Knowledge and practice of mothers regarding use of Antibiotics and Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. When bacteria become resistant, the powerful antibiotics can no longer fight them, and the bacteria multiply causing the disease to flare up leading to deaths. A report ‘Review Antimicrobial Resistance’, stated that the deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance [AMR] every year compared to other major causes of death in 2050 will be 10 million, as compared to death by RTA’s, cancer, cholera, DM, measles and tetanus.1 But, with the help of proper health education, 90% of the antibiotic resistance can be reduced2. Children are a vulnerable group more prone for infections, and thereby are higher consumers of antibiotics. Since, mothers are the prime decision makers of their child’s health, the investigators felt the need to assess the “Knowledge and practice regarding the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among the mothers of children in the paediatric wards at a selected hospital in Pathanamthitta”. 100 mothers were selected for the current study using convenient sampling technique. Baseline variables, knowledge and practice among the mothers were assessed by using baseline performa, structured knowledge and practice questionnaire. The knowledge and practice scores were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The association of the scores with selected baseline variables were assessed using Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test. And the correlations of the knowledge and practice scores were assessed using the Pearson’s coefficient of correlation. In this study among 100 mothers, 65(65%) of mothers were found to have good knowledge, 26(26%) mothers had poor knowledge and 9 (9%) are having excellent knowledge regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. About 47(47%) of them were having best practice, 45(45%) were found to have good practice and 8(8%) had poor practice with respect to use of antibiotics for their children. No correlation was found between mothers’ knowledge regarding the antibiotics and antibiotic resistance and their practice. In view of the study results, a pamphlet was developed and given to the ward for distribution to the parents of children getting admitted in the wards after content validity and expert advice.