Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Inappropriate antibiotic use is a factor driving the emergence of antibiotic resistance worldwide. Understanding the prescribing practices helps to initiate policies to control antibiotics misuse. The study aimed to obtain information on the antibiotic prescribing rates of public and private health facilities in Nepal. Patients’ administrative records collected between July 2017 and December 2017 from six public facilities and exit interviews conducted with patients at 30 private facilities of Rupandehi district of Nepal. The WHO’s standard measure for antibiotic prescribing was used to determine appropriate antibiotics use. Antibiotic prescribing rates were investigated using descriptive analysis. Chi-square tests and regression analysis applied to explore factors associated with antibiotic prescribing. Overall 44.0% (3654 of 8297) of patients were prescribed at least one antibiotic, with the prescribing rate higher in public (44.7%) than private facilities (38.4%). The most commonly prescribed class was Cephalosporins in both public (29.9%) and private (38.0%) facilities, while Ceftriaxone accounted for the highest rate of antibiotics used in public (22.9%) and Cefixime in private (16.9%) facilities. High prescribing rates of antibiotics for selected conditions (e.g. diarrhoeal cases, respiratory tract infections) appeared contrary to international recommendations. Being younger and older age increased the possibility of an antibiotic prescription in both sectors (p=<0.001). Antibiotic prescribing rates were high in both sectors compared with WHO guidelines, indicating a need for policy intervention targeting prescribers. This study provides useful information to assist in formulating policies and guidelines to promote the more appropriate use of antibiotics and to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.