that a combination of antibiotics is more effective than a single class; and 590 (22.6%) were able to name at least one disbenefit of using antibiotics. Multivariate analysis revealed those with a higher educational level and younger age group had greater knowledge of antibiotics (OR 2.54 and 0.77, respectively). Self-medication was common with 1052 (out of 2274 responses, 46.3%) of participants use over the counter or leftover medicines for common infections. Greater knowledge was associated with buying drugs without prescription (aOR 2.02; 95% CI, 1.29-3.17) and using leftover medication (aOR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.55-5.06). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about antibiotics was low and reported use high. Worryingly those with greater knowledge had less desirable behaviors that highlights the urgent need for multifaceted interventions to change behavior.
OBJECTIVES: To examine antibiotic-related knowledge and behaviors in rural Anhui, identify factors associated with knowledge, and explore the relationship between knowledge and antibiotic use. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a random sample of 2760 residents of rural China using structured interviews. RESULTS: The response rate was 94.6%. A total of 2390 respondents (91.6%) believed that antibiotics can control viruses; 2007 (77.5%) respondents thought that a combination of antibiotics is more effective than a single class; and 590 (22.6%) were able to name at least one disbenefit of using antibiotics. Multivariate analysis revealed those with a higher educational level and younger age group had greater knowledge of antibiotics (OR 2.54 and 0.77, respectively). Self-medication was common with 1052 (out of 2274 responses, 46.3%) of participants use over the counter or leftover medicines for common infections. Greater knowledge was associated with buying drugs without prescription (aOR 2.02; 95% CI, 1.29-3.17) and using leftover medication (aOR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.55-5.06). CONCLUSION: Knowledge about antibiotics was low and reported use high. Worryingly those with greater knowledge had less desirable behaviors that highlights the urgent need for multifaceted interventions to change behavior.
Authors: Joseph Paul Hicks; Sophia M Latham; Rumana Huque; Mahua Das; Jane Newell; S M Abdullah; Zunayed Al Azdi; Ishrat Jahan; Christian Rassi; Prudence Hamade; Muhammad Shafique; Mohammad Saiful Islam; Rebecca King Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-02-25 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Liyan Shen; Oliver James Dyar; Qiang Sun; Xiaolin Wei; Ding Yang; Chengtao Sun; Yang Wang; Hongyu Li; Yuqing Liu; Yanbo Luo; Jia Yin; Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 3.390