Knowledge, attitudes and practices of antibiotic use among students in a Ghanaian tertiary institution

Antibiotic misuse is a growing global concern as it exacerbates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and in Ghana, antibiotic misuse persists. University students in the Allied Health Sciences are uniquely positioned to influence patterns of antibiotic use, both as practitioners and educators. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and awareness of appropriate antibiotic use among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, from May–August 2024. Using simple random sampling, 233 students were enrolled across five health programs. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use were collected via a structured, pretested questionnaire. Scores were categorized using an 80% threshold. Logistic regression model was computed to identify predictors of inadequate knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practices towards antibiotics use. Out of the 233 participants, 58.8% were female and 95.7% aged 18–24 years. Overall, 77.3% demonstrated adequate knowledge, 67.4% positive attitudes, and 49.4% good practices toward antibiotic use. Misconceptions persisted, with 13.3% believing antibiotics treat viral infections and 44.2% considering all antibiotics safe. Academic level was the strongest independent predictor of knowledge; compared with level 100, students in higher levels had significantly reduced odds of inadequate knowledge (p < 0.05). Positive attitude (aOR; 0.17) and female gender (aOR; 0.44) independently predicted good practices, while good practice (aOR; 0.17) strongly predicted negative attitudes (p < 0.001) with reduced odds. Amoxicillin was the most commonly reported antibiotic (65.7%). The study revealed that although most allied health sciences students possess some knowledge of appropriate antibiotic use, inappropriate practices such as self-medication and limited laboratory testing prior to antibiotic administration, persist. The findings also reveal critical gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among such students regarding antibiotic use. Addressing these issues should be prioritized as an antimicrobial stewardship strategy as these students are crucial, tentative frontliners in healthcare administration in the country.