Prevalence and Patterns of Self-Medication with Antibiotics among People Visiting Dental Clinic, Kabul, Afghanistan

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Sep 30, 2023
https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v2i03.70
Download
PDF 254
Statistic

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Vol. 2 No. 03 (2023): September

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Ali Mohammad Alokozay
Rajab Nazari
Mohammad Ashraf Farahmand
Shah Jahan Shayan

Abstract

‌Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is a global public health issue particularly in developing countries where over 50% of antibiotics are dispensed over the counter. This class of drugs, which is the most important success of modern medicine, and saved millions of lives, is now losing its effectiveness owing to microbial resistance. It is an emergency alarm for developing countries which are in the top of morbidity and mortality list of infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of self-medication with antibiotics among people attending the Dental Teaching Clinic of Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2020.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among clients of the Dentistry Teaching Clinic of Kabul University of Medical Sciences. A census sampling method was used to select the participants for one month, November 2020. Data collection was done using a researcher-developed questionnaire to collect data on the prevalence and patterns of self-medication with antibiotics. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 24).
Findings: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 30.1% in the past twelve months. The common reasons for self-medication with antibiotics were having a successful experience with medication, cost-saving, and lack of time.  Toothache, sore throat, and cough were common health conditions that were self-medicated with antibiotics. Amoxicillin, metronidazole, and azithromycin were common antibiotics that were used for self-medication.
Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics is high among people attending the Dental Teaching Clinic of Kabul University of Medical Sciences. Patterns of self-medication indicate the irrational practice of antibiotics.

Keywords

Self-Medication, Antibiotics, Dental Clinic, Microbial Resistance

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

How to Cite
Alokozay, A. M., Nazari, R., Farahmand, M. A., & Shayan, S. J. (2023). Prevalence and Patterns of Self-Medication with Antibiotics among People Visiting Dental Clinic, Kabul, Afghanistan. Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences, 2(03), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.70436/nuijb.v2i03.70

