ArticlePloS one2022
A qualitative study on community use of antibiotics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Drivers of inappropriate use of antibiotics among community members in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of qualitative studies.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Non-study post-partum antibiotics use and risk of maternal and neonatal infection: A secondary analysis of the A-PLUS randomized controlled trial.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Trial
- Divergent stakeholder perspectives on antimicrobial resistance and One Health in Ghana: a qualitative study.BMC global and public health · 2026Article
- Neonatal Bloodstream Infections: A Narrative Review on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges and Prospects in Developing Countries.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Medicine retailers in Goma, the "white coats of the pharmacy": unity among diversity.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Article
- Antimicrobial resistance of Enterobacterales in Central Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Communications medicine · 2025Article
- Antimicrobial resistance, equity and justice in low- and middle-income countries: an intersectional critical interpretive synthesis.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Bacteriological profile and antimicrobial resistance in sepsis cases in intensive care units in Lubumbashi: challenges and perspectives.Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials · 2025Article
- Status and implications of the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards AWaRe antibiotic use, resistance and stewardship among low- and middle-income countries.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2025Review
- Influences on use of antibiotics without prescription by the public in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative evidence.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2024Review
- The use of medicine retailers by people of Goma as an alternative healthcare provider: a risky but rational practice.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- Exploring community insights on antimicrobial resistance in Nepal: a formative qualitative study.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Exploring different health care providers´ perceptions on the management of diarrhoea in cholera hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A qualitative content analysis.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Antimicrobial stewardship in private pharmacies in Wakiso district, Uganda: a qualitative study.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2023Article
- Knowledge, perceptions and practices on antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals in Wakiso district, Uganda: A cross sectional study.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Antibiotic use in children under 5 years of age in Northern Tanzania: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of the caring mothers.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2022Article
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundResistance to antibiotics is an increasing and major threat to global health. While the large majority of antimicrobial use occurs in the community where antibiotics are available without prescription, we did not find any studies investigating community-level factors influencing the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where non-prescription antibiotic use is prevalent.
methodsThis qualitative study was conducted from April 1st 2019 to May 5th 2019 and consisting of in-depth semi-structured interviews, utilizing purposive and snowball sampling schemes to recruit adult heads of households in the Pakadjuma slum, in Kinshasa, DRC. Participants with differing medical and educational backgrounds were selected. We employed a thematic analysis approach to explore community knowledge and use of antibiotics in the sampled population.
resultsA total of 18 participants with a median age of 35 years were interviewed. The majority was female (77.7%), had at least a secondary education (83.4%), and unemployed (61.1%). We found that participants were familiar with the term "antibiotics", but had limited knowledge of the indications and risks of antibiotics, including the risk of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotics was common and there was frequent self-medication of non-prescribed medicines for a range of non-indicated conditions such as menstruation. Having limited income was the most commonly reported reason for not visiting a health facility for appropriate health care.
conclusionInappropriate use of antibiotics is a widespread practice and is influenced by lack of adequate knowledge of antibiotic use, indications and risks, prevalent self-medication, and financial barriers to accessing appropriate health care. There is need for both community education as well as structural interventions addressing poverty in order to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the Pakadjuma slum in Kinshasa.
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