Rohullah Roien1, Divya Bhandari2, Sayed Mohammad Reza Hosseini3, Sayed Hussain Mosawi3, Mohammad Arif Ataie1, Akihiko Ozaki2,4, Cecilia Acuti Martellucci5, Yasuhiro Kotera6, Mohammad Hossien Delshad7,8, Toyoaki Sawano9, Shohra Qaderi1,10, Ranjit Sah11, Tetsuya Tanimoto2, Fatemeh Pourhaji7,8, Abbas Ali Ramoozi1, Shamim Arif1, Shamsullah Mehtarkhel1, Shekiba Madadi1, Sayed Hamid Mousavi1. 1. Medical Research Center, Kateb University, Kabul, Afghanistan. 2. Medical Governance Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Medical Sciences Research Center, Ghalib University, Kabul, Afghanistan. 4. Department of Breast Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan. 5. Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy. 6. Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, UK. 7. Department of Public Health Department, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. 8. Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. 9. Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima, Japan. 10. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 11. Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a common cause of antibiotic resistance, a major public health problem. This research aimed to identify the prevalence of SMA and explore reasons for practicing SMA among people living in Kabul, Afghanistan. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2017 in 12 community pharmacies operating across Kabul, Afghanistan. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with the use of SMA. RESULTS: Out of 385 participants, 282 (73.2%) practiced SMA during the last year. Overall, 241 (62.6%) were 'very concerned' about the use of SMA, and 156 (40.5%) highlighted it is bad to practice SMA. The top three antibiotics used for self-medication were penicillin (ATC class: J01C), metronidazole (ATC: P01AB01), and ceftriaxone (ATC: J01DD04). Economic problems, lack of time to visit doctors, and ease of use were cited as the main reasons for practicing SMA. Furthermore, female participants were less likely to practice SMA compared to male counterparts. CONCLUSION: While efforts should be directed to enforce strict drug regulations system and awareness programs, priority should be given to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health care services to increase citizen's compliance to appropriate drug prescriptions.
OBJECTIVE: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a common cause of antibiotic resistance, a major public health problem. This research aimed to identify the prevalence of SMA and explore reasons for practicing SMA among people living in Kabul, Afghanistan. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2017 in 12 community pharmacies operating across Kabul, Afghanistan. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify the factors associated with the use of SMA. RESULTS: Out of 385 participants, 282 (73.2%) practiced SMA during the last year. Overall, 241 (62.6%) were 'very concerned' about the use of SMA, and 156 (40.5%) highlighted it is bad to practice SMA. The top three antibiotics used for self-medication were penicillin (ATC class: J01C), metronidazole (ATC: P01AB01), and ceftriaxone (ATC: J01DD04). Economic problems, lack of time to visit doctors, and ease of use were cited as the main reasons for practicing SMA. Furthermore, female participants were less likely to practice SMA compared to male counterparts. CONCLUSION: While efforts should be directed to enforce strict drug regulations system and awareness programs, priority should be given to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health care services to increase citizen's compliance to appropriate drug prescriptions.
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