Socio-demographic determinants of antibiotic misuse in children. A survey from the central region of Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate knowledge, beliefs, and practices associated with parental antibiotic misuse.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included parents visiting 4 malls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study took place at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between June and December 2010. Self-prescription of antibiotic for a child in the past year was defined as antibiotic misuse.

RESULTS: From 610 parents (60.5% mothers and 39.5% fathers), 11.6% reported self-prescription. Responding parents differed by age, education, number of children, and profession. Overall, parents responded that antibiotics are required in children with runny nose or cough or sore throat or fever (50%); to reduce symptom severity and duration (57.7%), are effective against viruses (68.6%), can be stopped on clinical improvement (28.7%), and it used by another family member can be used in children (20.1%). Determinants of misuse in a multivariable model were income, number of children, type of infection treated last year, knowledge of illness requiring antibiotic or being unsure, using antibiotics used by an other family member in children, unsure of such use, and adjusting for the type of responding parent.

CONCLUSION: Parents with low income, more than 2 children, lack of knowledge, inappropriate beliefs and practices are vulnerable for misusing antibiotics in children.