Antibiotic use among 8-month-old children in Malmö, Sweden--in relation to child characteristics and parental sociodemographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors.
BACKGROUND
In the county of Scania, Sweden, antibiotic use among small children is among the highest in the country. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between antibiotic use among 8-month-old children in Malmö and characteristics of the child as well as parental sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and psychosocial support.


METHODS
The study was a population-based cross-sectional survey. The study population consisted of children who visited the Child Health Care (CHC) centres in Malmö for their 8-month health checkup during 2003-2006 and whose parents answered a self-administered questionnaire (n = 7266 children). The questionnaire was distributed to parents of children registered with the CHC and invited for an 8-month checkup during the study period.


RESULTS
The odds of using antibiotics increased as parental educational level decreased. Using high educational level as a reference group, low maternal educational level was associated with an increased antibiotic use for the child, odds ratio (OR) = 1.61 (95% CI: 1.34-1.93). Furthermore, children whose parents were born outside Sweden showed higher antibiotic use, OR = 1.43 (95% CI: 1.24-1.65), in comparison with children whose parents were born in Sweden. Exposure to environmental smoking, parental experience of economic stress, and a low level of emotional support increased the odds for antibiotic use. Boys had higher odds of use of antibiotics than girls, OR = 1.40 (95% CI: 1.25-1.57). Having a low birth weight, having an allergy and having siblings also increased the odds for early antibiotic use, while breastfeeding seemed to have a protective role.


CONCLUSIONS
There were clear associations between parental factors such as sociodemographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors and antibiotic use at this early stage of life. Several characteristics of the child also affected the use of antibiotics.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Social Epidemiology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Elisabeth.mangrio@skane.se
Elisabeth
E
Mangrio
Anna
A
Wremp
Mahnaz
M
Moghaddassi
Juan
J
Merlo
Ann-Cathrine
AC
Bramhagen
Maria
M
Rosvall
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011584:Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution