Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi parents regarding antibiotic use for children: A cross-sectional study

Background: Raising awareness about the proper use of antibiotics is crucial, as misuse can lead to significant side effects and antibiotic resistance, similar to challenges faced in chemotherapy treatments. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi parents regarding antibiotic use for children, involving 356 participants recruited from pediatric clinics across Saudi Arabia. Results: The findings revealed notable misconceptions, such as the belief that antibiotics are effective against viral infections and the premature cessation of prescribed courses. While 75.35% of parents recognized that unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to resistance and 88.5% understood the importance of completing courses, 27.13% admitted they might stop antibiotics early if symptoms improved. Demographic data indicated that most participants were women (78.9%), aged 31–40 years (36.2%), with college-level education (83.0%), and employed (72.1%), including 28.1% in healthcare. Despite 61.9% having health insurance and 77.5% rarely using antibiotics without prescriptions, no significant relationship was observed between education or income and attitudes toward antibiotic misuse ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings highlight persistent misconceptions and risky practices, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions and policy measures to enhance understanding and adherence to proper antibiotic use and to combat antibiotic resistance effectively.