arents’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Use of Antibiotics in Upper Respiratory Infections in Nigerian Children

Abstract

Parental knowledge of antibiotic use in upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) impacts significantly in the preservation of 
antibiotic efficacy, yet has not been adequately studied in Nigerian settings. This present study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes 
and self-medicating practices of caregivers towards the use of antibiotics in URTI among children. The study was a crosssectional and prospective survey. Parents visiting two hospitals (Nsukka General Hospital - rural and Enugu State University of 
Technology Teaching Hospital- urban) with their sick children (12 years and under) were approached to complete a 24-item 
questionnaire. The items assessed parental knowledge of, attitudes and self-medicating practices towards antibiotics in cases of 
URTI. Frequencies, means and inferential multivariate (chi-square, t-tests and regression) data analysis were conducted. The 
parents exhibited poor knowledge in most of the knowledge items. Younger parents, those visiting the urban hospital and those
with higher educational status exhibited significantly better knowledge of antibiotics and URTI (p<0.05). The parents indicated 
marginally accepting attitudes towards antibiotics use and misuse and this was influenced largely by better antibiotic knowledge 
and better educational qualifications (p<0.001). However parents from both hospitals frequently self-medicated (88.6%) and 
acknowledged poor practices towards antibiotics such as the use of left over antibiotics. Majority (85%) of the parents also said 
they received antibiotics after they demanded it from their physicians. Parents in these study settings in Nigeria, possessed poor 
knowledge and positive attitudes of antibiotic use in their children, and exhibited poor practices when utilizing them.