A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis and primarily caused by antibiotic misuse. Antibiotic misuse among children is particularly concerning, and its prevalence may vary from region to region in China with different development levels. Methodology: Zhejiang and Shaanxi...

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Main Authors: Yannan Xu, Jingjing Lu, Chenhui Sun, Xiaomin Wang, Yanhong Jessika Hu, Xudong Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2020-02-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11938
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author Yannan Xu
Jingjing Lu
Chenhui Sun
Xiaomin Wang
Yanhong Jessika Hu
Xudong Zhou
author_facet Yannan Xu
Jingjing Lu
Chenhui Sun
Xiaomin Wang
Yanhong Jessika Hu
Xudong Zhou
author_sort Yannan Xu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis and primarily caused by antibiotic misuse. Antibiotic misuse among children is particularly concerning, and its prevalence may vary from region to region in China with different development levels. Methodology: Zhejiang and Shaanxi were selected to represent developed and less developed provinces in China, respectively. Data of 2924 parents in Zhejiang and 3355 parents in Shaanxi whose children were 0-13 years old were collected through multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling and a self-administrated questionnaire. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to parents in Zhejiang, those in Shaanxi were more likely to keep antibiotics for children at home, to engage in self-medication with antibiotics for children, and to make their children take antibiotics prophylactically. While there were no significant provincial differences between parents’ requests for antibiotics during pediatric consultations, parents in Shaanxi province were more likely to receive prescribed antibiotics. Conclusions: Children in less developed provinces face higher risks of antibiotic misuse at home as well as when attending medical practitioners. Comprehensive educational interventions are required to improve antibiotic use for children all over China but particularly in less developed provinces such as Shaanxi. Furthermore, non-prescription sales and over-prescribing of antibiotics should be reduced by targeted strategies.
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issn 1972-2680
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publishDate 2020-02-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-7936064a122b457fb334c6eca41b78e12025-08-20T02:57:18ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802020-02-01140210.3855/jidc.11938A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provincesYannan Xu0Jingjing Lu1Chenhui Sun2Xiaomin Wang3Yanhong Jessika Hu4Xudong Zhou5The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaThe Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaThe Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaThe Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaMurdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne. Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, AustraliaThe Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health crisis and primarily caused by antibiotic misuse. Antibiotic misuse among children is particularly concerning, and its prevalence may vary from region to region in China with different development levels. Methodology: Zhejiang and Shaanxi were selected to represent developed and less developed provinces in China, respectively. Data of 2924 parents in Zhejiang and 3355 parents in Shaanxi whose children were 0-13 years old were collected through multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling and a self-administrated questionnaire. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Compared to parents in Zhejiang, those in Shaanxi were more likely to keep antibiotics for children at home, to engage in self-medication with antibiotics for children, and to make their children take antibiotics prophylactically. While there were no significant provincial differences between parents’ requests for antibiotics during pediatric consultations, parents in Shaanxi province were more likely to receive prescribed antibiotics. Conclusions: Children in less developed provinces face higher risks of antibiotic misuse at home as well as when attending medical practitioners. Comprehensive educational interventions are required to improve antibiotic use for children all over China but particularly in less developed provinces such as Shaanxi. Furthermore, non-prescription sales and over-prescribing of antibiotics should be reduced by targeted strategies. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11938Antibiotic useChildrenRegional disparity
spellingShingle Yannan Xu
Jingjing Lu
Chenhui Sun
Xiaomin Wang
Yanhong Jessika Hu
Xudong Zhou
A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Antibiotic use
Children
Regional disparity
title A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
title_full A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
title_fullStr A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
title_full_unstemmed A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
title_short A cross-sectional study of antibiotic misuse among Chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
title_sort cross sectional study of antibiotic misuse among chinese children in developed and less developed provinces
topic Antibiotic use
Children
Regional disparity
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/11938
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