Antibiotics self-medication practices among health care professionals in selected public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is the first option and response to most illness episodes. Use of antimicrobials without health care professionals' guidance may result in greater probability of inappropriate use, missed diagnosis, delays in appropriate treatment, pathogen resistance and increased morbidity. There is no sector in the health care community which is immune to drug abuse or misuse of which the worst offenders include physicians, nurses and pharmacy professionals. Self-medication among health care professionals may be an indicator that the health professional is neglecting his or her own health. This represents serious issues for both patients and the professionals.Objective: To assess self-medication practices with antibiotics among health care professionals in selected hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May, 2017 among 317 health care professionals. Convenient sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to check the relationship between the dependent variable (antibiotic self-medication) and selected independent variables (sex, age, marital status, income, professional qualification and work experience). Results: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among health care professionals in one month recall period was found to be 72 (22.7%). The main reasons given for this practice were being familiar with the treatment options, 31 (43.1%) and need for rapid relief, 25 (34.7%). Respiratory problems, 29 (40.3%) and gastro intestinal problems, 28 (38.9%) were the most common illnesses for which self-medication with antibiotics was practiced while penicillins, 30 (41.6%) and fluoroquinolones, 29 (40.3%) constituted the two most commonly used antibiotics for the same. None of the variables had significant association with the practice of self-medication with antibiotics. Conclusion: Self-medication with antibiotics was common among the study participants. Efforts should be made by health authorities including Drug and Therapeutics Committee, Drugs Regulatory Authority, Hospitals' management and other stakeholders to ensure safe usage of antibiotics.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Self-Medication Including Antibiotics among Health Care Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pakistan: Findings and Implications

“…In addition, this was also the case among HCWs in Nigeria (54.6–89.3%) [ 104 , 112 ]. However, this is in contrast to another study in Nigeria, where only one third of HCWs surveyed practiced self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 64 ], and in Ethiopia (22.7%) [ 113 ], with similar findings among pooled studies of HCWs across multiple countries (32.5%) [ 111 ].…”

“…The data collection tool used in our survey was developed from previous studies combined with the considerable experience of the co-authors as well as observing local practices [ 55 , 103 , 110 , 113 , 114 , 139 ]. We have used this method before when developing context-specific data collection forms [ 101 , 131 , 140 , 141 , 142 ].…”

Self-medication with antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic resistance among population in Arar city, Saudi Arabia

“…Similar to our results, a study by Jorgji et al [11] reported that 78.14% of the participants had received antibiotics without a medical prescription. Compared to the prevalence of selfmedication with antibiotics among health care provider, a current Ethiopian study had reported it in a one-month recall period to be (22.7%), and they stated that the main reason "given for this practice was being familiar with the treatment options" [12]. The current study found that 18.9% stopped the antibiotics upon completion of the course (treatment course), while 32.8% stopped the antibiotics after symptoms disappear, 13.8% after a few days of recovery, while El Zowalaty et al reported that 71.1 % did not finish the antibiotic course as they felt better [10].…”

Evaluating self-medication practices in Ethiopia

“…A few studies have been undertaken in Ethiopia to investigate the usage of self-medication among the public and students, including medical students [ 27 – 29 ], and there are indications on the misuse of antibiotics by patients, even by health professionals [ 30 ]. However, there is no study conducted on self-medication practice with antibiotics of adult outpatients in Ethiopia.…”