Audit on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice aboutthe Misuse of Antibiotics in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children among Parents in Al-Najaf Province.

Abstract

Backgrounds: Upper respiratory tract infections are common in children. The cause of these infections are usually viral, but parents attitudes often contribute to inappropriate prescription of antibiotics, promoting antibiotic resistance, which is an important growing global health problem. In addition to that, lead to increase the burden of chronic diseases, rising costs of health services and the development of side effects (e.g. adverse gastrointestinal effects) which are more significant in children.

Objectives: identifying possible associated factors with antibiotic misuse among parents who attended primary health care in Al-Najaf province. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Al-Najaf during the period of the first of March to the first of June 2014. Two primary health care centers were randomly selected and 431 fathers and mothers who attended these centers were inter viewed and randomly selected by systematic random sample technique, data collection were done twice weekly during the period of the study. Data was gathered through structured questionnaire which was used to identify different variables by face to face interview. 

Results: There was positive significant association between mean knowledge score (11.09± 2.94) and mean attitude scores (13.87±3.59), between mean knowledge (11.09± 2.94) and mean practice score (8.77± 2.31) and between mean attitude scores (13.87±3.59) and mean practice score (8.77± 2.31) (p<0.001). The associated factors of AB misuse in children with URTI among Al Najaf parents being a young age parent (P=0.001), having low educational level(P<0.001), being a self-employed (P=0.001). And residence in a rural area (P=0.002) which are significantly associated to inadequate knowledge, inappropriate attitudes, and wrong practices.

Conclusions: This study has identified the main groups of parents that should be targeted in future intervention
programs. These groups are small age parents, those with low educational level, self-employed and those who
live in rural area.

Recommendation: Health education campaigns, medical staff education as well as public awareness campaigns
are needed to explain the role of antibiotics in URTI treatment .And stronger legal restrictions should be
introduced on the selling of antibiotics in community pharmacies according to special guidelines recommended
by the ministry of health