UNVEILING TRENDS: SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANTIBIOTICS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THE ADULT POPULATION OF SOUTH WAZIRISTAN

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Rubeena Gul
Muhammad Haroon
Muhammad Saleh Faisal
Salahuddin Zeb Khan
Aimeen Zeb Khan
Naveeda Sarwar

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of self-medication with antibiotics and its causative factors in South Waziristan.


Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Tehsil Wana of South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 400 participants were selected using a convenient random sampling technique. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. The questionnaire included demographics, socioeconomic variables, and information on self-medication with antibiotics i.e. reason for self-medication, source of procurement, symptoms that lead to self-medication, and type of antibiotic used.


Results: Of 400 subjects, 373 (93.25%) agreed to participate. The frequency of antibiotic self-medication in the study area was 84.5%. The most common reason for self-medication with antibiotics was saving money (38%). The common antibiotic used by most study participants was Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (42%) with respiratory tract infections as the most common indication for their usage (62%). A significant association between self-medication of antibiotics was observed with age, marital, education, and economic status of the respondents (p<0.05). No significant association of self-medication was found with gender distribution (p-value 0.438).


Conclusion: The study showed a significantly high prevalence of self-medication practices with antibiotics, revealing a strong association with socio-demographic factors. A multi-sectoral approach is needed to deal with this alarming situation in this war-affected underdeveloped district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.


 


Keywords: Self-medication, Antibiotics, Adult population, Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa


 

Article Details

How to Cite
Gul, R., Haroon, M., Faisal, M. S., Khan, S. Z., Khan, A. Z., & Sarwar, N. (2024). UNVEILING TRENDS: SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANTIBIOTICS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN THE ADULT POPULATION OF SOUTH WAZIRISTAN. Journal of Medical Sciences, 32(3), 267–271. https://doi.org/10.52764/jms.24.32.3.11
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