Public knowledge of antibiotics, self-medication, and household disposal practices in Jordan

Figures & data

Table 1. Frequency distribution of participants’ sociodemographic characteristics (N = 1,105).

Variables		Frequency (%)
Gender
	Male	398 (36)
	Female	707 (64)
Age (years)
	18 to 30	480 (43.4)
	31 to 40	350 (31.7)
	41 to 65	275 (24.9)
Social Status
	Single/Divorced	403 (36.5)
	Married (no kids)	56 (5.1)
	Married (with kids)	588 (53.2)
	Extended family	58 (5.2)
Academic Level
	Prior to high school	113 (10.2)
	High school	202 (18.3)
	Student in university/college	208 (18.8)
	Bachelor’s degree	449 (40.6)
	Postgraduate	133 (12)
Insurance
	Insured	812 (73.5)
	Non-insured	293 (26.5)
Income (JOD monthly)
	Less than 500	547 (49.5)
	501–1,000	383 (34.7)
	1,001–1,500	107 (9.7)
	More than 1,500	68 (6.2)
Living Area
	Urban	608 (55)
	Suburban/Rural	497 (45)
Employment
	Unemployed	616 (55.7)
	Medical-related	128 (11.6)
	Nonmedical-related	306 (27.7)
	Retired	55 (5)
Existence of chronic diseases
	Yes	200 (18.1)
	No	905 (81.9)
COVID-19 infection history
	Yes	439 (39.7)
	No	666 (60.3)
Health literacy
	Adequate	747 (67.6)
	Inadequate	358 (32.4)

Table 2. Participants knowledge regarding antibiotics use (N = 1,105).

Items		Correct Answer*	Frequency (%)
When do you think you should stop taking antibiotics?
	When you feel better	False	175 (15.8)
	When you have taken all of the antibiotics as directed	True	908 (82.2)
	Don’t know	False	22(2)
It’s okay to use antibiotics that were given to a friend or family member, as long as they were used to treat the same illness
	True	False	133 (12)
	False	True	880 (79.6)
	Don’t know	False	92 (8.3)
It’s okay to buy the same antibiotics, or request these from a doctor, if you’re sick and they helped you get better when you had the same symptoms before”
	True	False	393 (35.6)
	False	True	588 (53.2)
	Don’t know	False	124 (11.2)
Do you think antibiotics can be used to treat these conditions? (% of Correct Answer)
	1. HIV/AIDS	False	64 (5.8)
	2. Gonorrhoea	True	130 (11.8)
	3. Bladder infection or urinary tract infection (UTI)	True	720 (65.2)
	4. Diarrhoea	False	184 (16.7)
	5. Cold and flu	False	511 (46.2)
	6. Fever	False	291 (26.3)
	7. Malaria	True	106 (9.6)
	8. Measles	False	70 (6.3)
	9. Skin or wound infection	True	590 (53.4)
	10. Sore throat	False	851 (77)
	11. Body aches	False	149 (13.5)
	12. Headaches	False	165 (14.9)
	13. Corona virus	False	224 (20.3)

*Correct answer indicates if the answer provided by participants was true or false.

Table 3. Participants behavior on antibiotics use and self-medication (N = 1,105).

