Antibiotic Usage Pattern by the Public in Yenogoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The misuse of antibiotics is frequent especially in resource limited settings. The use of antibiotics by the public in Yenogoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State was surveyed using pretested self-administered questionnaires. Thirty-nine (39%) of the respondents self-medicate, 44% sourced antibiotics from patent medicine stores, markets and drug hawkers, while 18% use antibiotics for treating common cold. Antibiotic regimen was never completed by 71% of the respondents; 25% skipped doses and only 42% use medical laboratory services before antibiotic use. Public education on the appropriateness and limitations of antibiotics is imperative to ensure they are obtained from the right sources and utilized rationally.

Keywords: Antibiotic use, public, regimen, and self medication

Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 242 – 246 (September 2010)