Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of self‑medication is high in Bangladesh due to easy access
and poor regulatory controls over these drugs. Our study aimed to assess the attitude of university
students in Bangladesh toward antibiotic usage, especially their knowledge and awareness about
antibiotics and their resistance. We also evaluated the determinants behind their attempts at drug
intake without prescription.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional study was conducted in Mawlana Bhashani Science
and Technology University that included information from randomly selected 200 students from 15
departments using a structured questionnaire. The statistical analyses were performed by using
SPSS software (version 21) and R programming.
RESULTS: The study revealed that 61.0% of the students use self‑medication at different times
or always; 32.5% of the respondents keep antibiotics for future use, and 38% of the students think
it is right to stop antibiotics when symptoms are improving. Half of the participants (47.5%) use
antibiotics based on their previous experience. The criteria of antibiotic selection have a significant
relationship with knowledge about antibiotic resistance (P = 0.017) and altered prescribed medicine
without doctor’s advice (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis indicates that respondents who know
about antibiotic resistance select antibiotics from the community pharmacists with respect to their
own experience 5.102 times higher than those who do not know about antibiotic resistance.
CONCLUSIONS: The study mainly explored the knowledge gaps of the students on the options that
are responsible for antibiotic resistance in the community and found that students have mid‑level
knowledge (66%) about antibiotic resistance.
Keywords
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