Public Health Literacy, Knowledge, and Awareness Regarding Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Suhaib M Muflih,Reema A Karasneh,Sayer Al-Azzam,Mamoon A Aldeyab,Barbara R Conway

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10091107

Abstract

Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) organisms pose a global threat to modern medicine, which has grown as a result of irrational antibiotic use and misuse. This study aimed to assess general public knowledge in Jordan and awareness of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was carried out utilizing the WHO multicountry public awareness survey. The study population was composed mainly of social media users, and a total of 1213 participants completed the online survey. According to the findings, more than half of the participants were well versed in antibiotic use and resistance. Those with adequate health literacy were found to better understand antibiotics (OR = 1.37, p = 0.017) and antibiotic resistance (OR = 1.46, p = 0.003). The vast majority (88.5%) recognized at least one antibiotic resistance term; however, 53.2% believed that antibiotic resistance is a problem in other nations. The participants in this study reported using antibiotics incorrectly, believing that they were treating sore throats, colds, and flu. The participants were well aware of antibiotic resistance solutions and their consequences on health. Age, education, health literacy, and antibiotic knowledge were found to be substantially (p < 0.05) associated with greater awareness of antibiotic resistance. The findings highlight the need for antimicrobial resistance education campaigns, health literacy, and antibiotic stewardship initiatives.

Highlights

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) organisms has posed a global challenge to modern medicine since the discovery of antibiotics
People who live in cities have higher levels of health literacy than those who live in rural areas [18,19]
The current study investigated the levels of health literacy in Jordanian communities in relation to their knowledge and awareness of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

Summary

Introduction

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) organisms has posed a global challenge to modern medicine since the discovery of antibiotics. A key driver to rising antimicrobial resistance, according to Laxminarayan et al (2013) and Pereko et al (2015) [30,31], is the misuse of antibiotics for self-limiting diseases, such as cold and influenza, sore throat, and diarrhea. Despite the fact that the world’s attention is currently focused on the global COVID-19 epidemic, the AMR issue should be prioritized [34], and research studies examining public perceptions of AMR during the present pandemic are needed. This process was undertaken in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the general public’s knowledge and awareness regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion