Parental awareness regarding pediatric antibiotic use in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To determine the level of awareness of antibiotic use in children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and to identify factors associated with parental decisions regarding it. Methods: Using a multiple-choice-question-based questionnaire survey, 1256 forms were distributed to visitors of major shopping malls in Madinah City to obtain socio-demographic and antibiotics knowledge-based data from October 2017 to January 2018. Differences in scores between and within groups on knowledge of parents about antibiotics were determined. Results: Most participants (67 %) had good basic knowledge of antibiotics: 69 and 40 % of respondents were aware of their side effects and antibacterial resistance, respectively. Participants in high age groups (> 46 years old) have a significantly higher mean knowledge score (55.4 +/- 20.1, p < 0.05) than those in younger groups. Educational status increased the mean knowledge score by approximately 60 %, with the most educated group having a mean score of 61.2 +/- 16.4 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results reveal the importance of awareness campaigns on antibiotic use and the role of healthcare professionals in the education of patients and parents on correct use of antibiotics, as well as the significance of antibacterial resistance.