ArticlePloS one2025
Antibiotic self-medication in Otuke District, Northern Uganda: Prevalence and associated factors.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The nature of self-medication in Uganda: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Evaluation of Ceftriaxone Utilization in Three Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda: A Prospective Multicentre Study.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Determinants of Self‑Medication Among Adult Outpatients in a Rural Health Facility in Northern Uganda: A Cross‑Sectional Study.Patient preference and adherence · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Antibiotic self-medication is a growing public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to healthcare is limited. The practice contributes to antimicrobial resistance which increases health care costs, morbidity, and mortality in the population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and its associated factors in the Otuke District, Northern Uganda. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Otuke. Data was collected among adults aged 18 years and above using semi-structured questionnaire. Collected data was coded and double-entered into SPSS Software version 26 and exported to STATA 14 for analysis of frequencies and percentages. Modified Poisson regression was used to run analysis of the association at a P-value of 0.05. Out of the 385 participants, 261 (67.79%) reported having self-medicated with antibiotics in the past six months. The most commonly self-medicated antibiotics were amoxicillin 134 (51.3%), ampiclox 87 (33.3%) and metronidazole 57 (21.9%). Participants with previous successful treatment were 2.33 times more likely to self-medicate (PR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.89-2.87, P < 0.001) while poor staff attitude increased the likelihood by 1.53 times (PR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.38-1.71, P < 0.001). Knowledge about antibiotics was negatively associated with ASM in that those who had knowledge on antibiotics were 25% less likely to self-medicate with antibiotics (PR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65-0.86, P < 0.001). The practice of antibiotic self-medication was highly prevalent in Otuke district due to previous successful treatments and poor health care systems. The commonly self-medicated antibiotics were amoxicillin, ampiclox and metronidazole. We recommend public health interventions such as community education on antimicrobial resistance regulation of antibiotic use in the country.
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