Antibiotic misuse among university students in western and eastern China: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to public health in China. The primary cause of AMR is antibiotic misuse, especially used for self-limiting illnesses. Little is known about regional differences of antibiotic-misuse behaviors in China. We aimed to explore such behaviors among university students in western and eastern China. Methods The participants were recruited from universities in Guizhou, a less developed province in western China, and from Zhejiang, a more developed province in eastern China, using a cluster random sampling method. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was designed to collect data, and the χ² test and logistic regression were adopted to assess the associations between region and antibiotic misuse.