ANTIBIOTICS KNOWLEDGE AND THEIR USES AGAINST VARIOUS DISEASES AMONG THE DORMITORY STUDENTS OF A RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSITY IN BANGLADESH: A PILOT STUDY

Hasibul Islam; Mustafizur Rahman; M. Ibrahim Hossain

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v6i2.572

Hasibul Islam Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.
Mustafizur Rahman Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.
M. Ibrahim Hossain Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh.

10.22270/ujpr.v6i2.572

Keywords:

Antibiotic, Antibiotic resistance, fever, self-medication

Abstract

Aim and objective: The study attempts to investigate the knowledge and actual condition of antibiotic uses among university students to get rid from different infectious diseases.

Methods: The study was conducted in a residential dormitory of a public university of Bangladesh. About 145 (n=145) students took part in the study which was conducted in January, 2020. Data were collected on the basis of a questionnaire made of basic questions about antibiotics and its resistance.

Results: Among 145 students, 94.5% previously known about antibiotic which is impressive but a vast majority (46.4%) had no idea about antibiotic resistance and 51% did not know anything what will happen if bacteria become resistant to antibiotics which is alarming. It was found that the most used antibiotic was Azithromycin (46.4%), whereas amoxicillin (40%) was second highest. Those antibiotics were used to treat mostly fever (63.4%), various infections (31%), cold cough(25.4%),diarrhea(15.5%) irritable bowel syndrome(9.9%) etc. Most students (83.7%) used antibiotics as per doctor’s prescription. About 50% students had knowledge about antibiotic course and resistance which was evaluated by simple yes/no question.

Conclusion: This work highlights the basic statistics of the knowledge about antibiotics use and abuse among the students of a residential dormitory of a public University of Bangladesh.