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  • Title: Antimicrobial self medication in patients attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.
    Author: Adu-Sarkodie YA.
    Journal: Int J STD AIDS; 1997 Jul; 8(7):456-8. PubMed ID: 9228594.
    Abstract:
    One of the health education messages given in sexually transmitted disease (STD) control is patients' adopting appropriate health seeking behaviour. This includes reporting to health facilities for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. In parts of the world where STD aetiologic agents have assumed resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, this is important. The antimicrobial self medication practices of 764 patients attending an STD clinic in a developing country were studied. Seventy-four and a half per cent admitted to self medication before reporting to the clinic. The antibiotics taken in inappropriate dosages were purchased over the counter, given by friends or were 'left-overs' from previous medications. In the fight to control STD spread as a means of reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS, indiscriminate use of antimicrobials needs to be guarded against. Self-medication with antibiotics is especially widespread in developing countries where such medications are sold over the counter by both trained pharmacists and untrained personnel. The present study investigated patterns of antibiotic intake by 764 consecutive men and women 15-65 years of age with sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms prior to their presentation at the STD/AIDS Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. 272 of the 384 male patients had a urethral discharge and 314 of the 380 female patients had a vaginal discharge. A total of 569 patients (74.5%) had self-medicated with 1-3 antimicrobials. There were no significant differences in antimicrobial intake between men and women or based on symptomatology. The most commonly used antimicrobials were penicillin (82%), septrin (73%), and tetracycline (70%). In all cases, the antimicrobials had been used in incorrect dosages. Drug sources included over-the-counter purchases (68.2%), leftover medications for unrelated conditions (15.8%), and friends or relatives (9.6%). This pattern of widespread, indiscriminate self-medication has contributed to antibiotic resistance and makes patients susceptible to complicated STDs, including HIV. Patients must be counseled on appropriate health-seeking behaviors and stricter controls need to be placed on the sale of antimicrobials.
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