Evaluation of Prescription Pattern Among Paediatric Out-Patients in a Tertiary Hospital of Yenagoa Metropolis

Background: There is an urgent global need to ensure the safe and appropriate delivery of drugs to children. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the drug prescription patterns among pediatric outpatients in a tertiary hospital in Bayelsa State using WHO prescribing indicators. Methods: Data was retrospectively collected from 954 pediatric outpatient prescriptions from January to December 2023. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Results: A total of 365 patients were studied, with 53.7% males. Patients’ respective ages ranged from 1 month to 18 years. The major classes of drugs prescribed were: anti-infectives (43.19%), anti-inflammatory drugs ((21.49%) and drugs acting on GIT (21.28%). On average, 2.61 drugs were prescribed per encounter, with 66.46% using generic names. Antibiotics were prescribed in 46.03% of encounters, and 92.56% of drugs were from the essential medicines list. Conclusion: The study found discrepancies in WHO core prescription indicators with common polypharmacy practices.