A Survey of Anti-biotic Usage and its Effects in Port Harcourt City in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

The pattern of using antibiotics in community pharmacies in Portharcourt city was investigated with a view of measuring the existing practices in the consumer use of antibacterial drugs. This will serve as a guide to health policy makers to improve rational use of drugs. The parameters investigated are the pattern of sale of antibacterial drugs, pharmacist-patient communication at the point of sale, knowledge, attitude and practices of the consumers. The instruments for the research consisted of two sets of questionnaires. Ninety-five questionnaires were distributed to community pharmacists and three hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed to consumers. The study showed that 36% of the respondents sold ampiclox and 50% sold other antibacterial drugs. 13% of the consumers frequently purchased antibacterial drugs while 80% of the respondents purchased the drugs occasionally. 63% of the consumers purchased sub-therapeutic dose of antibacterial drugs while the remaining 37% purchased standard therapeutic dose. 73% of the respondents did not indicate their reasons for not accepting the counseling. Meanwhile 8% refused counseling as a result of their habits and 3% due to ignorance. The results showed common trend of occasional purchase of optimal dosage of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, 64% of the consumers got to know about antibacterial drugs through prescriptions and 82% of the consumers are aware that inappropriate use of antibacterial drugs can lead to the development of resistance. Drug use is the end of therapeutic consultation. Improving drug use enhances the quality and lowers cost of healthcare. @ JASEM INTRODUCTION Antibacterial agents are used in the treatment of communicable and infectious diseases. A substantial proportion of the total budgets in many countries are dedicated to antibacterial drugs and they are often the largest single group of drugs purchased in developing countries. Relatively high levels of availability and consumption of antibacterial drugs in developing countries have led to disproportionately higher incidence of inappropriate use and greater levels of resistance compared to developed countries (WHO, 1988). Among these is the inappropriate use by healthcare providers and consumers with the increase of drug resistance which often leads to failure in therapy. Surveys on antibiotic use in developing countries show that antibacterial drugs prescribed in 35% to 60% of clinical encounters is only appropriate in less than 20 % (Trostle, 1996). It was also reported that dispensing professionals spent less time with their patients in consultation yet prescribed more drugs, more antibacterial drugs and more injections (Trap, 2002, ICIUM 1997) . Antibacterial drugs are overused in self-medication for the treatment of minor disorders such as simple diarrhea, cough and colds, when antibacterial drugs are used too often in sub-optimal dosages, bacteria become resistant to them. These indicate the continuing need to curb the irrational or inappropriate use of antibacterial drugs and to identify effective interventions to improve drug use. There is need for rational use of all drugs. This study is highly significant as it will serve as a guide to health policy-makers in decision making, strengthen drug regulation and improve rational use of antibacterial drugs in both public and private sectors, and by both health professionals and consumers. This study, therefore, aims to determine the pattern of sale, pharmacist-patient communication at the point of sale, knowledge, attitude and practices of consumers regarding the use of ampicillin-cloxacillin, ampicilin, tetracycline, metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. MATERIALS AND METHODS The instruments for this study consisted of two sets of questionnaires, ninety-five questionnaires for community pharmacists and three hundred and twenty questionnaires distributed to consumers in Portharcourt City, a metropolitan city in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The questionnaires covered the demography of respondents, awareness of antibacterial drugs, pattern of purchase, frequency of sale, frequency of communication and counseling. The professional qualifications and the years of experience of the community pharmacists were also considered. Seventy-five questionnaires were correctly filled and returned by the community pharmacists. This represents approximately seventy-nine percent (79%). Three hundred questionnaires were returned by the consumers. This represents approximately ninety-four percent (94%).