O E Okolosi-Patani11
,
U S Ahwinahwi2,
O B Okoeko1
For correspondence:- O Okolosi-Patani1 Email: elohous@yahoo.com Tel: +2348033119273
Published: 31 December 2015
Citation: Okolosi-Patani1 OE, Ahwinahwi US, Okoeko OB. Use of antibiotics among undergraduate students of Delta State University, Abraka. J Sci Pract Pharm 2015; 2(1):8-12 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v2i1.3
© 2015 The author(s).
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Purpose:This study was designed to evaluate the use of antibiotics among undergraduate students of Delta State University, Abraka.
Methods:Self-administered, structured, pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from 450 students pursuing different courses of study using a random sampling technique.
Results:The result obtained revealed that 63.1% of the students studied had engaged in self-medication with antibiotics in the last six months preceding the study. Skin infection (26.8%) was the most common condition that provoked the students to self-medication with antibiotics, while respiratory tract infection (13%) was the least. Beta lactam antibiotics particularly Ampicillin and cloxacillin combination (Ampiclox) was the most common antibiotics used by respondents while tetracycline was the least used. The predominant reason for self-medication with antibiotic was prior knowledge about the drug (31%) followed by illness considered not serious for enough for consultation with a healthcare practitioner (27%). More female used antibiotics inappropriately than their male counterparts with a P-value of 0.01.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of inappropriate use of antibiotics was found amongst students of the institution studied. This highlights the need for concerned efforts to strengthen and implement policies and legislations on advertising, prescription, sales and distribution of antibiotics..
