ESTHER ABUEKIN ALUFOHAI

Antibiotics have played monumental role in the control and management ofinfectious disease since their discovery, saved lives of countless patients and improved patient care in general. However, antibiotic misuse and unnecessary use of antibiotics contributes to the process of antibiotic resistance, which is considered a global concern.The population playsan important role in abuse or irrational use of antibiotics and spread of bacterial resistance. Aim of Study: To assess the public perception towards the use of antibiotics. Methods: A cross sectional 20 - item questionnaire survey involving a convenience sampleof611 individuals was conducted in Benin City and Lagos State. The questionnaire consists of two sections; the first section comprises of socio-demographic data including age, gender, occupational status, educational level, marital status, monthly income. The second section consists of 20 items which collected data about perception towards antibiotics use. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and inferential analysis was carried out using Graph PadInstant version 3.10. Results: From this study, a total of 611 respondents participated out of which 602 questionnaires were completed appropriately therefore giving a high response rate of 98.5%.Those whowerestudents had a higher perception of 69.88 ± 11.60 compared to those who were self-employed(63.52 ± 10.28) while respondents with a tertiary level of education had a better perception(70.37 ± 11.72) compared to those with a secondary level of education or lower. Older respondents had a high perception towards the use of antibiotics however in comparison to more than half of the respondents who were females; male respondents had a better perception towards the use of antibiotics. None of the items loaded had values < 0.4 which indicates their adequate contribution to the summary scores. Conclusion
This study revealed that occupational status and educational level of respondents was significantly associated with perception towards antibiotic use.

Introduction: Antibiotics have played monumental role in the control and management of infectious disease since their discovery, saved lives of countless patients and improved patient care in general. However, antibiotic misuse and unnecessary use of antibiotics contributes to the process of antibiotic resistance, which is considered a global concern.The population plays an important role in abuse or irrational use of antibiotics and spread of bacterial resistance.
Aim of Study: To assess the public perception towards the use of antibiotics.
Methods: A cross sectional 20 - item questionnaire survey involving a convenience sample of 611 individuals was conducted in Benin City and Lagos State. The questionnaire consists of two sections; the first section comprises of socio-demographic data including age, gender, occupational status, educational level, marital status, monthly income. The second section consists of 20 items which collected data about perception towards antibiotics use. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and inferential analysis was carried out using GraphPadInstant version 3.10.
Results: From this study, a total of 611 respondents participated out of which 602 questionnaires were completed appropriately therefore giving a high response rate of 98.5%.Those who were students had a higher perception of 69.88 ± 11.60 compared to those who were self-employed (63.52 ± 10.28) while respondents with a tertiary level of education had a better perception (70.37 ± 11.72) compared to those with a secondary level of education or lower. Older respondents had a high perception towards the use of antibiotics however in comparison to more than half of the respondents who were females; male respondents had a better perception towards the use of antibiotics. None of the items loaded had values < 0.4 which indicates their adequate contribution to the summary scores.
Conclusion
This study revealed that occupational status and educational level of respondents was significantly associated with perception towards antibiotic use.