Volume 25, Issue 111, May, 2021

Knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic use and misuse among adults attending Primary health care in Arar city, Saudi Arabia

Amer Mohammed Alanazi¹, Fayez Sulobi G Alenezi¹, Talal Duhaim M Alanazi¹, Tariq Majed A Alhumaid¹, Sabry Mohammed Hammad², Amal Elwan Mohammed³

¹Resident family medicine physician, Saudi Board of Family Medicine, joint program, Northern Border Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
²Professor of Public Health & community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt & Consultant of Public Health & Community Medicine, Northern Border General Health Affairs, KSA
³Lecturer of Public Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Background: Antimicrobials are the communal drugs used in the developing countries. The irrational use of antimicrobial drugs is a huge problem on national health system. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of patients regarding antibiotic use and misuse at Arar city, kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study will be conducted in 4 PHC centers out of 14 centers at Arar city, Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia, between the 1st May 2019 and the 31th July 2019. The target population was patients attending in 4 Primary Health Centers. Results: Data of the present study showed a relatively good knowledge score (62.6±25.6) regarding the safe use of antibiotics in the populace. Only 56.6% of the applicants knew that antibiotics can cause allergic reaction may lead to death and 70.6% of them knew that it's not harmless to usage antibiotics during pregnancy and 62.8% knew that antibiotics are not safe during breast feeding. However, almost 60% of the applicants lacked the knowledge of safe practice of antibiotics on children’s teeth. Only 284 (59.3%) of our contributors had information about antibiotics resistant problem. As regards the attitude, about fifth (18.2%) of the applicants prefers to buy an antibiotic without a prescription. About quarter (22.1%) think that a good doctor depends on the antibiotic being prescribed. Regarding practice, only 10.9% of the contributors reported self-prescription of antibiotics, 5.2% reported pharmacist consultation, 5.4% reported family member advice and 78.5% reported the doctor's prescription as a source of antibiotics using. Conclusion: The current study showed a relatively good knowledge score, and bad attitude regarding the safe use of antibiotics among the population. Study results revealed good results regarding the source of antibiotics and self- medication. Increase the awareness of the public concerning the using of antibiotics and drug resistant strains is highly needed.

Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, practice, antibiotic, misuse, primary health care (PHC), Arar city, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2021, 25(111), 1173-1182

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