Beliefs, Practices and Evaluation of Non-prescribed Antibiotics Use among Children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To assess the current knowledge, beliefs, awareness and practices of the Saudi population attending Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) in Madinah City, Saudi Arabia using non-prescribed antibiotics for their children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Socio-demographic, knowledge, beliefs, awareness and behaviour data related antibiotics and patterns of antibiotics usage (PAPA scale) were collected. The knowledge, beliefs, awareness, and behaviours data were compared between subjects using non-prescribed antibiotics for their children and those did not by using appropriate statistical methods.

Results: 170 subjects reported using non-prescribed antibiotics for their children (48.5%). The average score of negative knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics misuse was higher among subjects using non-prescribed antibiotics. It was 4.3±3.1 among subjects using non-prescribed antibiotics for their children compared to 1.7±3.2 among those not using non-prescribed antibiotics. Also, the average positive score of behaviour and awareness was lower among subjects using non-prescribed antibiotics. The average score of the studied behaviour and awareness was found to vary by the educational level of the studied subjects with the higher average score was among of highly educated subjects.

Conclusion: The study revealed a considerable high proportion of the Saudi population using non-prescribed antibiotics for their children. The average score of negative knowledge and beliefs and positive score of behaviour was found to vary by the usage of non-prescribed antibiotics and by the educational level of the studied cohort. There is a need to conduct more community-based studies and to deliver health education programs about the dangers of antibiotics misuse through mass media.