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Maarouf, Lina, Amin, Mohamed, Evans, Benjamin A. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6849-9758 and Abouelfetouh, Alaa
(2023)
Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of Egyptians towards antibiotic use in the community: can we do better?
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 12.
ISSN 2047-2994
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Abstract
Background: Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. This is concerning because of the increasing capacity of the pathogens to develop antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic overuse and misuse remain the main drivers of resistance development. In the USA and Europe, annual campaigns raise awareness of antibiotic misuse hazards and promote their judicial use. Similar efforts are lacking in Egypt. This study assessed the knowledge of the public in Alexandria, Egypt of antibiotic misuse risks and their habits towards antibiotic use, in addition to conducting a campaign to increase awareness of the safe use of antibiotics. Methods: A questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards antibiotics was used to collect responses from study participants at various sports clubs in Alexandria in 2019. An awareness campaign to correct misconceptions and a post awareness survey followed. Results: Most of the participants were well-educated (85%), in their middle age (51%) and took antibiotics last year (80%). 22% would take an antibiotic for common cold. This dropped to 7% following the awareness. There was a 1.6 time increase in participants who would start an antibiotic on a healthcare professional’s advice following the campaign. A 1.3 time increase in participants who would finish an antibiotic regimen was also observed. The campaign made all participants recognize that unwise antibiotic use is harmful to them or others; and 1.5 more participants would spread the word about antibiotic resistance. Despite learning of the risks of antibiotic use, there was no change in how often participants thought they should take antibiotics. Conclusions: Although awareness of antibiotic resistance is rising, some wrong perceptions hold fast. This highlights the need for patient and healthcare-tailored awareness sessions as part of a structured and national public health program directed to the Egyptian population.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding information: The authors would like to acknowledge funding received from UEA Vice Chancellor’s Global Challenges Research Fellowships fund awarded to Alaa Abouelfetouh and DFG (ZI 665/3 − 1 awarded to Alaa Abouelfetouh). The funders had no role in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data or in manuscript writing. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | antibiotic resistance,awareness campaign, educational intervention,common cold,the theory of planned behaviour,public health, environmental and occupational health,microbiology (medical),infectious diseases,pharmacology (medical),2* ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2739 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 26 May 2023 16:31 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2023 03:35 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92195 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s13756-023-01249-5 |
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