Deghedi, B., Moustafa, N., Meky, M. (2015). Adherence of Family Physicians to Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines for Children Under Five Years in Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 45(2), 62-70. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2015.20244
Bothaina Deghedi; Noha Moustafa; Manal Meky. "Adherence of Family Physicians to Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines for Children Under Five Years in Alexandria". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 45, 2, 2015, 62-70. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2015.20244
Deghedi, B., Moustafa, N., Meky, M. (2015). 'Adherence of Family Physicians to Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines for Children Under Five Years in Alexandria', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 45(2), pp. 62-70. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2015.20244
Deghedi, B., Moustafa, N., Meky, M. Adherence of Family Physicians to Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines for Children Under Five Years in Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2015; 45(2): 62-70. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2015.20244
Adherence of Family Physicians to Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines for Children Under Five Years in Alexandria
Primary Health Care Specialty, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University
Abstract
Background: Antibiotic use has been beneficial and, when prescribed and taken correctly, their value in patient care is enormous. Over prescription and abuse of antibiotics in the treatment is a worldwide problem. More than 40% of children with acute diarrhea receive unnecessary antibiotics and up to 60% of children with acute upper respiratory tract infections receive antibiotics inappropriately. Objectives: To assess adherence of family physicians to guidelines for antibiotic prescription in acute upper respiratory tract infections and diarrhea in children under 5 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 randomly selected family health facilities in Alexandria governorate. An observation checklist was designed based on Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines and used on a sample of 300 consultation sessions. Results: The study revealed that antibiotics were prescribed in 49.7% of the observed sessions and prescribed appropriately in 55.4% of the sessions according to IMCI guidelines. The type of prescribed antibiotic was appropriate in 91.8% of the sessions.
Conclusion: Family physicians’ antibiotics prescription is inappropriate in nearly half of the studied children.
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