References

  1. Abduelkarem, A. R., Othman, A. M., Abuelkhair, Z. M., Ghazal, M. M., Alzouobi, S. B., & El Zowalaty, M. E. (2019). Prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among residents in United Arab Emirates. Infection and Drug Resistance, 3445-3453.
  2. Al Akhali, K. M., Alzomar, A. K., Noohu Abdulla Khan, A., Alavudeen, S. S. (2013). Misuse of antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic hazard among the public and medical professionals in Thamar province, in the republic of Yemen. Pharmacie globale international journal of comprehensive pharmacy, 4(1), 1-4.
  3. Al Rasheed, A., Yagoub, U., Alkhashan, H., Abdelhay, O., Alawwad, A., Al Aboud, A., & Al Battal, S. (2016). Prevalence and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics in Al Wazarat Health Center, Riyadh City, KSA. BioMed research international, 2016.
  4. Alfalogy, E. H., Nafadi, H. B., Al Rehaili, S. H., AL-Harbi, B. A. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics for children in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 5(5), 60-64.
  5. Alghadeer, S., Aljuaydi, K., Babelghaith, S., Alhammad, A., & Alarifi, M. N. (2018). Self-medication with antibiotics in Saudi Arabia. Saudi pharmaceutical journal, 26(5), 719-724.
  6. Al-Qahtani, M. A., Amin, H. S., Al-Qahtani, A. A., Alshahrani, A. M., Alghamdi, H. A., Althwayee, M. S., & Alzahrani, A. A. (2018). Self-medication with antibiotics in a primary care setting in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Journal of family & community medicine, 25(2), 95.
  7. Ansari, M. (2017). Evaluation of community pharmacies regarding dispensing practices of antibiotics in two districts of central Nepal. PLoS One, 12(9), e0183907.
  8. Ateshim, Y., Bereket, B., Major, F., Emun, Y., Woldai, B., Pasha, I., ... & Russom, M. (2019). Prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics and associated factors in the community of Asmara, Eritrea: a descriptive cross sectional survey. BMC public health, 19(1), 1-7.
  9. Bansal, R., Jain, A., Goyal, M., Singh, T., Sood, H., & Malviya, H. S. (2019). Antibiotic abuse during endodontic treatment: A contributing factor to antibiotic resistance. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(11), 3518.
  10. Barros, G. A. M. D., Calonego, M. A. M., Mendes, R. F., Castro, R. A., Faria, J. F., Trivellato, S. A., ... & Dias, A. (2020). The use of analgesics and risk of self-medication in an urban population sample: cross-sectional study. Revista brasileira de anestesiologia, 69, 529-536.
  11. Dar-Odeh, N. S., Abu-Hammad, O. A., Al-Omiri, M. K., Khraisat, A. S., & Shehabi, A. A. (2010). Antibiotic prescribing practices by dentists: a review. Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 6, 301.
  12. Dar-Odeh, N., Othman, B., Bahabri, R. H., Alnazzawi, A. A., Borzangy, S. S., Fadel, H. T., et al. (2018). Antibiotic self-medication for oral conditions: characteristics and associated factors. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada, 18(1), 3890.
  13. Goossens, H., Ferech, M., Vander Stichele, R., & Elseviers, M. (2005). Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database study. The Lancet, 365(9459), 579-587.
  14. Kamat, V. R., & Nichter, M. (1998). Pharmacies, self-medication and pharmaceutical marketing in Bombay, India. Social Science & Medicine, 47(6), 779-794.
  15. Livermore, D. M. (2003). Bacterial resistance: origins, epidemiology, and impact. Clinical infectious diseases, 36(Supplement_1), S11-S23.
  16. Majumder, M. A. A., Rahman, S., Cohall, D., Bharatha, A., Singh, K., Haque, M., & Gittens-St Hilaire, M. (2020). Antimicrobial stewardship: Fighting antimicrobial resistance and protecting global public health. Infection and drug resistance, 4713-4738.
  17. Mukokinya, M. M. A., Opanga, S., Oluka, M., & Godman, B. (2018). Dispensing of antimicrobials in Kenya: A cross-sectional pilot study and its implications. Journal of research in pharmacy practice, 7(2), 77.
  18. Nafisah, S. B., Nafesa, S. B., Alamery, A. H., Alhumaid, M. A., AlMuhaidib, H. M., Al-Eidan, F. A. (2017). Over-the-counter antibiotics in Saudi Arabia, an urgent call for policymakers. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 10(5), 522-526.
  19. Negarandeh, R., Poortaghi, S., & Shayan, S. J. (2021). Prevalence and patterns of self-medication with antibiotics among visitors of central polyclinic of Kabul, Afghanistan. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 12(2), 271-274.
  20. Nepal, G., & Bhatta, S. (2018). Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Southeast Asian Region: a systematic review. Cureus, 10(4).
  21. Noone, J., & Blanchette, C. M. (2018). The value of self-medication: summary of existing evidence. Journal of medical economics, 21(2), 201-211.
  22. Ocan, M., et al. (2015). Household antimicrobial self-medication: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the burden, risk factors and outcomes in developing countries. BMC Public Health, 15, 742.
  23. Okeke, I. N., et al. (2005). Antimicrobial resistance in developing countries. Part II: strategies for containment. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5(9), 568-580.
  24. Patini, R., Mangino, G., Martellacci, L., Quaranta, G., Masucci, L., & Gallenzi, P. (2020). The effect of different antibiotic regimens on bacterial resistance: a systematic review. Antibiotics, 9(1), 22.
  25. Rather, I. A., Kim, B. C., Bajpai, V. K., & Park, Y. H. (2017). Self-medication and antibiotic resistance: Crisis, current challenges, and prevention. Saudi journal of biological sciences, 24(4), 808-812.
  26. Sherman, J. D., McGain, F., Lem, M., Mortimer, F., Jonas, W. B., & MacNeill, A. J. (2021). Net zero healthcare: a call for clinician action. bmj, 374.
  27. Stein, K., Farmer, J., Singhal, S., Marra, F., Sutherland, S., & Quiñonez, C. (2018). The use and misuse of antibiotics in dentistry: A scoping review. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 149(10), 869-884.
  28. Thornhill, M. H., Dayer, M. J., Durkin, M. J., Lockhart, P. B., & Baddour, L. M. (2019). Oral antibiotic prescribing by NHS dentists in England 2010-2017. British dental journal, 227(12), 1044-1050.
  29. Thoudam, B. D., Santosh, H. N., Bose, A., & Singh, M. N. (2021). Antibiotic prescription pattern among dentists in Imphal city of North East India: A cross-sectional survey study. International Journal of Oral Health Sciences, 11(2), 109-113.
  30. Ventola, C. L. (2015). The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. Pharmacy and therapeutics, 40(4), 277.
  31. World Health Organization. (1998). The role of the Pharmacist in self-care and self-medication.
  32. World Health Organization. (2000). Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of medicinal products for use in self-medication.
  33. World Health Organization. (2009). Self-care in the context of primary health care.