Archive \ Volume.16 2025 Issue 3

Evaluation of the Knowledge, and Attitude of Non-Healthcare Students in Central University Ghana on Antibiotic Resistance

Peace Doe*✉ , Cynthia Amaning Danquah , Kwasi Adomako Ohemeng , Kwame Ohene Buabeng , Michael Annan Kasukose , Melvina Amma Dukely , Kwabena Oteng-Boahen , Anthony Sarfo , Geeta Hitch , Michael Ofori
  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Central University, Miotso, Ghana.
  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  3. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
  4. Faculty of Health Sciences and Well-being, University of Sunderland in London, London, UK.

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of non-healthcare students regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance at Central University, Miotso, Ghana. This study involved students from all levels studying non-healthcare courses at the Central University of Ghana. The study was conducted over three months. The questionnaire consisted of demographics as well as questions on respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Data were analyzed using STATA analysis software version 12.0. The sample size comprised 1000 students, with 550 being female and 450 male. Of these, 60.96% stated that they had used antibiotics within the last 12 months. A small number of respondents (31%) indicated that they always consulted with a physician before starting an antibiotic, and students (68.75%) across all levels agreed that most colds get better on their own without antibiotics. This study also showed a significant association between students’ knowledge of antibiotics and their level of study (p = 0.007). Our study suggests that most of the respondents were aware of the severity of antibiotic resistance, but almost all of them had inadequate knowledge on the use of antibiotics and on how they can contribute towards curbing the menace of antibiotic resistance. There is therefore a need to include information programs on the judicious use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance as part of all degree programs.


Downloads: 32
Views: 80

How to cite:
Vancouver
Doe P, Danquah CA, Ohemeng KA, Buabeng KO, Kasukose MA, Dukely MA, et al. Evaluation of the Knowledge, and Attitude of Non-Healthcare Students in Central University Ghana on Antibiotic Resistance. Arch Pharm Pract. 2025;16(3):41-5. https://doi.org/10.51847/LHxGX8Ykfa
APA
Doe, P., Danquah, C. A., Ohemeng, K. A., Buabeng, K. O., Kasukose, M. A., Dukely, M. A., Oteng-Boahen, K., Sarfo, A., Hitch, G., & Ofori, M. (2025). Evaluation of the Knowledge, and Attitude of Non-Healthcare Students in Central University Ghana on Antibiotic Resistance. Archives of Pharmacy Practice, 16(3), 41-45. https://doi.org/10.51847/LHxGX8Ykfa

