Shukry Zawahir1,2, Sarath Lekamwasam3, Kjell H Halvorsen4, Grenville Rose5, Parisa Aslani1. 1. , The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, NSW, Australia. 2. Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3. Population Health Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka. 4. Department of Pharmacy, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway. 5. Centre for Social Research in Health, The University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public's knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication. METHODS: A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication. RESULTS: A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0-27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004). CONCLUSION: There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.
BACKGROUND: Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public's knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication. METHODS: A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication. RESULTS: A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0-27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004). CONCLUSION: There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antibiotics; Sri Lanka; antibiotic resistance; attitudes; general public; knowledge; quantitative study; self-medication; survey
Authors: Shukry Zawahir; Hien Thi Thu Le; Thu-Anh Nguyen; Justin Beardsley; Anh Duc Dang; Sarah Bernays; Kerri Viney; Thai Hung Cao; Dorothy Drabarek; Hoang Huy Tran; Son Tu Nguyen; Van Thi Thuy Pham; Tan Minh Luong; Hung Thi Mai Tran; Nhung Viet Nguyen; Stephen Jan; Ben J Marais; Joel Negin; Guy B Marks; Greg J Fox Journal: Lancet Reg Health West Pac Date: 2022-04-11
Authors: Shah Zeb; Mariam Mushtaq; Muneeb Ahmad; Waqas Saleem; Ali A Rabaan; Bibi Salma Zahid Naqvi; Mohammed Garout; Mohammed Aljeldah; Basim R Al Shammari; Nehad J Al Faraj; Nisreen A Al-Zaki; Mona J Al Marshood; Thuria Y Al Saffar; Khadija A Alsultan; Shamsah H Al-Ahmed; Jeehan H Alestad; Muhammad Naveed; Naveed Ahmed Journal: Antibiotics (Basel) Date: 2022-06-23