Jie Chen1, Aissata Mahamadou Sidibi1, Xiaohui Shen2, Kalo Dao3, Alain Maiga3, Ying Xie1, Therese Hesketh1,2. 1. Centre for Global Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. 2. Institute for Global Health, University College London,London, UK. 3. Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases, University of Science, Technique and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali.
Abstract
Objectives: Misuse of antibiotics, especially in low-and-middle-income countries is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Medical students are antibiotic consumers and prescribers in the future. This study aimed to assess antibiotic knowledge and utilization among medical students in the Republic of Mali, and to determine the relationship between knowledge and health-seeking behavior in relation to antibiotic use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the only public medical university in Mali. The questionnaire explored knowledge about antibiotics of medical students, and health behaviors for self-limiting illness. Data were analyzed in SPSS. Results: A total of 446 medical students completed the questionnaire. The average knowledge score was 4.12 out of 10. Students with clinical experience performed higher (4.79 vs 3.74, p< 0.01); 391(87.7%) medical students reported experience of self-limiting diseases in the past year. Of these 197(50.4%) went to see a doctor, 160 (81.2%) of whom were prescribed antibiotics: 151 medical students self-treated, with 121(80.1%) using antibiotics.Conclusions: This study shows poor knowledge and massive misuse of antibiotics among medical students in Mali. Promoting education on the mechanism of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance and rational antibiotic use among medical students should be a priority in the medical school curriculum.
Objectives: Misuse of antibiotics, especially in low-and-middle-income countries is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance. Medical students are antibiotic consumers and prescribers in the future. This study aimed to assess antibiotic knowledge and utilization among medical students in the Republic of Mali, and to determine the relationship between knowledge and health-seeking behavior in relation to antibiotic use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the only public medical university in Mali. The questionnaire explored knowledge about antibiotics of medical students, and health behaviors for self-limiting illness. Data were analyzed in SPSS. Results: A total of 446 medical students completed the questionnaire. The average knowledge score was 4.12 out of 10. Students with clinical experience performed higher (4.79 vs 3.74, p< 0.01); 391(87.7%) medical students reported experience of self-limiting diseases in the past year. Of these 197(50.4%) went to see a doctor, 160 (81.2%) of whom were prescribed antibiotics: 151 medical students self-treated, with 121(80.1%) using antibiotics.Conclusions: This study shows poor knowledge and massive misuse of antibiotics among medical students in Mali. Promoting education on the mechanism of antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance and rational antibiotic use among medical students should be a priority in the medical school curriculum.
Keywords:
Antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance; cross-sectional study; knowledge; mali; medical students