[Parents' attitudes to the prescription of antibiotics to children].
BACKGROUND
Most children in day care get infections and are prescribed antibiotics. We studied parents' attitude towards such prescription.


METHODS
Parents (563 out of 1126 surveyed) in 22 day care centres returned a questionnaire on factors in their own situation and in their day care centre with impact on the use of antibiotics.


RESULTS
Parents above 30 years of age, well educated and knowledgeable about antibiotics were the most sceptical of such treatment. A negative attitude on the part of employers and colleagues towards absence from work led to more use of antibiotics (p < 0.01). Children in single-parent homes were given more antibiotics than those in two-parent homes (p < 0.05). Help from relatives led to less use of antibiotics (p < 0.01). Sick children went to day care in 16% of cases; 57% of those taking antibiotics still went to day care.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents' situation may influence the use of antibiotics in children. Too many children are taking antibiotics and still go to day care. Support in the workplace, from relatives and from friends may give parents a better chance of staying at home with a sick child, thus preventing the spread of infections and cut down on the use of antibiotics.
Nordlie
Anne-Lise
AL
Avdeling Helsefag, Høgskolen i Oslo, Postboks 4 St. Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo. anne-lise.nordlie@hf.hio.no
Andersen
Bjørg Marit
BM
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents