Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antibiotics misuse among attendants of primary health care centers / descriptive cross-section study in Basra center

Abstract Background: Antibiotics are the communal drugs used in developing countries. The irrational use of antibiotics (Abs) is a huge problem on the national health care system which lead to development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding misuse of antibiotics by attendants of primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Basra center and studying the factors contributing to this problem. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 20 out of 40 PHCCs in 1st, 2nd and 3rd sectors of PHC in Basra city center /Iraq between 1st of February and the 31st of July 2023.The target population was attendants of PHCCs, then the collected data was analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program version 26. Results: Data of the study showed a relatively good knowledge score 77.71% regarding the proper use of Abs and AMR for the participants. 90% of the participants knew about side effects of Abs. 76.29% of the participants in the study showed good attitude about the problem of AMR and risk factors leading to it, however 2.29% of the participants had good practice which was a very low percentage and these results caused by many factors related to the persons themselves, sociodemographic features, doctors-patients and pharmacists-patients relationships, the results of current study showed that 25.7% of participants using self-prescription strategy in using of Abs. Conclusions: - Final results of statistical analysis of data collected in this study showed a relatively good knowledge about the uses of Abs and good attitude regarding misuse of Abs and risk of AMR, but despite of that there was a higher percent of bad behaviors and unproper usage of these medications. Age and educational level had strongest effects on the degree of knowledge, believes and behaviors. Despite of high percent of information sources was from educational programs in health care institutes, but some of them need to increase works on the methods of health education strategies. Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, antibiotics, misuse, primary health care (PHC), Basra city, Iraq