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. 2018 Mar 5;13(3):e0193353.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193353. eCollection 2018.

Prescribing patterns and associated factors of antibiotic prescription in primary health care facilities of Kumbo East and Kumbo West Health Districts, North West Cameroon

Elvis Dzelamonyuy Chem  1 , Damian Nota Anong  1 , Jane-Francis K T Akoachere  1
Affiliations

Prescribing patterns and associated factors of antibiotic prescription in primary health care facilities of Kumbo East and Kumbo West Health Districts, North West Cameroon

Elvis Dzelamonyuy Chem et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a global public health challenge and has been associated with antibiotic resistance. WHO reports show that efforts to promote rational antibiotic use in developing countries are poor. With the growing number of infections with antibiotic resistant bacteria, rational drug use becomes imperative and studies that promote rational drug use are highly necessary. Considering this, we investigated prescribing patterns and predictors of antibiotic prescription in primary health care facilities in Kumbo East (KE) and Kumbo West (KW) health districts in North West Cameroon, to contribute data which could influence policy on antibiotic use.

Methods and findings: A cross sectional retrospective study was conducted from April 2014 to April 2015 in 26 randomly selected primary care facilities. Questionnaires were administered to 59 antibiotic prescribers to determine factors that predict antibiotic prescribing. Data on antibiotic prescription were collected by review of consultation registers. Prescription rates and demographics, prescriber and institution factors were analyzed using ANOVA. The best predictor of prescription was determined using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results: A total of 30,096 prescriptions were reviewed. Overall antibiotic prescription rate was 36.71%, with a mean of 1.14 antibiotics prescribed per patient. Amoxicillin was the most prescribed (29.9%). The most prevalent indications for prescribing were respiratory tract infections (21.27%). All antibiotics prescribed were broad-spectrum. Antibiotics were prescribed for patients with malaria and also in situations where diagnosis was uncertain. Prescribing by generic name was 98.36% while 99.87% was from Essential Drug List. Use of laboratory results, patient turnout and Performance Based Financing (PBF) were significantly associated with antibiotic prescribing rates (p < 0.05). PBF moderated prescribing.

Conclusion: There was misuse of antibiotics in primary care facilities in study area. We recommend all primary care health facilities in study area to be included in the PBF scheme and that prescribing should only be done by physicians as the have adequate training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Map of study area.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Number of prescriptions reviewed and antibiotic prescription rate.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Number of antibiotics per prescription.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Antibiotic prescription rate in health care facilities in Kumbo East and Kumbo West health districts between April 2014 and April 2015.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Common indications for antibiotic prescription.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Antibiotic prescription rates in different performance based financing classification of facilities.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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