Is health literacy associated with antibiotic use, knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial resistance among non-medical university students in Egypt? A cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMJ open 2021-03, Vol.11 (3), p.e046453
• Main Authors: Mostafa, Aya, Abdelzaher, Abdurrahman, Rashed, Salma, AlKhawaga, Salma I, Afifi, Shadwa K, AbdelAlim, Shaimaa, Mostafa, Shaimaa A, Zidan, Taha A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Egypt; Health education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Literacy; Humans; Knowledge; Low income groups; Medical students; Perceptions; Public Health; Questionnaires; Self-medication; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; therapeutics; Universities; University students
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046453

ObjectivesAntibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, especially in developing countries, where antibiotic misuse is widespread. However, studies investigating relevant factors, particularly in youth, are limited. This study examined the levels of health literacy (HL) and their association with antibiotic use, knowledge of antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic resistance among university students in Egypt.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires during 2018. The Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q16) and the WHO Antibiotic resistance: Multi-Country Public Awareness Survey were used. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to compare responses on use and knowledge of antibiotics, and awareness of antibiotic resistance between the three levels of students’ HL.SettingUniversity, Cairo, Egypt.Participants508 non-medical university students.OutcomesStudents’ HL scores were categorised into sufficient, problematic and inadequate. Students’ knowledge of antibiotics was categorised into good and poor. Students’ awareness of antibiotic resistance was categorised into high, average and poor.Results35.1% of students had sufficient HL. 79.7% of students had poor knowledge of antibiotics. 39.9% of students reported having used antibiotics in the past month without a prescription. 92.2% had limited awareness of antibiotic resistance and 30.6% of students heard about the term ‘antimicrobial resistance’. Background characteristics did not significantly differ by HL levels or knowledge scores, except for students’ year of study. Sufficient HL was independently associated with students’ high awareness of antibiotic resistance (adjusted OR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.3 to 5.9).ConclusionsHL was insufficient in this sample of non-medical Egyptian university students. Across all levels of HL, knowledge of antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic resistance were limited, reflecting deficiency in relevant education programmes. Findings suggest that sufficient HL supports high awareness of antibiotic resistance. Incorporating HL and rational antibiotic use awareness raising programmes in university curricula is an urgent necessity to curb antibiotic resistance.