ABSTRACT

Background

Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public’s knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication.

Methods

A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication.

Results

A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0–27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004).

Conclusion

There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.

中文翻译：

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使用抗生素的自我药疗行为：斯里兰卡的一项全国横断面调查

摘要

背景

抗生素自我用药在低收入和中等收入国家很常见。本研究旨在评估斯里兰卡公众对抗生素使用和自我用药的知识和态度，以及与自我用药相关的因素。

方法

对随机住户样本 (N = 1100) 进行了全国横断面调查，由访问员管理。对态度项目进行因素分析，调查与抗生素自我用药相关的因素。

结果

91% (n = 998) 的回应率作出回应。对抗生素的了解很少（平均值 = 12.5；SD = 3.5；（0-27 级））。一半的人在过去三个月中曾使用过一次抗生素。大约 11% (108/998) 在上次服用抗生素时自我治疗；主要从药房获得（82%；89/108）。获得了三个态度因素，解释了 56.1% 的方差。如果受访者不支持从药房获得抗生素的便利性( p < 0.001) 和抗生素的情境使用( p = 0.001)，则他们不太可能自我治疗；支持适当使用抗生素（p = 0.003）；并且有更大的关于抗生素处方要求的知识（p = 0.004）。

结论

关于抗生素自我用药的知识有限，而且使用率很高。导致自我用药的因素可以通过适当的公共教育活动和政策变化来解决。