KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES REGARDING ANTIBIOTIC USE AMONG THE STUDENTS OF MICROBIOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT NOAKHALI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide public health concern now and only proper knowledge and practices can solve the problem. This study was aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use among the University students who study Microbiology. In January- February 2017, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 266 students of the Microbiology department at the Noakhali Science and Technology University in Bangladesh. Students of all the academic years (first year to masters) took part in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was provided during regular lectures. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics of participants and 25 questions about their knowledge, attitude and actual practices about antibiotic use. Collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). In a case of knowledge, 23.7% of the respondents stated that antibiotics are appropriate for viral infections, 48.9% think that antibiotics can speed up the recovery of cold and cough and 45.9% provided a positive response regarding the better efficacy of newer and costly antibiotics. Overall attitude towards antibiotic resistance is good among total students (87.6% -100%). Student’s practices regarding proper antibiotic use (63.5%-84.6%) is poor than their knowledge and attitude. About half (52.26%) of the students took antibiotic last year and of them, 75.5% took those antibiotics through the professional doctor’s prescription. A high proportion of the study participants (36.5%) mentioned that they usually take antibiotic for fever and 31.6% said they started an antibiotic therapy after a simple doctor call or without a proper medical examination. Students of the Microbiology department in Noakhali Science and Technology University have a fair knowledge and attitude about antibiotic usage but their practices of antibiotic usage need to be improved. As these Students are the future contributor of the health sector in Bangladesh, their proper knowledge and practices are highly expected