Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Antibiotics Use among Non-medical University Students in Uyo, Nigeria

Background: The widespread use, misuse and overuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine have resulted in emergence and spread of antibiotics resistance consequently decreasing their effectiveness and efficacy. Recent studies consistently reveal that university students have limited knowledge and widely misuse antibiotics thereby increasing the spread and problem of resistance. This study aims to obtain baseline information on the knowledge, attitude and practice towards antibiotics use and resistance among university students in Uyo, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire based study of the knowledge of, attitude and perception to antibiotics use and resistance was conducted among convenience sample of non-medical students attending one of the major universities in Uyo, South-South of Nigeria for a period of three months between April and June 2017. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression was used in data analysis.

Results: Out of the 335 questionnaire distributed, 15 were excluded for incomplete demographics and less than 80% filling (response rate, 95.5%). The knowledge assessment test shows poor knowledge of antibiotics use and resistance among two hundred and one non- medical students (62.8%) while one hundred and nineteen students (37.2%) had good knowledge. Year of study and age were significantly associated with knowledge of antibiotics use and resistance while there was no statistical relationship between gender and knowledge scores. More than half of the participants (51.9%) have taken antibiotics within the last six months while only 43.1% completed the last antibiotics prescribed to them. One hundred and eighty nine students have self-medicated in the past and more than one third of them were to treat cold and cough symptoms.

Conclusion: This study substantiates that limited knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance exists among non-medical university students in Uyo, Nigeria. It also suggests a high level of antibiotics misuse in the form of non-adherence to prescribed dose of antibiotics and self-medication majorly for treating respiratory symptoms. Based on these findings, we recommend a sustained continuing medical education for healthcare workers and public health awareness campaigns. In addition, antibiotic sales should be strictly regulated in Nigeria to prevent their indiscriminate use of medicine.