Antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections in under-fives in Uganda: findings and implications

ABSTRACT

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics among households is common in Uganda. However, there are limited studies evaluating self-purchasing of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the under-fives. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate patterns of household self-medication with antibiotics in ARI among under-fives in Kampala.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional observational design. Care takers at households were selected from five divisions of Kampala using the WHO 30-cluster method and interviewed using a standardized questionnaire in June - July 2011.

Results: Out of the 200 households, most ARI cases 107 (53.5%; p = 0.322) were inappropriately managed. The prevalence of antibiotic use in ARI was 43% (p < 0.001). Amoxicillin (31.4%) and cotrimoxazole (30%) were the most self-medicated antibiotics. Antibiotics use was associated with pneumonia symptoms and access to antibiotics.

Conclusions: Household use of antibiotics in ARIs among under-fives is suboptimal. There is an urgent need for guidelines on awareness to reduce self-medication of ARIs in Uganda.

KEYWORDS:

• Acute respiratory infections (ARI)
• antibiotics
• under-fives
• households
• self-medication
• Uganda

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Dennis Mutekanga for leading and coordinating the data collection team.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.