Self-Medication with Antibiotics Prior to Medical Consultation among Out Patient Depamtment (OPD) Attendants in Madina Polyclinic

Abstract

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is practiced all over the world. However in developing nations, this practice is much more prevalent. Antibiotics self-medication is a precursor to the misuse of antibiotics which leads eventually to antimicrobial resistance which is now a global problem. In developing counties about 38% of the proportion self-medicate with antibiotics. Antibiotic self-medication is widespread in Ghana and there are several factors that have been identified with this practice. There is currently no published work on the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and associated factors in Madina, the study was therefore aimed at determining the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among attendants of the Out Patient Department (OPD) at Madina Polyclinic prior to seeking care medical consultation and associated factors. Method: The study was conducted from the 13th of May to the 8th of June, 2019, involving 319 participants. A well-structured questionnaire was used in collecting information from the respondents with regards to their demographic characteristics, self-medication with antibiotics, reasons for self-medicating with antibiotics, sources of antibiotics and the knowledge on the use of antibiotics. Results: From the study, 46.4% (95% CI 40.8% to 52.0%) had self-medicated with antibiotics before presenting for medical consultation at the hospital. Less than half of the respondents (44.5%) had adequate knowledge on the use of antibiotics. Having tertiary level of education was significantly associated with self-medication (aOR= 8.09, 95% CI 2.31-28.4, p = 0.001) whilst adequate knowledge on the use of antibiotics reduced the odds of self-medication by 53% (aOR= 0.47, 95% CI 0.23- 0.66, p<0.001). Conclusion: The general public needs to be well educated on what antibiotics are used for and the effects of using them inappropriately. The policy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) ought to be re-enforced and made known to all especially amongst the pharmacies who dispense antibiotics indiscriminately.