Self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, exacerbated in regions like Saudi Arabia where antibiotics are available without a prescription.
• Previous studies on antibiotic self-medication in Saudi Arabia have primarily focused on hospital settings, neglecting community perspectives.
• The community prevalence and underlying reasons for self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics within the general community in Saudi Arabia.
• To identify the most commonly used antibiotics for self-medication.
• To understand the primary reasons and sources for obtaining antibiotics without a prescription.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• An online survey questionnaire was distributed using a snowball sampling technique.
• Data collection occurred between January and May 2017, targeting residents of Saudi Arabia.

Main Results:

• Out of 1264 respondents, 34% reported using antibiotics without a prescription.
• Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (45.1%) and amoxicillin (39.9%) were the most frequently self-medicated antibiotics.
• Tonsillitis (76.7%) was the most common illness, and previous prescription experience (52.1%) was the main reason for self-medication.

Conclusions:

• The significant prevalence of antibiotic self-medication necessitates immediate action from health authorities.
• Implementing and enforcing laws against the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics is crucial.
• Addressing community-based antibiotic misuse is vital to combat antimicrobial resistance.