Prevalence of Self-medication of Antibiotics in Children and Parental Perception and Knowledge Regarding Antibiotic Use and Resistance

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Madhnagar, & Naldanga Thana of Natore district in Bangladesh which is entitled by “prevalence of self-medication of antibiotics in children and parental perception and knowledge regarding antibiotic use and resistance”. The aims and objectives of this research were to identify the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotic to children, to determine parent’s knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication by exploring the knowledge and attitude about self-medication of antibiotics. This survey was based on questionnaire and had a sample size of 500 participants whose children’s were suffered from any disease during last six month and had experience in using antibiotics. After this study it is seen that most of the children were suffered from cough and cold and fever and a number of parents thought their child’s health status is poor enough to medicate antibiotic. The self medication tendency of parents to their children varies on education level, age, previous experience, sort of disease and monthly net house hold income. But self medication level is low in this area and high educated people actually self medicate their children most of the time. On the other hand in this area village people don’t have any clear idea about antibiotics because they are not so educated. So, they cannot easily self medicate their children. Another fact is that in this area government hospital is situated in village area and people get health care facilities from doctors and health care personnel. As a result self medication tendency is very less (95%). But having many facilities some times for the low education level they don’t understand perfectly how to administered antibiotic to their children and its side effects. As a result resistance grows very easily. Widely used prescribed antibiotics are Azithromycin (34.07%), cefixime (19.75%), cefurozime (2.46%) , ciprofloxacin (21.23%) and used antibiotics for the self medicated are amoxicillin (10.05%), Azithromycin (30.52%), cefixime (30.52%). When the parents were asked about antibiotic resistance then most of the respondents said that they do not have any idea about antibiotic resistance. Some educated people response about antibiotic resistance but not fully. So, parents should be aware of the resistance of the antibiotic and stopped practicing self medication antibiotic in children. And health ministry of government should take proper initiative and ensure the rules and regulation for purchasing and dispensing the antibiotic to prevent the misuse of antibiotic.