Knowledge, attitude and practices among consumers toward antibiotics use and antibiotic resistance in Swat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE Inappropriate use of antibiotics is one of the main causes of antibiotic resistance around the globe. The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward antibiotics and antibiotic resistance among consumers. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to September 2019. The participants visiting community pharmacies to buy the antibiotics were approached by data collectors. The descriptive analysis, Kruskal Wallis, and Mann-Whitney statistical tests were used for data analysis through SPSS. RESULTS 399 participants at three pharmacies with male (n = 352, 88.2%), age (years) group between 34 to 41(n = 138, 34.6%), uneducated (n = 128, 32.1%), and higher education (n = 76, 19.0%) level of the participants were noted. Poor to moderate knowledge were observed; participants were unaware of the risk and misuse of antibiotics at all three pharmacies. By some means, a positive attitude noted, but the storage of antibiotics at home (Median = 2, IQR = 2) was preferred to use when needed. Most of the respondents didn't follow the actual dosage regimen as prescribed (n = 266, 66.7%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION A lack of knowledge and malpractices toward antibiotics use among consumers were observed. Education and awareness of the public about antibiotic resistance is the need of the hour.