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Malawi Medical Journal
College of Medicine, University of Malawi and Medical Association of Malawi
ISSN: 1995-7262
Vol. 31, No. 2, 2019, pp. 133-137
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Bioline Code: mm19023
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Malawi Medical Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2019, pp. 133-137
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Knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance among students of a medical school in Nigeria
Okedo-Alex, Ijeoma; Madubueze, Ugochukwu C.; Umeokonkwo, Chukwuma D; Oka, Onyinyechukwu U; Adeke, Azuka S & Okeke, Kingsley C
Abstract
Background
Antimicrobial resistance presents a growing concern worldwide. Medical students are potential antimicrobial prescribers and stewards
following graduation as doctors. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge regarding antibiotic use and resistance among pre-final
year and final year medical school students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the 184 pre-final and final year medical students of the College of Medicine at Ebonyi
State University, Nigeria. Information was collected in April 2018 using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and data
were analysed with Epi-Info Version 7.2. Analytical decisions were considered significant at P < 0.05.
Results
Respondents were mostly males (62.5%), aged 20-29 years (68.9%) with 60.9% of them in the final year class. Eighty-seven percent of
them desired more education on antibiotic use and resistance. Majority 119 (64.7%) respondents had good knowledge of antibiotic use
and resistance, however, 39% incorrectly answered that bacteria cause common cold. Only 103 (56.0%) of them had positive practice
of antibiotic use. While 8.2% of respondents always consulted a doctor before starting an antibiotic. 37.2% of them never discarded
their remaining leftover medications. Knowledge was associated with respondent’s gender (P=0.035) while practice was associated with
the class of study (P<0.001).
Conclusion
There was good knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance, however, practice levels were poor. There is need to enrich existing courses
and training about antibiotic use in the curriculum of the medical schools with more emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship.
Keywords
antibiotic use and resistance; medical students; knowledge; practice; Nigeria
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