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Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey Concerning Antimicrobial Use Among Australian Hajj Pilgrims

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 05:40 authored by Azeem, M, Tashani, M, Barasheed, O, Heron, L, Hill-Cawthorne, GA, Elizabeth HaworthElizabeth Haworth, Dwyer, DE, Rashid, H, Booy, R
Resistance to antimicrobial agents has increased for reasons relating to the use and misuse of antimicrobials in human, agriculture and aquaculture. Antimicrobial use is quite high during mass gatherings such as the Hajj pilgrimage. To reduce non-prescription use and inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials, a more thorough understanding of their use and the motives behind why patients request, even demand, antimicrobials, fail to adhere to the prescription is important. Therefore, we conducted a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey among Australian Hajj pilgrims in Mecca during Hajj 2013 using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire concerning antimicrobial use. Our sample consisted of 229 adult Australian subjects. Mean age was 42.4 (SD±12.7) years, 178 (77.9%) were male and 80 (34.9%) used antimicrobials during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Twenty four (30.0%) obtained these in Saudi Arabia, mainly without prescription, and about half (38, 47.5%) brought them from Australia. Of the respondents, 55.8% believed that antibiotics are effective against viruses, 53.6% thought that antibiotics are effective against common cold and flu, 78.6 % that humans themselves can become resistant to antibiotics and 75.9% knew that overuse or unnecessary use of antibiotics can cause them to lose effectiveness. This study has revealed that Hajj pilgrims have inappropriate access to antimicrobials in Saudi Arabia as well as in Australia. A large scale education campaign and tighter control on prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials could improve the appropriate antimicrobial use among Hajj pilgrims.

History

Publication title

Infectious Disorders – Drug Targets

Volume

14

Pagination

125-132

ISSN

1871-5265

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Bentham Science Publ Ltd

Place of publication

United Arab Emirates

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Bentham Science Publishers

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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