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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Knowledge of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic prescription practices among prescribers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana; a cross-sectional study

Authors: Kwaku Poku Asante, Ellen Abrafi Boamah, Martha Ali Abdulai, Kwame Ohene Buabeng, Emmanuel Mahama, Francis Dzabeng, Edith Gavor, Edith Andrews Annan, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt, On behalf of the Ghana Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has become a major public health challenge in most parts of the world including Ghana and is a major threat to gain in bacterial disease control. The role of prescribers in the control of antibiotics is identified as crucial in developing interventions to control ABR. To guide policy recommendations on ABR, a study was carried out among prescribers to identify gaps in their knowledge of ABR and to document their prescription practices.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among prescribers from both public and private facilities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana using both quantitative and qualitative methods in 2014.

Results

Three hundred and seventy nine prescribers participated in the quantitative study and a subset of 33 participated in in-depth interviews. Majority (50.0%) of the prescribers interviewed were nurses. Most (51.0%) of the prescribers were located in hospitals. Knowledge of ABR was high among all the prescribers. About 80.0% percent of all prescribers agreed that the antibiotics that are currently used could lose its efficacy in future. There is no singular formal source of information on antibiotic resistance. The prescribers held a strong perception that antibiotic resistance is imminent though their knowledge on various resistant bacterial strains was limited. Prescribers attributed ABR burden to factors such as poor prescription practices and limited ABR control measures. The prescription practices of the prescribers vary but were mostly inappropriate among the lower cadre.

Conclusion

The knowledge of ABR is high among prescribers. There is however a gap in the knowledge and perception of optimal antibiotic prescription practices among prescribers. There is the need for a formal source of information on ABR to support prescriber’s antibiotic prescription practices.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Knowledge of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic prescription practices among prescribers in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana; a cross-sectional study
Authors
Kwaku Poku Asante
Ellen Abrafi Boamah
Martha Ali Abdulai
Kwame Ohene Buabeng
Emmanuel Mahama
Francis Dzabeng
Edith Gavor
Edith Andrews Annan
Seth Owusu-Agyei
Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt
On behalf of the Ghana Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2365-2

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