Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a topic of global concern these days. Irrational, excessive use of antibiotics by the general public is one of the key factors responsible for this. Through this study, we aim to analyse the knowledge, attitude and practices of antibiotics use among parents of children presenting to a tertiary care hospital in India. Also, correlate it with the gender, education level and previous use of antibiotics by the parents. A cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Navi Mumbai, India from September to November 2014 and a total of 1000 parents were interviewed using a questionnaire designed by the authors. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of data. A total of 872 parents were included in the study. Around one in every four (28%) parents correctly identified that antibiotics are used against bacterial infections while only 15.5% parents knew the meaning of the term antibiotic resistance. Majority of the respondents appreciated that unnecessary use of antibiotics could harm the child (73.6%). It was noteworthy that 85.2% parents stated that they don't use leftover antibiotics from the previous prescription for the next time without doctor's consult. Males, parents with higher level of formal education and use of antibiotics previously were found to have more knowledge regarding antibiotics and lesser misconceptions (p<0.05). Overall, in this study it was found that misconceptions exist about the use and indications of antibiotics. Lack of knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance was prevalent. But participants were aware of the risks associated with use of excessive antibiotics. More interaction with paediatricians and involvement of mass media may help to improve the antibiotics knowledge and practices among parents and consequently, control the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
