Self-Medication with Antibiotics in Urban Areas of Peshawar

Background: Self-medication is common in countries where prescription legislations are not strong enough and drugs are available over the counter. This study was conducted to assess the self-medication by antibiotics in urban population and determine the factors related to it. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar and private clinic of author on patients from urban areas of Peshawar, between January 2009 and December 2009. It included 744 adult patients with fever; 350 men and 394 women, mean age 34±14.5 years. They were asked to answer an anonymous questionnaire regarding use of medicines in previous 12 months. Results: All 744 patients accepted to have used antibiotics during the past 12 months for various ailments. They commonly used antibiotics without a prescription (513 or 69% of patients) from the pharmacy. The antibiotics most frequently used were amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (45%), ciprofloxacin (31%), sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim (18%), and clarithromycin (5%). Fever (70%), sore throat (22%) and common cold (8%) were the symptoms for self medication. High cost of health care was mentioned the reason for self-medication by majority (88%). Majority (82%) thought fever, sore throat and common cold as trivial illnesses controllable with self-medication. Conclusion: In the urban areas of Peshawar, despite good access to health care facilities adult populationresort to the use of antibioticS without a prescription for various reasons. Fever, sore throat and common cold are considered trivial illness easily controlled with self-medication.