Medicine Use Behaviour and Antibiotic Related Knowledge among Adults in Rural Communities of Nagpur District, Maharashtra: a Pilot Cross-Sectional Survey
Author
Ashish Tule
Abstract
Aims: To describe medicine use behaviour and antibiotic related knowledge among adults in four rural communities of Nagpur District and to identify practical areas for community health education.
Instruments & Methods: A cross-sectional pilot survey was conducted among 40 adults from Narkhed and Warud talukas, Maharashtra. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. A 15 item self constructed questionnaire covered health seeking behaviour, antibiotic awareness, medicine use, leftover medicines, medicine sharing, non prescription antibiotic purchase and sources of health information. The instrument was self constructed and did not undergo formal validation or reliability testing. Verbal informed consent was obtained and no personally identifying information was recorded. Analysis was descriptive and based on the completed Excel dataset.
Findings: The mean age was 39.9 yr (range 19–82); 21 (52.5%) participants were women. Thirty seven (92.5%) had heard of antibiotics, but only 16 (40%) knew that antibiotics do not treat common viral cold or flu. Seventeen (42.5%) reported taking medicines without consulting a doctor. Fourteen (35%) had kept leftover medicines, eight (20%) had used leftover medicines later, and 13 (32.5%) had shared medicines with family members. Nine (22.5%) reported purchasing antibiotics without a prescription. Although 34 (85%) regarded taking medicines without a doctor's advice as harmful, 17 (42.5%) reported that they had done so. Twenty four (60%) had heard that frequent or incorrect antibiotic use can reduce future effectiveness.
Conclusions: The survey suggests that recognition of antibiotics was relatively common, but specific understanding and everyday medicine use practices were less consistent. The difference between favourable attitudes and reported behaviour indicates that community education should address practical decisions about consultation, leftover medicines, medicine sharing and antibiotic use for viral illness. The findings are preliminary and require confirmation in larger studies using validated instruments and appropriate ethical oversight.
Keywords
Antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance; self medication; medicine use; rural health; community health education
DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23682633
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