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Cited by 128Antibiotic Use and ResistancePharmacy and Medical PracticesPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

Knowledge, practices and attitudes on antibiotics use in Cameroon: Self-medication and prescription survey among children, adolescents and adults in private pharmacies

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Elong Ekambi, Grace-Ange, Okalla Ebongue, Cécile, Penda, Ida Calixte, Nnanga Nga, Emmanuel, Mpondo Mpondo, Emmanuel, Eboumbou Moukoko, Carole Else·2019·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0212875PMC PMC6394986
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Abstract

Benefits of antibiotics are threatened by the self-medication, people's lack of knowledge and inappropriate use of antibiotics, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to determine knowledge; attitudes and practices toward antibiotics use in an urban community, and evaluate the factors that are associated with antibiotic use. Between January and March 2015, a cross sectional and prospective study was conducted in all pharmacies within the Douala IV health district, Cameroon. Anonymous interviews including both open and closed ended questions were conducted in participants selected by convenience sampling Descriptive and logistic regression analysis were performed using StataSE11 software (version 11 SE) and R software (version 3.1.1) in data analysis. Overall 402 (33.7%) of 1,192 customers purchased antibiotics and of these, 47% bought antibiotics without a prescription. 60.7% of purchased antibiotics was for adult 'patients and around 60% of parents carried out self-medication on their children. The vast majority reported that all microbes can be treated with antibiotics (88.3%). The belief that antibiotics are appropriate for bacterial infections was more common among those with a higher level education (OR = 4.03, 95%CI:1.89-8.57, p<0.0001) and among public/private servants (OR = 2.47, 95%CI:1.21-5.08, p = 0.013). Physicians provide less explanations about antibiotics are and their potential side effects than the pharmacy auxiliaries (OR = 0.205, 95%CI = 0.09-0.46, p<0.0001), but more than pharmacists (OR = 3.692, 95%CI:1.44-9.25, p = 0.005). Indications on antibiotics use were 7 times more given to customers with a prescription compared to those without a prescription (OR = 7.37, 95% CI = 2.13-25.43, p = 0.002). Adult male (OR = 2.32, 95%CI:1.24-4.34, p = 0.009) and higher education (OR = 2.05, 95%CI:1.08-3.89, p = 0.027) were significantly associated with self-medication. Misuse, little "practical knowledge" and high self-medication confirm the unsatisfactory prescription and dispensing practices of the antibiotics in our country. These results highlight the important of the development and implementation appropriate guidelines for the responsible use of antibiotics for health care providers and health education targeting community members themselves.

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Authors
Elong Ekambi, G.-A., Okalla Ebongue, C., Penda, I. C., Nnanga Nga, E., Mpondo Mpondo, E., & Eboumbou Moukoko, C. E.
ORCID
Eboumbou Moukoko, Carole Else
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2019-02-28
Volume
14
Issue
2
Pages
e0212875
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0212875
PMC
PMC6394986
OpenAlex
W2918548227
Cited by
128
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 2
FWCI
11.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
antibiotic self-medication, antibiotic prescribing, antibiotic knowledge, antibiotic attitudes, antibiotic use practices, private pharmacies, antibiotic misuse, educational attainment, pharmacist counseling, Douala, Cameroon, urban communities, developing countries, inappropriate antibiotic use
MeSH terms
Drug Misuse, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Cameroon, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Pharmacies, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Medication, Prescription Drug Misuse

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