Study of Antibiotic Use Without a Prescription and Its Misuse by Pharmacists in Sana'a City in 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58963/qausrj.v29i29.311Keywords:
Antibiotic Resistance , Self-Medication , Community Pharmacies , Dispensing Practices , YemenAbstract
Antibiotic misuse and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance have become critical global health concerns, particularly in low-resource settings. This study examines the non-prescription use of antibiotics in community pharmacies in Sana’a, Yemen, focusing on contributing factors, pharmacist practices, and public awareness. A cross-sectional survey was conducted over 30 days using purposive sampling, involving 299 pharmacies. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing antibiotic dispensing patterns, pharmacist knowledge, and behaviors. The results revealed widespread non-prescription antibiotic dispensing, with 73.9% of pharmacists admitting to providing antibiotics without prescriptions based on patient-reported symptoms. Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (27.4%) and Azithromycin (17.7%) were the most commonly dispensed antibiotics. Major factors contributing to misuse included low economic status (60.9%) and limited public awareness (17.1%). Although 98.3% of pharmacists acknowledged the dangers of random antibiotic dispensing, their practices often prioritized customer demand over professional guidelines. The study also found that 87.6% of pharmacists were male, with 58.9% aged between 15 and 39 years. Pharmacists with higher education levels (73.6%) demonstrated greater awareness of antibiotic resistance. Despite this, irrational dispensing practices remained prevalent. These findings highlight the urgent need for stricter regulatory measures, improved pharmacist training, and targeted public awareness campaigns to promote rational antibiotic use and curb antimicrobial resistance in Sana’a and similar settings.
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