Abstract:
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) resulting from the misuse and overuse of antibiotics remains a serious public health concern, with majority of clinicians prescription of antibiotics related to reported cases of acute respiratory infections such as pharyngo-tonsillitis.
Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the pattern of antibiotic prescription by clinicians for treatment of acute pharyngo-tonsillitis and factors associated with prescribing antibiotics for the diagnosed cases among children attending Princess Marie Louise Children’s hospital in Accra.
Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design with quantitative approach to data collection. Questionnaire was used as method of data collection. The study consecutively sampled 422 children and their medical records for analysis. Descriptive analysis included percentages, frequencies, means and standard deviations of major variables. Test of association using chi-square test and Fisher’s exact was performed. A multiple logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of antibiotic prescription with significant level set at p<0.05.
Results: The mean age of children was 2.7 years ± 1.6 SD and majority of the children were females (70.6%). The mean age of caregivers was 27.3 years with nearly 39% who had up to senior high school/vocational/technical education and more than half of the respondents were traders (56.7%). Also, more than half of the children were fully immunized (58.9%). Bacterial throat swab was requested for 10% of the children diagnosed by clinicians. Of 81 caregivers who had no knowledge of respiratory tract infection, 88.7% where prescribed with antibiotics for their children. Prevalence of antibiotic prescription for the treatment of acute PT was 78% (p = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.74 – 0.82). Temperature of a child (aOR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.44 – 2.90; p <0.001), Family size (aOR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.09 – 1.83; p = 0.009) and no knowledge of respiratory infections (aOR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.20 – 5.59; p = 0.015) were found to be significant predictors of antibiotic prescription for treatment.
Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotics prescription is high for the treatment of acute PT among children at Princess Marie Louis Children Hospital. Factors such as temperature of the child, family size and no knowledge of respiratory tract infections were found to be significantly associated with the prescription of antibiotics for the treatment of acute pharyngo-tonsillitis. There should be a comprehensive policy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) that will guide clinicians in the rational use of antibiotics for treatment and to strengthen surveillance in healthcare institutions to ensure sustainable investment in countering AMR by relevant stakeholders in the Ministry of Health.