Download Citation
References
  1. Piddock LJV. The crisis of no new antibiotics--what is the way forward? Lancet Infect Dis. 2012;12(3):249–53.
  2. Meyer E, Gastmeier P, Deja M, Schwab F. Antibiotic consumption and resistance: data from Europe and Germany. Int J Med Microbiol. 2013;303(6–7):388–95.
  3. Van Boeckel TP, Gandra S, Ashok A, Caudron Q, Grenfell BT, Levin SA, et al. Global antibiotic consumption 2000 to 2010: an analysis of national pharmaceutical sales data. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014;14(8):742–50.
  4. Hecker MT, Aron DC, Patel NP, Lehmann MK, Donskey CJ. Unnecessary use of antimicrobials in hospitalized patients. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163(8):972.
  5. Dellit TH, Owens RC, McGowan JE, Gerding DN, Weinstein RA, Burke JP, et al. Infectious diseases society of America and the society for healthcare epidemiology of America guidelines for developing an institutional program to enhance antimicrobial stewardship. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44:159–77.
  6. World Health Organization. WHO | Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance 2014. WHO. 2016.
  7. Wolf-Gould CS, Taylor N, Horwitz SMC, Barry M. Misinformation about medications in rural Ghana. Soc Sci Med. 1991;33(1):83–9.
  8. Ahiabu MA, Tersbøl BP, Biritwum R, Bygbjerg IC, Magnussen P. A retrospective audit of antibiotic prescriptions in primary healthcare facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana. Health Policy Plan. 2016;31(2):250–8.
  9. Yevutsey SK, Buabeng KO, Aikins M, Anto BP, Biritwum RB, Frimodt-Møller N, et al. Situational analysis of antibiotic use and resistance in Ghana: policy and regulation. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):422.
  10. Magill SS, Edwards JR, Beldavs ZG, Dumyati G, Janelle SJ, Kainer MA, et al. Prevalence of antimicrobial use in US acute care hospitals, May-September 2011. JAMA. 2014;312(14):1438–46.
  11. Porter G, Joshi J, Bhullar L, Kotwani A. Using ‘smart regulation’ to tackle antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health. 2020;5(1):e001864.
  12. Labi A-K, Obeng-Nkrumah N, Bjerrum S, Aryee NAA, Ofori-Adjei YA, Yawson AE, et al. Physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions concerning antibiotic resistance: a survey in a Ghanaian tertiary care hospital. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):126.
  13. Asante KP, Boamah EA, Abdulai MA, Buabeng KO, Mahama E, Dzabeng F, et al. Knowledge of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic prescription practices among prescribers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017;17(1):422.
  14. Jamshed SQ, Elkalmi R, Rajiah K, Al-Shami AK, Shamsudin SH, Siddiqui MJA, et al. Understanding of antibiotic use and resistance among final-year pharmacy and medical students: a pilot study. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2014;8(6):780–5.
  15. Ahmad A, Khan MU, Moorthy J, Jamshed SQ, Patel I. Comparison of knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics and resistance, and antibiotics self-practicing between Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy students in Southern India. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2015;13(1):1–8.
  16. Huang Y, Gu J, Zhang M, Ren Z, Yang W, Chen Y, et al. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antibiotics: a questionnaire study among 2500 Chinese students. BMC Med Educ. 2013;13(1):163.
  17. Dhingra S, Khan M, Maharaj S, Pandey S, Patel I, Ahmad A. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of B.Sc. Pharmacy students about antibiotics in Trinidad and Tobago. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(1):37–41.
  18. Harakeh S, Almatrafi M, Ungapen H, Hammad R, Olayan F, Hakim R, et al. Perceptions of medical students towards antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in Saudi Arabia. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2015;2(1):e000078.
  19. Ahmad A, Patel I, Mohanta G, Balkrishnan R. Evaluation of self-medication practices in the rural area of town Sahaswan in Northern India. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014;4(8):73–7.
  20. Khan AAK, Banu G, K RK. Antibiotic resistance and usage—a survey on the knowledge, attitude, perceptions and practices among the medical students of a Southern Indian teaching hospital. J Clin Diagn Res. 2013;7(8):1613–6.
  21. Dyar OJ, Hills H, Seitz LT, Perry A, Ashiru-Oredope D. Assessing the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of human and animal health students towards antibiotic use and resistance: a pilot cross-sectional study in the UK. Antibiotics. 2018;7(1):1–10.
  22. Mazińska B, Strużycka I, Hryniewicz W. Surveys of public knowledge and attitudes with regard to antibiotics in Poland: Did the European antibiotic awareness day campaigns change attitudes? PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0172146.
  23. Al-Harthi SE, Khan LM, Osman A-MM, Alim MA, Saadah OI, Almohammadi AA, et al. Perceptions and knowledge regarding antimicrobial stewardship among clinicians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2015;36(7):813–20.
  24. Afari-Asiedu S, Hulscher M, Abdulai MA, Boamah-Kaali E, Asante KP, Wertheim HFL. Every medicine is medicine: exploring inappropriate antibiotic use at the community level in rural Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1–11.
  25. Minen MT, Duquaine D, Marx MA, Weiss D. A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of medical students concerning antimicrobial use and resistance. Microb Drug Resist. 2010;16(4):285–9.
  26. Dyar OJ, Pulcini C, Howard P, Nathwani D, Beovic B, Harbarth S, et al. European medical students: a first multicentre study of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014;69(3):842–6.
  27. World Health Organization. Antibiotic Resistance: multi-country public awareness survey; 2015.
  28. Jifar Al, Ayele Y. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward antibiotic use among Harar city and its surrounding community, Eastern Ethiopia. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2018;2018:1–6.

 

 


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.