Antibiotic Practices, Perceptions and Self-Medication Among Patients at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Infection and drug resistance
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern with
increasing reports of microorganisms resistant to most of the available antibiotics. There
are limited data on antibiotic practices, perceptions and self-medication among Ugandans,
necessitating this study.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients at Kiruddu National
Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. A pre-tested interviewer administered a questionnaire
that was used to collect data after an informed consent. Chi-square tests and logistic
regression were used to assess associations between outcome and exposure variables. A
P<0.05 was statistically significant.
Results: A total of 279 patients (response rate=71%) with a median age of 32 years
participated in the study. The majority were females (55.6%, n=155) and from the outpatient
department (74.9%, n=209). Overall, 212 (76%) participants had taken an antibiotic in the
past 6 months, and some 22.2% (n=47) of the participants had practiced self-medication.
Male participants (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.01 to
4.50, P=0.046) and Muslims (aOR=4.37, 96% CI:1.54 to 12.44, P=0.006) were more likely
to self-medicate. Employees (aOR=0.06, 95% CI:0.01 to 0.51, P=0.010) and patients with
tertiary education (aOR=0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.81, P=0.028) were less likely to practice
self-medication. About 33% (n=70) of the participants had not completed treatment dosage
during their last course of antibiotic treatment because of feeling better (60%, n=42), lack of
money to purchase the medication (15.7%, n=11) and side effects (10%, n=7). Whereas 169
participants (79.7%) believed that not completing treatment would have an impact on their
personal health, only 96 participants (45.3%) believed that this behaviour could affect the
health of others.
Conclusion: Antibiotic misuse is significant among patients in Uganda. Continuous health
education programs aimed at informing the public on antimicrobial resistance, and its
dangers are recommended to curtail this challenge.
Description
Keywords
Antimicrobial resistance, Antibiotic misuse, Self-prescription, Patients
Citation
Nabaweesi, I., Olum, R., Sekite, A. B., Suubi, W. T., Nakiwunga, P., Machali, A., ... & Katagirya, E. (2021). Antibiotic practices, perceptions and self-medication among patients at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda. Infection and drug resistance, 14, 2155. https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S303075