Parental Awareness Towards Antibiotic Use for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Background A common ineffective practice in pediatric care is the prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), which are typically caused by viruses. Behaviors of community members and their knowledge about antibiotic use is one of the major and modifiable factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of antibiotic use among parents for URTIs in pediatric patients. Methodology This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included 384 parents of children. Their demographic data and knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the use of antibiotics in URTI in pediatric patients and self-medication were evaluated using a structured validated 5-point Likert scale-based questionnaire by interviewing them and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results Out of 384 participants, 191 (49.74%) were between 30 and 40 years of age, with a male preponderance, 228 (59.38%). Of the participants, 205 (53.39%) did not know whether antibiotics should be given to all children who develop fever, 228 (59.38%) agreed that most URTIs are self-limited, and 222 (57.8%) were unaware of the side effects of antibiotics. Overall, 209 (54.4%) parents would not request an antibiotic prescription from a doctor and 80 (20.9%) parents changed the pediatrician if they prescribed antibiotic at each visit for their child; 337 (87.7%) parents stated that they strictly follow their doctors' recommendations for the use of antibiotics, 142 (36.97%) parents practice self-medication with antibiotics, the most common source of information was previous prescription, 259 (67.45%), and the most frequent site for procurement was pharmacy store, 275 (71.6%). Major reasons identified for self-medication were perception of URTI as a very simple problem not requiring doctor consultation, 124 (32.4%), followed by unaffordability of costs for a doctor visit and treatment 70 (18.2%). Scores of knowledge about antibiotic use in URTI were significantly associated with parents' age, education level, and socioeconomic class (p<0.05), while scores of attitude were only significantly associated with socioeconomic class (p<0.5). Practices towards antibiotic use were found to be significantly associated with socioeconomic class and number of children (p<0.05). Conclusion Findings of the study show that there is a lack of proper knowledge, attitude, and practices for the use of antimicrobials among parents for URTIs in children. Awareness programs targeting parents for the use of antibiotics and legislative actions for the sale of antibiotics together can help in improving rational use of medicines and contribute to the prevention of AMR.