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Knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents regarding antibiotic use in children
Saad Siddiqui1, Mubeen Sultan Cheema, Romana Ayub
1Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. saadsiddiqui.5@gmail.com
Insights
Parental knowledge on antibiotic use is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance. Many parents in Peshawar believe antibiotics are essential for fever and recovery, highlighting a need for better public health education on judicious antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat.
- Unprescribed antibiotic use, exacerbated by unchecked access in Pakistan, fuels resistance.
- Understanding parental knowledge is key to promoting responsible antibiotic consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess parental knowledge regarding antibiotic use and associated problems.
- To identify parents' sources of information and expectations from pediatricians.
- To inform interventions for judicious antibiotic prescribing and dispensing.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Hayatabad, Peshawar.
- 400 parents with children aged 0-16 years, not in the medical profession, were interviewed.
- Data analysis utilized prevalence ratios to evaluate parental knowledge and practices.
Main Results:
- Most participants were literate mothers; 64% reported good healthcare access.
- Physicians were the primary source for antibiotic use.
- 35% believed antibiotics were necessary for fever, and 47% thought they hastened recovery, despite 51% acknowledging side effects.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps in parental understanding of appropriate antibiotic use were identified.
- Interventions are needed to enhance public awareness on judicious antibiotic consumption.
- Stricter controls on unprescribed antibiotic dispensing are essential to mitigate resistance.
Background:
Emerging resistance to antimicrobial chemotherapy is becoming a challenge for medicine in recent times. Un-prescribed use of antibiotics is a major contributor to development of this problem. In Pakistan access to antibiotics remains unchecked and hence results in it are over use. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge of parents regarding use of antibiotics, its associated problems, their source of information and their expectations from Paediatricians for prescription of anti-biotics.
Methods:
This is a questionnaire based cross sectional study conducted in Hayatabad town, District Peshawar. Parents who were consenting, had children aged between 0-16 years, and were not related to medical profession were included in study. Total number of participants interviewed was 400. Analysis was done using prevalence ratios.
Results:
Most of the participants were mothers. Majority of respondents were literate with education up till level of Graduation. 64% mentioned that they enjoyed a good access to healthcare. Most common source for use of antibiotics was Physician. 35% mentioned that antibiotics must be administered in any case of fever, 47% thought antibiotics to increase recovery time and 51% knew that antibiotics have their own side effect. The most common reason to administer un-prescribed antibiotics was same antibiotic being prescribed by a physician earlier followed by family member or pharmacist recommending use of antibiotic. Lack of resources was denied as a reason for self-administration of antibiotics by majority of parents.
Conclusion:
There is a need of intervention to increase awareness regarding judicious use of antibiotics and to check un-prescribed dispensing of antibiotics.
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