Health literacy of the Belarusian population on antibiotic use

Introduction . One of the key drivers of antimicrobial resistance is the lack of public awareness. To identify gaps in public knowledge and determine factors contributing to the irrational use of antimicrobial agents in the Republic of Belarus, a large-scale study was conducted. The purpose of the study : was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of the population of the Republic of Belarus regarding antibacterial drugs and the problem of antibiotic resistance. Materials and methods . The study involved 1.405 participants, of whom 21.8% were men and 78.2% were women. The average age of the respondents was 40.7 ± 13.3 years. A validated questionnaire consisting of 28 questions divided into six blocks was used: general characteristics of respondents, frequency and specifics of antibacterial drugs use, prescription and acquisition of drugs, correctness of use, knowledge about antibacterial drugs and antibiotic resistance, and sources of information. Results . Showed that 53.8% of respondents had taken antibiotics in the past year, while 64.8% mistakenly believed that antibiotics are effective against viruses and can be used to treat flu and colds. Approximately half of the respondents (50.5%) were unable to provide a correct definition of the term “antibiotic resistance.” The level of knowledge about antibacterial drugs and anti- biotic resistance among respondents was assessed as satisfactory (11.1 ± 2.4 points out of 14 possible). The highest levels of awareness were observed among individuals with higher education, managers, and employees/specialists. A quarter of the respondents (22.5%) were unaware of the ban on the sale of antibiotics without a prescription. Conclusion . Based on the findings, measures to increase public awareness were proposed, including educational campaigns, explanatory conversations with patients, and the distribution of informational materials in medical institutions and pharmacies. Special attention was given to at-risk groups, such as individuals without higher education, for whom it is recommended to use educational videos in schools and public transport.