A Comparative Study on Antibiotic Use and Resistance Patterns Among Urban and Rural Population

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a global public health crisis, posing a significant threat to the efficacy of antibiotics in treating infections. In order to determine the root causes of antibiotic misuse and resistance in these disparate contexts, this study compares the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use patterns between Kerala, India's urban and rural populations. Using a cross-sectional observational design, the study polls 258 people who have taken antibiotics within the last six months and range in age from 18 to 55. Structured interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data on topics like antibiotic resistance awareness, disposal techniques, adherence to recommended courses, procurement practices, and antibiotic-related behavioural patterns. The results show that although both urban and rural populations typically obtain antibiotics through formal healthcare systems, self-medication, antibiotic sharing, and inappropriate disposal are more common among rural populations. Although both populations displayed knowledge gaps, particularly with regard to the significance of finishing antibiotic courses and safe disposal techniques, awareness of antibiotic resistance was greater in urban areas. The study also found that the use of antibiotics in animals and inappropriate antibiotic disposal are contributing factors to the escalating issue of antimicrobial resistance. The findings highlight the necessity of focused interventions, such as increased public awareness campaigns, more stringent regulatory enforcement, better access to healthcare, and instruction on how to properly dispose of antibiotics. Antibiotics' efficacy for upcoming generations can be maintained by addressing these issues, which will also lessen the emergence of resistant strains and stop antibiotic abuse. This study emphasizes how crucial context-specific tactics are in addressing antibiotic resistance in a range of demographic contexts.