Table 2.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards antibiotics of parents from children under 5 years in primary health care centres from rural communities in Peru (N = 231)
| Question (Correct/desired answer) | Correct/Desired responses, N (%) |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | |
| Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections. (Yes) | 164 (71.0) |
| Antibiotics can cure viral infections. (No) | 48 (20.8) |
| Antibiotics must be taken once a child has a cold. (No) | 87 (37.7) |
| Antibiotics are the same as medications used to relieve pain and fever such as acetaminophen. (No) | 96 (41.6) |
| Penicillin is an antibiotic. (Yes) | 123 (53.2) |
| Children can be allergic to antibiotics. (Yes) | 204 (88.3) |
| The effectiveness of treatment is reduced if a full course of antibiotics is not completed. (Yes) | 126 (54.6) |
| Taking fewer antibiotics than prescribed is healthier than taking the full course prescribed. (No) | 99 (42.9) |
| Is the efficacy better if the antibiotics are newer and more costly? (No) | 80 (34.6) |
| Attitudes | |
| Leftover antibiotics are good to keep at home in case I might need them for my child later on. (Disagree) | 137 (59.3) |
| It is good to be able to get antibiotics for my child from siblings, relatives, or friends without having to see a doctor. (Disagree) | 180 (77.9) |
| It is good to be able to buy antibiotics over the counter at the pharmacy. (Disagree) | 116 (50.2) |
| It is appropriate to use antibiotics when my child has a sore throat because otherwise, he or she might catch something more serious. (Disagree) | 69 (29.9) |
| Antibiotics speed up recovery from a cold. (Disagree) | 65 (28.1) |
| I usually stop giving antibiotics to my child when he or she starts feeling better. (Disagree) | 103 (44.8) |
| I will stop giving my child an antibiotic if he or she has a skin reaction or gets side effects. (Agree) | 204 (88.3) |
| I usually will look at the expiry date of antibiotics before giving them to my child. (Agree) | 214 (92.6) |
| Doctors often take time to consider carefully whether my child needs to be prescribed antibiotics or not. (Agree) | 181 (78.4) |
| Doctors often take time to inform parents how antibiotics should be used for their children. (Agree) | 192 (83.1) |
| Antibiotics should be administered in all cases once a child has a fever. (Disagree) | 73 (31.6) |
| If I want my child to receive antibiotics, I would not be satisfied if the doctor refuses to give them. (Disagree) | 63 (27.3) |
| Practices | |
| Has purchased antibiotics without physicians’ prescription. (No) | 95 (41.1) |
| Sometimes, often, or always stores antibiotics at home. (No) | 90 (39.0) |
| Have self-medicated their children with antibiotics. (No) | 111 (48.1) |
| Believes it is reasonable to not visit a doctor if their child’s condition is not very serious. (No) | 86 (37.2) |
| Obtaining antibiotics without a prescription is a reason for self-medication. (Yes) | 64 (27.7) |
| Has received antibiotics after pharmacist advice. (No)a | 76 (33.0) |
amissing value on 1 participant