A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya
Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyeri County in Kenya was among the regions reporting a high number of confirmed cases. This exemplified the increased need of addressing potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and self-medication during disease outbreaks. This study examined the e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01150-7 |
| _version_ | 1811274830479097856 |
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| author | George Kimathi Jackline Kiarie Lydiah Njarambah Jorum Onditi David Ojakaa |
| author_facet | George Kimathi Jackline Kiarie Lydiah Njarambah Jorum Onditi David Ojakaa |
| author_sort | George Kimathi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyeri County in Kenya was among the regions reporting a high number of confirmed cases. This exemplified the increased need of addressing potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and self-medication during disease outbreaks. This study examined the extent of self-medication with antimicrobials among COVID-19 confirmed cases in the County. Methods A cross-sectional survey using phone-based interviews was conducted in August 2021 among a sample of 280 out of 2317 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the County using a pre-coded questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of frequencies and causal logistic regression were conducted using STATA version 13. Results A total of 193 (68.9%) of the respondents indicated developing COVID-19 related symptoms-mainly cough (41.5%), headache (38.3%), and fatigue (34.7%). Over one-fifth (23.4%) of the respondents had self-medicated with antibiotics, 60.6% of whom did so at the onset of symptoms before the confirmatory test, and 51.5% self-medicating more than once. Common antibiotics used were Azithromycin (40.0%) and Amoxycilline (23.3%), with a considerable 21.7% having difficulty remembering the name of the drugs. Only half (50.4%) of the respondents (128/254) were aware of regulations towards self-medication with antibiotics. Age was the only socio-demographic variable significantly related to reduced self-medication, with older persons less likely to self-medicate. On the other hand, developing COVID-19 symptoms, awareness of COVID regulations, and appreciation of the need for self-medication awareness were related to increased self-medication. Conclusion Being older, developing COVID-19 symptoms, and appreciating self-medication awareness have influential effects on the use of antimicrobials. Public health interventions should be timely during infectious disease outbreaks to prevent undesirable health-seeking behavior such as irrational antimicrobial use. AMR policies should enhance awareness of the risks of self-medication and address barriers that deter people from timely access of health services during disease outbreaks. Further research should be conducted on the self-medication and AMR nexus, especially during health emergencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:26:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6d58be43d9743b6b4beaed7661e9f81 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:26:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6d58be43d9743b6b4beaed7661e9f812022-12-22T03:12:24ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942022-08-0111111210.1186/s13756-022-01150-7A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, KenyaGeorge Kimathi0Jackline Kiarie1Lydiah Njarambah2Jorum Onditi3David Ojakaa4Amref Health Africa (H.Q).Amref Health Africa (H.Q).Division of Disease Surveillance and Response (DDSR)Amref Health Africa (H.Q).BRIM RESEARCHAbstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nyeri County in Kenya was among the regions reporting a high number of confirmed cases. This exemplified the increased need of addressing potential antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and self-medication during disease outbreaks. This study examined the extent of self-medication with antimicrobials among COVID-19 confirmed cases in the County. Methods A cross-sectional survey using phone-based interviews was conducted in August 2021 among a sample of 280 out of 2317 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the County using a pre-coded questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of frequencies and causal logistic regression were conducted using STATA version 13. Results A total of 193 (68.9%) of the respondents indicated developing COVID-19 related symptoms-mainly cough (41.5%), headache (38.3%), and fatigue (34.7%). Over one-fifth (23.4%) of the respondents had self-medicated with antibiotics, 60.6% of whom did so at the onset of symptoms before the confirmatory test, and 51.5% self-medicating more than once. Common antibiotics used were Azithromycin (40.0%) and Amoxycilline (23.3%), with a considerable 21.7% having difficulty remembering the name of the drugs. Only half (50.4%) of the respondents (128/254) were aware of regulations towards self-medication with antibiotics. Age was the only socio-demographic variable significantly related to reduced self-medication, with older persons less likely to self-medicate. On the other hand, developing COVID-19 symptoms, awareness of COVID regulations, and appreciation of the need for self-medication awareness were related to increased self-medication. Conclusion Being older, developing COVID-19 symptoms, and appreciating self-medication awareness have influential effects on the use of antimicrobials. Public health interventions should be timely during infectious disease outbreaks to prevent undesirable health-seeking behavior such as irrational antimicrobial use. AMR policies should enhance awareness of the risks of self-medication and address barriers that deter people from timely access of health services during disease outbreaks. Further research should be conducted on the self-medication and AMR nexus, especially during health emergencies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01150-7Self-medicationAntimicrobial resistanceSurveyNyeri County KenyaCOVID-19 symptoms |
| spellingShingle | George Kimathi Jackline Kiarie Lydiah Njarambah Jorum Onditi David Ojakaa A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Self-medication Antimicrobial resistance Survey Nyeri County Kenya COVID-19 symptoms |
| title | A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya |
| title_full | A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya |
| title_short | A cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use among self-medicating COVID-19 cases in Nyeri County, Kenya |
| title_sort | cross sectional study of antimicrobial use among self medicating covid 19 cases in nyeri county kenya |
| topic | Self-medication Antimicrobial resistance Survey Nyeri County Kenya COVID-19 symptoms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01150-7 |
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