Items	Frequency (%)
Did you get a doctor’s prescription before taking the antibiotic (Self-medication)?
Yes	619 (56)
Yes, but it was an old medicine prescription	54 (4.9)
No, I bought it directly from the pharmacy	256 (23.2)
No, I obtained it from friends	26 (2.4)
No, I obtained it from my family	150 (13.6)
When was the last time you were administered antibiotics?
Last month	466 (42.2)
Last six months	257 (23.3)
Last year	90 (8.1)
More than a year or never	292 (26.4)
When was the last time you took antibiotics without a prescription?
Last month	228 (46.9)
Last six months	108 (22.2)
Last year	33 (6.8)
More than a year or never	117 (24.1)
What are the most common reasons for taking antibiotics without first consulting a doctor (without a prescription)?
I don’t want to interact with the medical professionals.	30 (6.2)
Financial considerations (doctor’s fees)	90 (18.5)
The distance between medical centers or hospitals	41 (8.4)
The pharmacy is close to my house	96 (19.8)
I have prior experience	186 (38.3)
I consult my friends	24 (4.9)
I do not have enough time to see a doctor or go to the hospital.	61 (12.6)
If you are looking for more information about how to use the antibiotics you will be using, where you get it from?
Product information leaflets (package inserts)	746 (67.5)
Information provided on the drug labelling	214 (19.4)
The internet	523 (47.3)
Pharmacists	421 (38.1)
Doctors	366 (33.1)
From whom have you received advice about the appropriate use of antibiotics?
Doctors	723 (65.4)
Pharmacists	734 (66.4)
Have you ever heard of the term ‘antimicrobial resistance’?
Yes	735 (66.5)
No	370 (33.5)
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, did you believe antibiotics are effective against infections caused by viruses?
Yes	672 (60.8)
No	433 (39.2)
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, do you believe antibiotics are effective against infections caused by viruses?
Yes	570 (51.6)
No	535 (48.4)

Table 4. Antibiotic disposal practices and perceptions of unused antibiotics.

Items	Frequency (%)
When dealing with unused antibiotics, what is your most common course of action?
Return them to the pharmacy.	71 (6.4)
Keep them at home.	663 (60)
At home, I get rid of them.	294 (26.6)
Share them with your friends/family	61 (5.5)
Others (never taken or finished the course of antibiotic)	16 (1.4)
The option that accurately describes why antibiotics should be kept at home (select more than one option)
Keep them for the next time.	352 (53.1)
I keep them in case my family or friends require them.	243 (36.7)
I’m not sure what to do with them.	111 (16.7)
They should be stocked in the medicine cabinet at home.	333 (50.2)
Please choose one of the following methods for disposing of an antibiotic at home
Regular household waste	227(77.2)
Flushing down the toilet or sink	67(22.8)

Table 5. Multiple logistic regression of sociodemographic and other factors associated with participants’ antibiotic self-medication.

Variables	Antibiotics use (appropriate vs self-medication)
	Standardized β (S.E.)	Adjusted OR (95% CI)	p-Value
Academic Level
Prior to high school	−0.155(0.284)	0.857(0.491–1.494)	0.355
High school	−0.135(0.253)	0.874(0.532–1.436)	0.466
Student in university/college	−0.012(0.256)	0.988(0.599–1.631)	0.43
Bachelor’s degree	−0.029(0.229)	0.972(0.62–1.522)	0.554
Postgraduate	Ref.
Insurance
Insured	0.513 (0.150)	1.67(1.251–2.229)	0.001
Non-insured	Ref.
Existence of chronic diseases
Yes	0.256 (0.174)	1.291(0.922–1.808)	0.137
No	Ref.
Protective measures against COVID-19
0–2 actions	−0.071(0.164)	0.931(0.675–1.284)	0.663
3–4 actions	0.048(0.159)	1.049(0.768–1.433)	0.765
4 or more actions	Ref.
Knowledge of antibiotics
Adequate	0.473 (0.159)	1.605(1.224–2.105)	0.001
Inadequate	Ref.
When was the last time you took antibiotics?
More than a year	1.055(0.186)	2.872(1.996–4.132)	<0.0001
Last year	0.506(0.25)	1.659(1.016–2.707)	0.043
Last six months	0.32(0.165)	1.378(0.998–1.902)	0.052
Last month	Ref.
If you are looking for more information about how to use the antibiotics, where you get it from?: (Ref. = No)
Product information leaflets (package inserts)	0.319(0.137)	1.375(1.053–1.797)	0.031
Doctors	0.505(0.137)	1.656(1.266–2.168)	0.001
Antibiotic Disposal
Share them with others	−0.96(0.421)	0.383(0.168–0.875)	0.023
Get rid of them at home	−0.642(0.342)	0.526(0.269–1.03)	0.062
Keep them at home	−1.221(0.326)	0.295(0.156–0.558)	<0.0001
Return them to pharmacy	Ref.

*Protective measures included, but were not limited to, uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine, social isolation, taking vitamins, eating healthy foods, using herbal products, exercising, and wearing a mask.