Journal of Tropical Diseases & Public Health

Abstract

Awareness and Knowledge about Antibiotic Use and Resistance among Students of Northern Border University Saudi Arabia

Samreen Soomro, Hanan Oqla Alshammari and Yaqin Abdullah Alabbas

Background: Irrational antibiotic use has led society to antibiotic resistance a serious health problem worldwide, which is now trying to be solved by many various approaches. In 2011, the World Health Day theme was “Combat drug resistance: no action today means no cure tomorrow”.
Objective: Objective of this study aimed examine the level of knowledge about antibiotic treatment and awareness of antibiotic resistance among the students at Northern Border University.
Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study design was used to carry out this study from October 2016 to February 2017. The study was conducted among the students in Northern Border University with 202 participants. Data was collected by online questionnaire in Arabic language specially designed for the research purpose. Statistical analysis was done by utilizing MS Excel program. Results: The study was based on questioners filled by students of NBU. The results suggested that among total male 13.4% and 86.6% female candidates, majority were pharmacy students. Nearly 34% complete antibiotic course but 66% did not finish the course since they feel better. About 9% change the antibiotic if they did not feel better. While 69.3% reported keeping leftover antibiotics at home for future need. 70% visit hospital and for clinical indication about 42% of respondents had used antibiotics for sore throat, and 19% for fever, 17% for common cold. 60% of respondents they heard about the bacteria resistance and the random use of antibiotic is harmful on the body. While 40% don't know what is bacteria resistance? And for the reasons of bacteria resistance, 29% use antibiotics unnecessarily. And 28% do not complete course, 23% use over the counter antibiotics. In addition, 21.3% of respondents believed that resistant bacteria can be eradicated by increasing antibiotic dose, while 79% don't believe. 92% of respondents maintain a specific concentration of antibiotics. Moreover, 11.2% were not agreed about antibiotics that it work against all infections, while 53% think it treat viral infections.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study revealed a high percentage of inappropriate antibiotic knowledge and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics among students at NBU. Education programs should be developed, targeting specific public groups identified in this study, with lower antibiotic knowledge and higher self-medication risk.