Antibiotics use among residents in Eastern Nepal: a community-based mixed method study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global threat, exacerbated by inappropriate antibiotic use in communities.
• Nepal faces a growing AMR challenge due to indiscriminate antibiotic consumption, with limited data on community practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of inappropriate antibiotic use in the community.
• To evaluate community knowledge and practices related to antibiotic usage.

Main Methods:

• A community-based cross-sectional study involving 336 participants was conducted.
• Face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires were employed.
• Participants were shown various antibiotic forms to gauge recognition and recent usage.

Main Results:

• Nearly all (94.6%) respondents demonstrated inappropriate antibiotic use.
• A significant proportion (48.51%) believed antibiotics are safe for general use, and 43.15% used them for common colds.
• The majority (81.84%) lacked awareness regarding antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

• Inappropriate antibiotic use is prevalent in the Nepalese community.
• Low wages were associated with high rates of inappropriate antibiotic use in younger adults (18-39 years).
• Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve antibiotic stewardship in Nepal.