Self-Medication with Antibiotics: Prevalence, Practices and Related Factors among the Pakistani Public

Abstract

Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) has become considerably common in developing countries, which is a critical factor for driving antibiotic resistance. Individuals involved in SMA generally do not have adequate knowledge regarding the appropriate use, indications and dosage of these drugs. The objective of the present study was to investigate population SMA practices, knowledge and sociodemographic factors associated with SMA in Islamabad, Pakistan. The study adopted a cross-sectional methodology and data collection was performed through an anonymous, structured and pilot-tested questionnaire, which was interview-administered. Inferential statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Out of 480 participants, 55.6% (n = 267) were male with a mean age of 37.1 ± 10.1 years; the total prevalence of SMA was 32.5%. Ciprofloxacin (42.9%) was the most commonly used antibiotic to treat coughs or colds, a runny nose, flu or sore throat, diarrhea or fevers, which were relevant reasons for SMA. Findings from multivariate logistic regression showed that predictors of SMA were: male gender (95% CI: 0.383–1.005), age (95% CI: 0.317–0.953) and highest level of education (95% CI: 0.961–0.649). Despite reasonable access to healthcare facilities, people are still obtaining antibiotics without prescription, bypassing diagnostic and consultative healthcare services. Thus, the government must implement strict healthcare policies to restrict the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions, while at the same time, targeted public awareness campaigns about the proper use of antibiotics are also required.

Antibiotic self-medication-prevalence and trends among adults attending an urban health centre in South Kerala

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The hidden dangers lurking at home: Unveiling the prevalence of leftover antibiotics and its associated factors among Lebanese households

“…In Brazil, a higher prevalence of 34% for LA was observed, with a particularly strong association with amoxicillin + clavulanate at 42%, similar to our study's findings of 36.89% [ 24 ]. Furthermore, a global survey of LA in 11 countries discovered a prevalence of 51.9% among respondents who obtained antibiotics through new prescriptions or from medical professionals [ 25 ].…”

The challenges of implementing infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship programs in resource-constrained settings

“… 20 A cross-sectional study from Pakistan assessing the sociodemographic factors associated with antibiotic self-medication revealed that approximately 70% of survey participants had used antibiotics over the past year and 30% without consultation with a healthcare professional. 20 Similarly, a survey of 5 countries in Africa revealed that antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications, with 90% of individuals with acute illness seeking care and 36% being prescribed antibiotics. About 30% of these patients received antibiotics without prescriptions and 25% received antibiotics from informal dispensers.…”