Students' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance at Mili University in Kabul, Afghanistan
Keywords: antibiotics, antimicrobial therapy, knowledge, resistance, students, Mili University.
Mohammad Sadiq Halimzi
Abstract
The inappropriate and irrational use of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic resistance, which is now considered a major global public health problem. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among students in the faculties of medicine and stomatology at the national university using an online questionnaire. Their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and resistance were assessed using a five-point Likert scale, with responses ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree and always to never. The data was analysed using SPSS and Excel software. Among the 291 study participants, 281 (96.6%) agreed that antibiotics are effective drugs for treating bacterial infections, while 10 (3.4%) disagreed. There was a significant difference between the agreeing and disagreeing respondents. Similarly, 273(93.8%) participants had heard about antibiotic resistance, whereas 18 (6.2%) did not know about bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Indicating an 87.6% difference, showing that most respondents were aware of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, 173(59.5%) reported that antibiotics can be obtained from pharmacies and pharmaceutical factories without a doctor’s prescription, while 116(39.9%) disagreed, showing a 19.6% difference- indicating that most respondents believed antibiotics are accessible without a prescription. According to our survey, most students had good knowledge about antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. However, there is still a need for more educational intervention to further enhance their understanding and awareness, as well as to improve their attitude toward the proper use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance.
