Parents Perception on use of Antibiotics in Children

Objective: To determine parents’ perception on use of antibiotics in children. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Pakistan, from Jul 2022 to Mar 2023. Methodology: Fifty parents aged 18-50 years were included in the study. Their parity, education levels, knowledge and attitudes on antibiotic use, including basic concepts of antibiotics, indications of antibiotic, administration of antibiotics, Antimicrobial Resistance and other side effects; parental experiences and practices around buying antibiotics without a prescription and parental experiences regarding using antibiotics to treat their children themselves were noted. Result: Sixteen respondents (32%) were male and 34(68%) were female. It was found that most parents used Cefixime 28(56%), followed by Amoxicillin, and Azithromycin. Twenty-three (46%) participants stated that antibiotics could cure infections caused by viruses. Eighty-eight percent participants knew that antibiotics should only be taken according to doctor’s prescription. Almost half of parents believed that antibiotics should be withdrawn as soon as the symptoms disappear. About 26% of parents believed that antibiotics could prevent the common cold. Thirty-six (72%) parents agreed that overuse of antibiotics exists in Pakistan. Conclusion: Poor knowledge or understanding of antibiotic usage persists among parents in Pakistan. A doctor's prescription for antibiotics may have an impact on how parents use those medicines on their children.