PATTERN AND DETERMINANTS OF ANTIBIOTICS SELF-MEDICATION FOR UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Self-medication is a concept that encourages individuals to look after minor ailments with simple and effective remedies. Globally, young children consume considerable amount of antibiotics as a result of their increased susceptibility to infections, particularly, upper respiratory tract infection and majority of these children are treated at home by the parents. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to a continued increase in the rate of resistant bacteria which has left Clinicians with limited drug options for the treatment of bacteria infectious diseases hence, the aim of this study is to determine the pattern and determinants of antibiotics self-medication for under-fiive children in a rural community of South-western Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among mothers that had at least one under-five child between October and December, 2014. Data were collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression. The result from this study showed that a very high proportion (96.5%) of mothers in this rural community relied on antibiotic self-medication for the treatment of various health conditions like cough (66.1%) and fever (42.5%). The most commonly used antibiotics were: Septrin (64.3%) and Flagyl (44.1%) with drug vendors (64.9%) being the major source of information. Mothers' level of knowledge of the hazards of antibiotic self-medication was also very low (28.1%). Chi-square test revealed that there is a significant association between respondents' educational status (P< 0.05), occupation (P< 0.05) and knowledge of the hazards. Hence, there is a need to educate the mothers on the risks and dangers of antibiotic self-medication in other to curb the menace of antibiotic resistant bacteria.