ABSTRACT

Objectives

Public awareness about antibiotics use is critical in antimicrobial resistance. We evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general population of Punjab, Pakistan in this cross-sectional study.

Methods

We used a 50-item questionnaire to collect information on participant demographics, knowledge, and attitudes about antibiotics use and to evaluate the practices of taking antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.

Results

Of the 2106 participants who completed surveys, 35.4% thought antibiotics could cure viral infections; 47.5% believed they are effective against cold and flu. Nearly 60% percent of respondents had self-medicated with antibiotics. Married people (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.285, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.004–1.643 p = 0.046), higher antibiotics use knowledge (AOR = 0.818, 95% CI: 0.674–0.993 p = 0.042), ever purchased antibiotics without a physician’s prescription (AOR = 2.024 95% CI: 1.674–2.457 p ≤ 0.001) and storing antibiotics at home (AOR = 0.801 95% CI: 0.652–0.985 p = 0.035) were significantly associated with self-medication practices.

Conclusions

A high proportion of inappropriate antibiotics use exists among the general population of Punjab. Interventions are needed to improve health literacy and supervise antibiotics sales in retail pharmacies.

中文翻译：

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巴基斯坦旁遮普省关于抗生素使用的公众知识、态度和实践：一项横断面研究

摘要

目标

公众对抗生素使用的认识对于抗微生物药物耐药性至关重要。在这项横断面研究中，我们评估了巴基斯坦旁遮普省一般人群的知识、态度和做法。

方法

我们使用了一份包含 50 个项目的问卷来收集有关参与者人口统计资料、知识和对抗生素使用的态度的信息，并评估在没有医生处方的情况下服用抗生素的做法。

结果

在完成调查的 2106 名参与者中，35.4% 的人认为抗生素可以治愈病毒感染；47.5% 的人认为它们对感冒和流感有效。近 60% 的受访者曾用抗生素自行治疗。已婚人士（调整后的优势比 (AOR) = 1.285，95% 置信区间 (CI)：1.004–1.643 p = 0.046），较高的抗生素使用知识（AOR = 0.818，95% CI：0.674–0.993 p = 0.042）在没有医生处方的情况下购买抗生素（AOR = 2.024 95% CI：1.674–2.457 p ≤ 0.001）和在家中储存抗生素（AOR = 0.801 95% CI：0.652–0.985 p = 0.035）与自我用药显着相关。

结论

旁遮普省的普通民众中，抗生素使用不当的比例很高。需要采取干预措施来提高健康素养并监督零售药店的抗生素销售。