Vicar Ezekiel K, Walana Williams, Fordjour Rosemond A, Benneh Christiana, Bentil Rosemond E, Wuffelle Gifty M, Osabutey Emmanuel K, Nachinab Gilbert, Obeng-Bempong Mauvina
Department of Clinical Microbiology University for Development Studies Tamale Ghana.
Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery University for Development Studies Tamale Ghana.
Health Sci Rep. 2024 May 21;7(5):e2111. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.2111. eCollection 2024 May.
The promotion of rational use of antibiotics among pregnant women is eminent not only for the risk of teratogenicity in the developing fetus but also the risk of drug resistance with its concomitant high cost of health care. Studies on antibiotic self-medication among pregnant women in Northern Ghana are rare. Improving the knowledge and awareness among the vulnerable groups about the appropriate use of antibiotics can help in limiting the antibiotic resistance menace. We, therefore, conducted this study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward antibiotic use among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a primary health care in Tolon, Northern Region, Ghana.
We conducted a cross-sectional study using an interviewer-administered questionnaire to assess the KAP of 702 pregnant women on antibiotic use. This study was conducted in the Tolon Health Center (THC) from March 2021 and ended in October 2021.
In this study, 55.6% of pregnant women had good knowledge and 45.3% of them had engaged in self-medication with antibiotics while pregnant. There were statistically significant associations between participants' background and obstetric characteristics and knowledge of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, except for age, marital status, and parity. Also, there was a significant association between pregnant women's knowledge and self-medication or over-the-counter purchase of antibiotics.
We concluded that higher education level, monthly income, good practice, and good knowledge were significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of self-medication with antibiotics. A well-structured education that could be easily accepted and understood by pregnant women on the risks of antibiotic self-medication should be included in the routine education at the antenatal clinics.
促进孕妇合理使用抗生素不仅对发育中的胎儿存在致畸风险，还关乎耐药性风险及其带来的高昂医疗成本。加纳北部关于孕妇抗生素自我用药的研究较少。提高弱势群体对抗生素合理使用的认识，有助于遏制抗生素耐药性威胁。因此，我们开展了这项研究，以评估加纳北部地区托伦市一家初级卫生保健机构产前诊所的孕妇对抗生素使用的知识、态度和行为（KAP）。
我们采用访谈式问卷进行横断面研究，以评估702名孕妇对抗生素使用的KAP。本研究于2021年3月在托伦健康中心（THC）开展，2021年10月结束。
在本研究中，55.6%的孕妇有良好的知识水平，其中45.3%的孕妇在孕期曾自行使用抗生素。除年龄、婚姻状况和胎次外，参与者的背景和产科特征与抗生素使用知识及抗生素耐药性之间存在统计学显著关联。此外，孕妇的知识水平与自行用药或非处方购买抗生素之间存在显著关联。
我们得出结论，较高的教育水平、月收入、良好的行为和良好的知识水平与减少抗生素自我用药的可能性显著相关。产前诊所的常规教育应纳入针对孕妇的、易于接受和理解的、关于抗生素自我用药风险的结构化教育。
