Study of Maternal knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Antibiotic Use for Acute Upper respiratory Tract Infection in Children

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. The cause of URTIs is usually viral, but mothers' knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) often contribute to inappropriate use of antibiotics, and thus promoting antibiotic resistance. Objective: To investigate maternal knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotics use in children with acute upper respiratory infections and to determine the relation between mother's socioeconomic factors and their KAP toward the use of antibiotics. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two public health centers (PHC) at Zagazig city and Sheba village, in the period from December 2014 to January 2015. Sixty mothers of children (aged from 1 to 7 years) presenting with URTI symptoms were included. Results: positive correlation between mother's knowledge and their attitude towards the use of antibiotics in their children with URTI (Pearson correlation = 0.22*), and correlation between mother's knowledge and their practices was negatively correlated (Pearson correlation = 0.35). No significant correlation between knowledge, practice and attitude and mother's age, and family monthly income was significantly correlated with moderate knowledge, poor practice and the neutral attitude towards antibiotic use. Conclusion: mothers' level of knowledge was moderate and that level affect attitude but not affect the practice toward use of antibiotics, also knowledge level is affected by mother's socioeconomic characteristics.