Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020

IntroductionThe self-medication of antibiotics is a global crisis, posing a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of self-medication in the adult population and the factors influencing it.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional stud...

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Main Authors: Javad Nazari, Roya Ghafoury, Nahid Chezani-Sharahi, Rahmatollah Moradzadeh, Mobin Naghshbandi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1502074/full
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author Javad Nazari
Roya Ghafoury
Nahid Chezani-Sharahi
Rahmatollah Moradzadeh
Mobin Naghshbandi
author_facet Javad Nazari
Roya Ghafoury
Nahid Chezani-Sharahi
Rahmatollah Moradzadeh
Mobin Naghshbandi
author_sort Javad Nazari
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe self-medication of antibiotics is a global crisis, posing a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of self-medication in the adult population and the factors influencing it.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Arak, a city in central Iran, from January 2019 to January 2020. Stratified random sampling was used to determine the recruitment criteria, and a total of 6,692 individuals participated in the study. Self-medication of antibiotics was defined as the self-reported annual consumption of antibiotics, as well as a record of antibiotic use registered in insurance services during the same period. The variables examined in this study included age, gender, educational level, occupational status, insurance coverage, and marital status. All gathered data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and STATA version 16.0 software. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe annual prevalence of antibiotic self-medication was 30.3% (n = 2,033). Chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests identified a significant correlation between educational level and self-medication practices (p = 0.028), while no significant associations were observed with gender, occupation, insurance coverage, or marital status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female participants were less likely to self-medicate (p = 0.027), and both older age and higher levels of education were associated with a reduced likelihood of antibiotic self-medication (p = 0.001 and p = 0.044, respectively).ConclusionFactors such as female gender, older age, and higher education levels are significant determinants affecting antibiotic self-medication.
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spelling doaj-art-18429ae3dfb843e49c3b4c5163dff12b2024-12-19T06:24:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-12-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.15020741502074Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020Javad Nazari0Roya Ghafoury1Nahid Chezani-Sharahi2Rahmatollah Moradzadeh3Mobin Naghshbandi4Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranDepartment of Medicine, Student Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Health Services Management, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, IranDepartment of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranDepartment of Medicine, Student Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranIntroductionThe self-medication of antibiotics is a global crisis, posing a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of self-medication in the adult population and the factors influencing it.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Arak, a city in central Iran, from January 2019 to January 2020. Stratified random sampling was used to determine the recruitment criteria, and a total of 6,692 individuals participated in the study. Self-medication of antibiotics was defined as the self-reported annual consumption of antibiotics, as well as a record of antibiotic use registered in insurance services during the same period. The variables examined in this study included age, gender, educational level, occupational status, insurance coverage, and marital status. All gathered data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and STATA version 16.0 software. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe annual prevalence of antibiotic self-medication was 30.3% (n = 2,033). Chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests identified a significant correlation between educational level and self-medication practices (p = 0.028), while no significant associations were observed with gender, occupation, insurance coverage, or marital status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female participants were less likely to self-medicate (p = 0.027), and both older age and higher levels of education were associated with a reduced likelihood of antibiotic self-medication (p = 0.001 and p = 0.044, respectively).ConclusionFactors such as female gender, older age, and higher education levels are significant determinants affecting antibiotic self-medication.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1502074/fullself-medicationantibioticsantibiotics resistanceprevalenceself-consumption
spellingShingle Javad Nazari
Roya Ghafoury
Nahid Chezani-Sharahi
Rahmatollah Moradzadeh
Mobin Naghshbandi
Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
Frontiers in Public Health
self-medication
antibiotics
antibiotics resistance
prevalence
self-consumption
title Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
title_full Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
title_fullStr Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
title_short Prevalence and determinants of self-medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in Iran: a population based cross-sectional study, 2019–2020
title_sort prevalence and determinants of self medication consumption of antibiotics in adults in iran a population based cross sectional study 2019 2020
topic self-medication
antibiotics
antibiotics resistance
prevalence
self-consumption
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1502074/full
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AT nahidchezanisharahi prevalenceanddeterminantsofselfmedicationconsumptionofantibioticsinadultsiniranapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy20192020
AT rahmatollahmoradzadeh prevalenceanddeterminantsofselfmedicationconsumptionofantibioticsinadultsiniranapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy20192020
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