Survey of non-prescribed use of antibiotics for children in an urban community in Mongolia.
OBJECTIVE
to estimate the prevalence and identify the determinants of non-prescription use of antibiotics for children in Mongolia.


METHODS
a community-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 10 subdistricts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. We used a structured questionnaire to collect data from a random sample of 540 households with at least one child aged < 5 years. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with antibiotic misuse.


RESULTS
of 503 participating caregivers, 71% were mothers; 42.3% (95% confidence interval, CI: 37.8-46.9) of caregivers had used non-prescribed antibiotics to treat symptoms in their child during the previous 6 months. Symptoms commonly treated were cough (84%), fever (66%), nasal discharge (65%) and sore throat (60%). Amoxicillin was the most commonly used antibiotic (58%). Pharmacies were the main source (86%) of non-prescribed antibiotics. Non-prescribed use by mothers was significantly associated with keeping antibiotics at home (odds ratio, OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.04-2.79), caregiver self-medication (OR: 6.3; 95% CI: 3.8-10.5) and older child's age (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04). Caregivers with a better knowledge of antibiotics were less likely to give children non-prescribed antibiotics (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6-0.8).


CONCLUSIONS
the prevalence of non-prescribed antibiotic use for young children was high in Ulaanbaatar. Because such use leads to the spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and related health problems, our findings have important implications for public education and the enforcement of regulations regarding the sale of antibiotics in Mongolia.
Department of Global Health Policy, School of International Health, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. ganaa@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Ganchimeg
G
Togoobaatar
Nayu
N
Ikeda
Moazzam
M
Ali
Munkhbayarlakh
M
Sonomjamts
Sarangerel
S
Dashdemberel
Rintaro
R
Mori
Kenji
K
Shibuya
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs