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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Self-medication with antibiotics in the ambulatory care setting within the Euro-Mediterranean region; results from the ARMed project
Journal of Infection and Public Health, Volume 2, No. 4, Year 2009
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Description
Anecdotal data from the southern and eastern Mediterranean region suggests that self-medication with antibiotics is commonly practiced in many countries. In order to provide proper information on the situation, we undertook short structured interviews in out-patients clinics or primary health centres in Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia and Turkey. A total of 2109 interviews were undertaken of which 1705 completed the full questionnaire. Self-medication was reported by 19.1% (<0.1% in Cyprus to 37% in Lebanon) of respondents. Intended self-medication ranged from 1.3% (95% CI 0%, 3%) in Cyprus to 70.7% (95% CI 64%, 77%) in Jordan. Upper respiratory tract symptoms were the most frequent reasons for which respondents indicated they would self-medicate. 48.4% of the whole group replied that they kept antibiotics at home, being highest in Lebanon (60%, 95% CI 51%, 69%). We found a significant association between antibiotic hoarders and intended users of antibiotics for self-medication. Our data confirms that non-prescribed antibiotic use is high within ambulatory care in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries, being almost twice that reported in a similar European study. Corrective efforts are clearly required in the region to ensure proper use of antimicrobials so as to reduce pressure for antimicrobial resistance. © 2009 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.
Authors & Co-Authors
Scicluna, Elizabeth Anne
Malta, Valletta
Mater Dei Hospital
Borg, Michael A.
Malta, Valletta
Mater Dei Hospital
Gu¨r, Deniz
Turkey, Ankara
Hacettepe Üniversitesi
Rasslan, Ossama
Egypt, Cairo
Ain Shams University
Taher, Ibrahim A.A.
Libya, Benghazi
Al Arab Medical University
Redjeb, Saïda Ben
Tunisia, Tunis
Université de Tunis el Manar, Hôpital Charles Nicolle
Elnassar, Ziad
Jordan, Irbid
Jordan University of Science and Technology
Bagatzouni, Despo Pieridou
Cyprus, Nicosia
Ministry of Health Cyprus
Daoud, Ziad D.
Lebanon, Beirut
Saint George Hospital University Medical Center
Statistics
Citations: 62
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jiph.2009.09.004
ISSN:
18760341
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Locations
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia