Abstract

THE USE AND MISUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS AS SELF-MEDICATION BY PEOPLE IN ALSAMAWA CITY-IRAQ.

Dr. Noor Thamer Al- Saadi*

ABSTRACT

The random use of antibiotics by the patient as over the counter drugs without the consult of a physician is a major problem in developing countries due to easy excess to these antibiotics, the availability of antibiotics for the patients is very challenging and rise a great risks. A 200 people from al Samawah city in Al Muthanna governate were conducted in this questionnaire study. The aim of our study was to describe the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication for respiratory tract infections, to explore factors influencing antibiotic use without prescription, and to determine the available sources of such antibiotics. Our results confirmed that 76% of participants were using self-medication and 36.5% prefer self medication to a physician prescription. The major defect in such community is the poor health education which makes most of the population lack the knowledge that is related to drug use and misuse.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, self-medication, over the counter drugs, Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARI's).