Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences & King Abdullah Medical Research Center, Al Ahsa, KSA & Assistant Professor, Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo- Egypt.
2
RN, King Saud Medical City& Medical Student, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, KSA.
3
RN, Maternal and Child Hospital, Al Ahsa, KSA
Abstract
Background: Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic caused parents to be very suspicious with any respiratory tract infections (URTI) in their children. Whether antibiotics needed to treat COVID-19 or other URTI caused by viruses remains controversial causing irrational use of antibiotics among parents. The aim of the current study is to assess pattern of antibiotics use among parents of children suffering from URTI infections and COVID 19 like symptoms. Methods: Descriptive Cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of 209 Parents attending pediatric outpatient and primary health clinics at Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) Hospital were consented to complete the study questionnaire: demographics, child’s health information, COVID 19 exposure, and parents’ perceptions on antibiotics (knowledge, beliefs, behaviors and adherence). Results: Majority of parents (93.78%) reported that children had URTI during the year post pandemic with 68.41% had symptoms for at least twice, about 60% complained from similar COVID19 symptom, out of 128 children screened for COVID19, 20 were positive (15.62%). Antibiotics prescribed to all positive and to majority of non-COVID19 illness. Parents believe and adherence to antibiotics was not favorable. Conclusion: Parents knowledge, believes, behaviors and adherence to antibiotics is alarming. Excessive prescription of antibiotics, irrational use during COVID-19 illness or other viral infections and obtaining antibiotics even without prescription is a public health problem. Recommendations: There is a need for monitoring antibiotics use among parents. An educational program and follow up needed to decrease parents’ self-prescriptions or use of leftover of antibiotics. Finally, a national program for proper treatment of infections in children should be in place.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO