Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32514362›Full record

ArticleJournal of pharmaceutical policy and practice2020

What influences antibiotic sales in rural Bangladesh? A drug dispensers' perspective.

Mohammad Abdul Matin, Wasif Ali Khan, Mohammad Mahbubul Karim, Sabeena Ahmed, Johannes John-Langba, Osman A Sankoh, Margaret Gyapong, John Kinsman, Heiman Wertheim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

38 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  4. A Codesigned Approach to Develop Tailored Antimicrobial Stewardship Strategies in Bangladesh: A Social-Ecological Systems Framework Analysis.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026
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  7. Review
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  12. A pill for every ill? Unpacking antibiotic misuse among Bangladeshi university students.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025
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  15. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mohammad Abdul MatinInfectious Diseases Division, icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh), Enteric and Respiratory Infections, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212 Bangladesh.
Wasif Ali KhanInfectious Diseases Division, icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh), Enteric and Respiratory Infections, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212 Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0002-7650-8068
Mohammad Mahbubul KarimInfectious Diseases Division, icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh), Enteric and Respiratory Infections, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212 Bangladesh.
Sabeena AhmedInfectious Diseases Division, icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh), Enteric and Respiratory Infections, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sharani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212 Bangladesh.
Johannes John-LangbaUniversity of Kwazulu-Natal, School of Applied Sciences college of Humanities, Memorial Tower Building, Durban, F224 South Africa.
Osman A Sankoh6INDEPTH Network, 38 & 40 Mensah Wood Street, East Legon, P. O. Box KD 213, Kanda Accra, Ghana.
Margaret GyapongCentre for Health Policy and Implementation Research, Institute for Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region Ghana.
John KinsmanEpidemiology and Global Health Unit, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Heiman WertheimDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntibiotic resistance poses a great threat to global health, especially in low- and middle-income countries with a high infectious disease burden and limited resources. In spite of regulations, antibiotics are sold in many settings as non-prescription medicines, resulting in inappropriate use and resistance.

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the current status of access and use of antibiotics in rural Bangladesh, by exploring the perspectives and sales practices of antibiotic drug dispensers.

methodsWe used a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative). We mapped and characterized antibiotic purchasing and dispensing sites in the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System catchment area. Furthermore, we investigated the volume of provision of systemic antibiotics in 10 drug outlets. We held 16 in-depth interviews with randomly selected antibiotics dispensers. Interviews explored factors associated with antibiotic selling. Responses were transcribed, coded for themes, and summarized. We used ATLAS.ti 5.2 for conducting a thematic analysis.

resultsA total of 301 antibiotic dispensers were identified, of whom 92% (

conclusionDispensers in rural Bangladesh sell antibiotics inappropriately by ignoring existing national regulations. They operate the antibiotic sales without facing any legal barriers and primarily with a view to sustain their business, resulting in inappropriate sales of antibiotics to the rural community. The influence of the drug industry needs to be replaced with evidence-based, not commercially driven information. Awareness programs for antibiotic providers that promote understanding of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance through tailored interventions may be helpful in changing current antibiotic sales practices.

Indexed as

Antibiotic dispensersAntibioticsBangladeshCommunityDrug regulationPharmacy

Identifiers

PMID32514362
PMCPMC7268404

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.