ANTIBIOTICS

BACKGROUND: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs), including conditions like the common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis, are predominantly viral in origin and often do not require antibiotics. However, antibiotics are frequently misused for URTIs due to patient demand, diagnostic uncertainty, or lack of awareness. This practice contributes to the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major public health threat.University students, particularly in densely populated settings like the University of Benin, are vulnerable to URTIs due to close-contact living conditions, stress, and poor health- seeking behaviors. Studies suggest that due to factors such as academic pressure, easy of access to drugs, and limited health literacy students often resort to self-medication with antibiotics obtained without prescriptions, exacerbating resistance risks. OBJECTIVE : This project seeks to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use for URTIs among University of Benin students. By identifying gaps in awareness and inappropriate usage trends, the study will inform targeted interventions, such as educational campaigns and stricter medication dispensing policies, to curb antibiotic misuse in this population.
METHODS : After obtaining ethical approval from the Faculty of Pharmacy Ethics Committee, a cross sectional study was employed. The study employed the use of a structured questionnaire as the major instrument of data collection. The questionnaire was carefully developed to address the objectives of the study and distributed to students of four faculties including two medical oriented faculties (Pharmacy and Basic Medical Sciences) and two non medical oriented faculties (Education and Engineering). The data obtained was analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for social sciences, SPSS version 29.
RESULTS: 54.2% of the respondents were male, while 45.8% were female, indicating a fairly balanced gender representation. The majority of the respondents (49.0%) were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. The majority of the respondents (68.3%) reported having experienced a cold, sore throat, or cough within the past six months, Most of the respondents (78.4%) admitted to having used antibiotics to treat URTI, while 46.9% did not complete the
course, indicates a tendency toward incomplete antibiotic adherence among some participants. Majority (87.9%) obtained them from pharmacies and 64.5% of the respondents reported that they could purchase antibiotics without a prescription. Out of the total respondents, 275 (62.6%) demonstrated good knowledge, while 164 (37.4%) exhibited poor knowledge of antibiotic use. A majority (58.3%) reported that they keep leftover antibiotics for future use. Most respondents (72.9%) admitted to using antibiotics given by friends or family. CONCLUSION; The study results showed that although most students had experienced one or more URTI episodes, many engaged in improper antibiotic use, frequently self-medicating without valid prescriptions. The widespread misuse of antibiotics identified in this study represents a serious public health issue. While many students had a basic understanding of antibiotic use, misconceptions were common especially the false belief that antibiotics are effective against viral infections. Contributing factors included easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions, peer influence, prior antibiotic use, and limited awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Coordinated educational, clinical, and policy interventions are vital to promote the rational use of antibiotics and preserve their effectiveness for future generations