Parental knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use in children at a municipal corporation in Northeast India

Authors

  • Kunal Chakraborty Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
  • Ananya Chakraborty Department of Pharmacology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6900-3205
  • Subhashish Saha Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India
  • Durba Deb Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203034

Keywords:

Antibiotics, Antibiotic in children, KAP, Parental KAP

Abstract

Background: Parental beliefs and expectations often lead to abuse and irrational prescriptions of antibiotics in pediatric population. The goal of this study was to examine parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about antibiotic use in children at the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) area in northeast India.

Methods: This cross- sectional study was undertaken after ethics committee approval. A questionnaire was given to parents participating in the study. The questionnaire had questions on socio-demographic profile and questions from knowledge, attitude and practice domains regarding use of antibiotics. Data was collected by house to house visit. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the knowledge and practice level and to explore the attitude about antibiotics use. Chi-square test was used to find out the determinants associated with knowledge level.

Results: A total of 254 participants responded to the study. Their mean age was 31.3 (S.D; 7.8) years. Adequate knowledge about antibiotic use was found in 59.1% (150) participants. Parental age, sex, educational level, and number of children was found to be associated with the knowledge and practice of antibiotics use. 33.5% (85) respondents felt that antibiotics should be prescribed for their child whenever they suffer from cold, ear ache, throat pain. 70.9% (180) of the respondents do not give antibiotics without consulting a doctor.

Conclusions: There is a trusted relationship between parents and their child's doctors. But many parents have insufficient knowledge related to antibiotic use in children. This results in inappropriate attitudes and practices. Educational interventions will reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Author Biographies

Ananya Chakraborty, Department of Pharmacology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Professor & HOD Pharmacology

Subhashish Saha, Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India

Medical social worker, Msc, PGDDM, Department of Community Medicine

Durba Deb, Department of Community Medicine, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura, India

Medical social worker, Msc, PGDDM, Department of Community Medicine

References

Adiga SMN, Alwar MC, Pai RSM, Adiga US. Pattern of antimicrobial agents use in hospital deliveries: a prospective comparative study. Online J Health Allied Sci. 2009;8(4):1-4.

Zyoud SH, Taha A, Araj KF, Abahri IA, Sawalha AF, Sweileh WM et al. Parental knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic use for acute upper respiratory tract infections in children: a cross-sectional study in Palestine. BMC Pedia. 2015;15:176.

Nasrin D, Collignon PJ, Roberts L, Wilson EJ, Pilotto LS, Douglas RM. Effect of beta lactam antibiotic use in children on pneumococcal resistance to penicillin: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2002;324(7328):28-30.

Yagupsky P. Selection of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the community. Pedia Infect Dis J. 2006;25(10):974-6.

Davey P, Pagliari C, Hayes A. The patient’s role in the spread and control of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2002;8:43-68.

Franco BE, Martinez AM, Rodriguez MA, Wertheimer AI. The determinants of the antibiotic resistance process. Infect Drug Resist. 2009;2:1-11.

Mortahejri S, Hong PJ, Yu AM, Hong BY, Stacey D, Bhatia RS, et al. Systematic review of patient-oriented interventions to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections. Syst Rev. 2020;9(1):106.

Agarwal S, Yewale VN, Dharmapalan D. Antibiotics use and misuse in children: a knowledge, attitude and practice survey of parents in India. J Clin Diag Res. 2015;9(11):21-4.

McNulty CA, Boyle P, Nichols T, Clappison P, Davey P. The public’s attitudes to and compliance with antibiotics. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2007;60:63-8.

Andre M, Vernby A, Berg J, Lundborg CS. A survey of public knowledge and awareness related to antibiotic use and resistance in Sweden. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010;65:1292-6.

Eng JV, Marcus R, Hadler JL, Imhoff B, Vugia DJ, Cieslak PR et al. Consumer attitudes and use of antibiotics. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003;9:1128-35.

Chan YH, Fan MM, Fok CM, Lok ZL, Ni M, Sin CF, et al. Antibiotics non-adherence and knowledge in a community with the world’s leading prevalence of antibiotics resistance: implications for public health intervention. Am J Infect Cont. 2012;40:113-7.

Al-Ayed MSZ. Parents' knowledge, attitudes and practices on antibiotic use by children. Saudi J Med Med Sci. 2019;7(2):93-9.

Panagakou SG, Spyridis N, Papaevangelou V, Theodoridou KM, Gouitzana GP, Theodoridou MN, et al. Antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections in children: a cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of parents in Greece. BMC Pediatr. 2011;11:60.

Rousounidis A, Papaevangelou V, Hadjipanayis A, Panagakou S, Theodoridou M, Syrogiannopoulos G, et al. Descriptive study on parents' knowledge, attitudes and practices on antibiotic use and misuse in children with upper respiratory tract infections in Cyprus. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(8):3246-62.

Pavydė E, Veikutis V, Mačiulienė A, Mačiulis V, Petrikonis K, Stankevičius E. Public knowledge, beliefs and behavior on antibiotic use and self-medication in Lithuania. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2015;12:7002-16.

Zahreddine L, Hallit S, Shakaroun S, Al-Hajje A, Awada S, Lahoud N. Knowledge of pharmacists and parents towards antibiotic use in pediatrics: a cross-sectional study in Lebanon. Pharm Pract. 2018;16(3):1194.

Downloads

Published

2020-07-24

How to Cite

Chakraborty, K., Chakraborty, A., Saha, S., & Deb, D. (2020). Parental knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotic use in children at a municipal corporation in Northeast India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(8), 3008–3013. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203034

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles