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International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
Clinical Research 2023; 3(3):175-177
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A Cross-sectional Study of Community Awareness in Al-Tal District, Syria, about
the Random Use of Antibiotics
Mohammed Al-Wadi, Muaaz Alajlani*
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Al-Sham Private University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Tal, Syria
Received: 20-07-2023; Revised: 05-08-2023; Accepted: 22-08-2023
ABSTRACT
Background: An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most
important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections. Aims: The study aimed to identify
the degree of awareness about the dangers of misuse of antibiotics, and to find out the differences about the
degree of their knowledge of the dangers of using antibiotics according to the variables (Gender – age – level
of education – place of residence). Materials and Methods: This study was conducted through a
questionnaire prepared by the researcher consisting of (13) items in addition to some personal information
(gender – age – educational level – place of residence), and the informed consent was taken from all (166)
study participants. Results: There are no differences in the degree of knowledge of the risks of using
antibiotics due to the sex variable, and there are differences between the estimates of the study sample in the
degree of knowledge of the risks of using antibiotics. The category (25–39) was the most knowledgeable,
and there were differences between the estimates of the study sample members due to the variable of place
of residence due to the remote areas. Conclusion: The degree of knowledge of the risks of using antibiotics
was low, as the majority of individuals (57%) had followed the advice of someone other than a doctor or
used an old prescription before taking an antibiotic. These results clearly indicate the extent to which laws
controlling the sale of antibiotics in pharmacies in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Keywords: Antibiotic misuse, Knowledge, Microbial resistance, Practice
INTRODUCTION infection control measures. Several studies have
highlighted the magnitude of the problem and the
Antibiotic misuse in Syria has been a significant urgent need for interventions to promote rational
health concern from 2010 to 2020, fueled by antibiotic use in Syria. For example, a 2019
various factors such as the overuse of antibiotics, study found that approximately 80% of antibiotic
the widespread availability of antibiotics without prescriptions in Syrian primary healthcare centers
a prescription, and limited public awareness of were inappropriate, while another study from 2018
appropriate use. The civil war in Syria, which reported high rates of antibiotic resistance in Syrian
began in 2011, has further complicated the hospitals.[1,2]
issue, leading to an increase in the prevalence of Some of the antibiotics used as standard treatments
antibiotic-resistant infections due to disrupted for bacterial infections are no longer working as
healthcare systems, poor sanitation, and inadequate well as they should and some of these medications
are not completely effective against certain types
*Corresponding Author: of bacteria. When an antibiotic does not work
Muaaz Alajlani, against certain strains of bacteria, these bacteria
E-mail:
[email protected] are known as antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and
© 2023, IJPSCR. All Rights Reserved 175
Al-Wadi and Alajlani: Community awareness of random use of antibiotic
antibiotic resistance has become one of the most it will not protect others from getting sick, it
serious problems worldwide.[3] will not relieve the severity of your symptoms, it
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics are two causes multi-side effects, and increased antibiotic
major factors in antibiotic resistance. resistance
Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, but
not infections caused by viruses (viral infections).
For example, an antibiotic is the correct treatment MATERIALS AND METHODS
for streptococcal pharyngitis, but it is not the A questionnaire prepared by the researcher
correct treatment for most pharyngitis, especially consisting of (13) items in addition to some
those caused by viruses.[4] personal information (gender – age – education
Other common viral infections that antibiotics don’t level – place of residence), and the informed
help include: Cold or flu, Viral pneumonia, Viral consent was taken from all (166) participants in the
upper respiratory tract infection, Viral gastroenteritis, study. The results were recorded in a questionnaire,
Coronavirus (COVID-19), and Whooping cough and the questionnaire form was presented in the
(pertussis). appendices at the end of the study.
Thus, we find that taking antibiotics in the event
The analysis was carried out using the Statistical
of a viral infection: It will not cure the infection,
Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 24)
Table 1: The demographic characteristics of the study
(IBM Corporation, Armonk, New York, USA) and
sample Excel 2016. A predictive value <0.05 (P < 0.05)
Variable Percentage degree Duplicates (%) was considered statistically significant.
Gender
Male 63 37.5
Feminine 103 62.5
RESULTS
The age
The study was conducted on (166) individual [Table
>18 6 3.6
1]. There are no statistically significant differences
18–24 124 74.6
in the degree of knowledge of the risks of using
25–39 21 12.6
40–59 6 3.6
antibiotics due to the gender variable (male/female)
60+ 9 5.6
Table 2, and there are statistically significant
Scientific level graduate differences between a study and a study in the degree
Less than secondary 18 10.8 of knowledge of the risks of using antibiotics Table 3.
High school or institute 22 13.3 Education (less than secondary) are the least aware of
University 122 73.5 the risks of infection with antibiotics, and there were
Postgraduate 4 2.4 differences due to the age variable in favor of a group
Place of residence of (25–39), so they were the most knowledgeable
Urban 75 45.18 and the least knowledgeable were (60+ younger than
Rural area 91 54.82
18 years old).
Table 2: The relationship to the risk of antibiotic use is due to the gender variable
Gender The sample Average Standard deviation Value (T) Df Sig The decision
Males 63 4.048 0.426 0.301 165 0.763 There are no differences
Females 103 4.010 0.598
Table 3: Study in the degree of awareness about the risks of misuse of antibiotics due to the variable of scientific level
Variance Sum of squares Df Mean of squares Value (F) Sig The decision
Between groups 289.786 3 99.1601 3.041 0.0001 There are differences
Within groups 535.621 163 32.6265
Groups 555.312 166
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Al-Wadi and Alajlani: Community awareness of random use of antibiotic
Table 4: The relationship between the degree of awareness of the dangers of misuse of antibiotics is due to the region
variable
Variance The sample Average Standard deviation (T) Df Sig The decision
City 75 3.154 0.386 0.154 165 0.0001 There are differences
Remote area 91 4.217 0.218
DISCUSSION a strategical plan that help raise public awareness
toward antibiotic and antibiotic misuse.
The majority of individuals (57%) had followed
advice from someone other than a physician or used
an old prescription before taking an antibiotic; only CONCLUSION
43% reported that an antibiotic was prescribed by
There are no awareness campaigns about the
a doctor to treat the condition. These results clearly
dangers of taking antibiotics without consulting a
indicate the extent to which laws controlling the
doctor. The antibiotic misuse is pandemic and is
sale of antibiotics in pharmacies in the Syrian Arab
becoming serious issue in Syria. We further stress
Republic are ignored.[1,3,5] There were no statistically
taking proactive steps and develop a strategical plan
significant differences in the use of modern
that help raise public awareness toward antibiotic
antibiotics by gender, but only the differences were
and antibiotic misuse.
due to the age variable, which ranged between 25
and 39 years in their knowledge of the dangers of
taking antibiotics, and the ignorance of individuals FUNDING
under the age of (18) and older than (60+). This
is due to the availability of over-the-counter None.
antibiotics through unregulated and unauthorized
drug stores, In the general public, the need to COMPETING INTERESTS
take antibiotics quickly for a quick recovery, Stop
taking the course of antibiotics completely when None declared.
the symptoms start to improve and the treatment is
not completed completely, Inability to distinguish REFERENCES
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