Self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia

Alghadeer, Sultan; Aljuaydi, Khalid Ayidh; Babelghaith, Salmeen D; Alhammad, Abdullah

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2018.02.018

Cited by 78 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…This includes tackling the use of AMs without a prescription, which is considered a form of AM 'misuse' that can potentially accelerate the emergence of resistant microorganisms (WHO, 2015b). Over the last decades, numerous studies on self-medication with antibiotics, conducted in different parts of the world, have sought to determine the prevalence, risks and/or factors related to 'inappropriate' antibiotic use (e.g., Borg and Scicluna, 2002;Grigoryan et al, 2007;Elmasry et al, 2013;Albawani et al, 2017;Alghadeer et al, 2018). Although tracking OTC sales is challenging in most countries (WHO, 2015b), according to a review of Alhomoud et al (2017, p. 4), "it has been estimated that more than 50% of antibiotics are purchased without a prescription and used over-the-counter in most parts of the world".…”

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confidence: 99%

Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships

Rodrigues

2020

Palgrave Commun

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Self-medication, as a form of self-care, is a common practice worldwide, and often involves the use of both over-the-counter and prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics, anti-malarials and others. Increasing concerns over the global emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance point to the need to reduce and optimise the use of antimicrobial medicines, both in human and animal health. Over the past few decades, numerous studies on self-medication with antibiotics have sought to determine the prevalence, risks and/or factors related to 'inappropriate' use in different parts of the world. Yet much of this literature tends to follow a rather normative approach, which regards such practices as problematic and often irrational, frequently overlooking structural aspects, situated circumstances and individuals' own reasoning. Based on a mixed methods social science research project in Maputo, which included a household survey, observations in pharmacies and interviews with users and healthcare providers, this paper aims to discuss self-medication in light of local users' everyday practical reasoning. While situating selfmedication within local contextual contingencies, the analysis highlights the ways in which personal and socially shared experiences, articulated with forms of knowledge and information provided by different sources, shape and inform practices of and attitudes towards self-medication with antibiotics. By looking at self-medication beyond (non-)prescription use, and by examining individuals' decisions within their socioeconomic and therapeutic landscapes in Maputo, this study sheds light on the structural and relational factors that contribute to certain consumption practices that do not always follow biomedical recommendations of 'rational' or 'appropriate' use, helping to deconstruct and further problematise the various legitimate meanings and understandings of 'responsible' use.

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confidence: 99%

Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships

Rodrigues

2020

Palgrave Commun

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“…Other ways included: shifting antibiotics, sharing antibiotics, and keeping leftovers (27-29, 35, 39, 40, 43, 44, 48, 50-52, 56, 59, 61, 65, 67, 77, 78, 80 . Besides, healthcare professionals should be educated regarding rational usage of antibiotics, and also medical curriculum should be revised to address this problem (25,28,33,34,37,38,40,46,52,64,69,79,82). Other recommendations followed by accessible healthcare for all (26,77) and more research and periodic survey (32,55,74) for exploring the public awareness, determining the level of microbial resistance, and assessing the effectiveness of different approaches of interventions.…”

Section: Common Illnesses Rendering Smamentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Negarandeh

Shayan

Nazari

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Abstract Background Recently, inappropriate use of antibiotics has been correlated with life-threatening side-effects such as adverse effects, increased cost of treatment, and the higher rate of microbial resistance. Besides, it leads to a waste of resources. Therefore, this review sought to determine the pooled prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, self-medicated illness, reasons for self-medication, antibiotics used for self-medication, source of obtaining antibiotics, the inappropriate practice of antibiotics and suggested recommendations for talking self-medication with antibiotics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (EMRWHO). Methods Review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Database search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science using a combination of keywords which included; antimicrobial, antibacterial, antibiotic, self-medication, self-treatment, self-prescription, non-prescribed, irrational use, inappropriate use, misuse, abuse and Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO countries. The lists of references of the selected articles were also hand-searched to obtained additional relevant articles. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2018 were included in the review. Results We report on data from 60 articles and 49629 participants in this review. The overall prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in EMRWHO was 47.2% (95% CI 41.6% – 52.9%). Yemen has the highest pooled rate with a rate of 75.0% (95% CI 63.4% − 83.9%), whilst Lebanon has the lowest pooled rate with a prevalence of 28.7% (95% CI 18.4% − 41.8%). The most common illnesses implicated in antibiotic self-medication were upper-respiratory infections and the most common antibiotic was Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid. The commonest reasons for antibiotic self-medication include: saving time and money. Pharmacies pointed out as the most common source of obtaining antibiotics for self-medication. Conclusion Self-medication with antibiotics is significantly high in the member states of EMRWHO. Intervention such as an educational program for communities’ members to change their behaviors, policy on the mechanism of distribution of antibiotics is called for in this area.

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“…These findings are in agreement with available published literature which indicated that intentions for selfmedication with antibiotics result from the need to save money and the desire to act promptly to treat suspected or confirmed bacterial infections (Carvajal-Vélez et al, 2016;Chalovich and Eisenberg, 2013;Le et al, 2011). This knowledge of the condition is obtained from the health facility after the initial visit and knowledge of the exact medication that was provided (Viberg et al, 2010;Alghadeer et al, 2018).…”

Section: Determinants Of Antimicrobial Use In Diarrhoea Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diarrhoeal disease can be prevented by simple measures like personal hygiene and environmental sanitation; nonetheless, antibiotic therapy remains one of the common measures used to curb the disease despite the presence of less invasive solutions such as the Oral Rehydration Salts which are key remedies in treating childhood diarrhoea (Padhy et al, 2017;Mahapatra et al, 2015;Gwimile et al, 2012). This key role of antibiotics has contributed to high usage of antibiotics in management of diarrhoea which is contributing to increased cases of antimicrobial resistance (Padhy et al, 2017;Alghadeer et al, 2018). Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Zinc supplementation during diarrhoea illness has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea episodes in many countries which in the long run reduces morbidity and mortality among under-five children (Carvajal-Vélez et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of antimicrobial use in diarrhoea management among under-five children in Zomba, Malawi

Binali¹,

Musaya²,

Lampiao³

2019

J. Microbiol. Antimicrob.

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Diarrhoea is one of the most common infections that under-five children suffer from across the world. Antibiotics remains one of the common measures used to treat the infection, which has led to increased usage; nevertheless, the extent to which an individual is prompted to use antibiotics in managing diarrhoea in the Malawian setting is not clearly known. This study was aimed at establishing the factors that prompt mothers/caregivers to use antibiotics in treating childhood diarrhoea. Women/caregivers with under-five children who suffered from diarrhoea two weeks before the study were recruited for the interviews (n=269). One-on-one interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire and two focus group discussions were carried out to generate qualitative data. Quantitative data was entered in CSPro version 7 and exported to STATA version 12 for analysis. The study established that caregivers use antibiotics in managing diarrhoea due to long distances to the health facility (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03-3.65; P<0.04), unavailability of drugs at the facility (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 0.60-2.10; P<.71), quality of medical care at the health facility (OR 1.11, 95% CI: 0.57-2.15; P<.75) and previous knowledge of the diarrhoea condition (OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.49-1.66; P<.74). As a result of these findings, Government of Malawi should consider widening access to health facilities to its citizens such that citizens are encouraged to always visit the healthy facilities. Healthy professionals should always encourage caregivers to refrain from engaging in self-medicational behavior as it has devastating effects on increased drug usage which contributes to anti-microbial resistance.

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Self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The relative high prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics necessitates taking serious steps by health authorities to implement the law of forbidding the sale of antibiotics without prescription.

Cited by 78 publications

References 22 publications

Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships

Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships

Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Determinants of antimicrobial use in diarrhoea management among under-five children in Zomba, Malawi

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