Self-medication Behavior with antibiotics: a national cross-sectional survey in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic self-medication is common in low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public's knowledge about and attitudes towards antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication.Methods: A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N=1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotics self-medication.Results: A response rate of 91% (n=998) was obtained. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean=12.5; SD=3.5; (scale 0-27)). Half of the respondents had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p<0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p=0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p=0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for obtaining antibiotics (p=0.004). Conclusion:There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics in Sri Lanka. Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education, awareness campaigns, and policy changes.

Self-Medication as an Important Risk Factor for Antibiotic Resistance: A Multi-Institutional Survey among Students

“…Self-medication is a concept in which individuals use substances to ameliorate and manage their minor illnesses. Individuals are gambling with their health in the hope that some substances help their illness and the problem is better controlled [ 6 , 7 ]. It is one of the common and favored modes reestablished by the patient.…”

Factors Related to Antibiotic Supply without a Prescription for Common Infections: A Cross-Sectional National Survey in Sri Lanka

“…Self-medication with antibiotics is closely associated with inappropriate antibiotic use [11]. In a recent survey of the Sri Lankan general public, nearly all participants (98%, 974/998) reported that they had used an antibiotic in the past and half of them (50%) claimed to have taken an antibiotic at least once in the three months prior to the survey [12]. Despite the fact that antibiotics cannot treat infections caused by viruses such as common cold, acute sore throat, runny nose and flu [13][14][15][16], the majority of respondents (76%) in the Sri Lankan study had used antibiotics inappropriately for these minor infections [12].…”

Understanding on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among a group of internet users in Sri Lanka and development of a simple online educational tool

“…Overall knowledge on antibiotics and resistance has been almost universally found to be not satisfactory. 10,12,13,14 Given that the majority of our study participants were undergoing or had been through university education, this situation is of concern. The older group who were self-motivated to take this questionnaire are likely to be ones who are keener about the issue, as reflected in the higher knowledge score.…”