Abstract

ANTIBIOTIC DISPENSING WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACIES, DHAMAR PROVINCE, YEMEN

Ahmed G. Al-Akydy*, Ahmed Al- Washli and Abdulrahman Y. Al-Haifi

ABSTRACT

Background: The dispensing of antibiotics without medical prescription has been observed in many countries, particularly, in developing countries, including Yemen, where the legislations and regulations are weak. Objective: To investigate the common practice of dispensing antibiotics without prescription in community pharmacies in Dhamar region, Yemen. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 252 community pharmacists between April and July 2016. This was achieved by using a structured questionnaire developed and modified by the authors and completed by the pharmacists themselves. Results: The results showed that 96% of studied community pharmacists who participating in this study dispensed antibiotics without prescription, whereas 4% of pharmacists dispensed antibiotics with medical prescription. The most antibiotics dispensed without prescription for both children and adult were penicillins (39.3% and 29.5% respectively). Penicillins were the most antibiotics dispensing without prescription based on the patient's demand (20.3%), whereas 12.9% of the pharmacists dispensed penicillins without prescription based on their experience. The highest percentage for dispensing the antibiotics without medical prescription was for cough(19.2%), sore throat(16.1%), common cold (11.5%), followed by urinary tract infections(10.7%). Conclusion: The unwarranted antibiotic prescribing and dispensing antibiotics without prescription were common among community pharmacists in this study. Low knowledge, easy availability of antibiotics without prescription and uncommitted of occupational ethics were the most common causes of dispensing of antibiotics without prescription. Effective strategies involving regulatory enforcement prohibiting sales of antibiotics without prescription should be implemented along with educational interventions for health professionals and the population.

Keywords: Antibiotics, community pharmacist, resistance, non-prescription, selfmedication.