Pre-hospital and prescription use of antibacterial drugs at a secondary health centre in Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The overall goal of this study is to reduce morbidity and mortality ascribable to bacterial infections by encouraging rational use of antibiotics. Antibiotics use prior to and prescriptions of antibiotics by the attending physicians were evaluated in a group of patients attending a secondary health facility. A quasi-exit interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The major presenting symptoms were sought from patients and/or parents and/or guardians; drug history was taken and doctors' prescriptions were copied onto an already prepared format. All data were entered into EPI-INFO version 6 for analyses. The mean age of patients who were enrolled was 14 ±±±± 16.96 [range 0.08-78 years] but males patients were statistically younger than females respectively 9.94 ±±±± 15.48 years (0.08-78 years) and 18.43 ±±±±17.10 years (range 0.08 ­ 70 years); F 122 P< 0.00. Pre-hospital use of antibiotics was documented in about a third of all the patients and cotrimoxazole was the most commonly used antibiotics accounting for 68.5% of antibiotics use in this group patients. Antibiotics were contained in more than half of all the prescriptions and erythromycin and cephalosporin were antibiotics of choice. This is contrary to the previous findings in the same area of study but different health facility. There is need for formulation of appropriate drug policy and establishment of continuing medical education for doctors as well as public enlightenment programmes on rational use of antibiotics