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. 2022 Sep 12;22(1):701.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05018-x.

Antibiotic knowledge, attitudes and reported practice during pregnancy and six months after birth: a follow- up study in Lao PDR

Sengchanh Kounnavong  1 , Weirong Yan  2 , Amphoy Sihavong  3 , Vanphanom Sychareun  4 , Jaran Eriksen  2   5 , Claudia Hanson  2 , Kongmany Chaleunvong  6 , Bounxou Keohavong  7 , Manivanh Vongsouvath  8 , Mayfong Mayxay  8   9   10 , Annelie Brauner  11   12 , Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg  2 , Anna Machowska  13
Affiliations

Antibiotic knowledge, attitudes and reported practice during pregnancy and six months after birth: a follow- up study in Lao PDR

Sengchanh Kounnavong et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Antibiotics are important medicines to prevent maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Women's knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use influence their practice. When they become mothers, this may be mirrored in the use of antibiotics for their newborn children. The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and reported practice of pregnant women regarding antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance as well as their approach towards antibiotic use for their newborn babies.

Methods: This was a follow-up study with data collected via structured interviews between September 2019 and August 2020 in Feuang (rural) and Vangvieng (urban) districts in Vientiane province, Lao PDR. We identified and invited all women attending antenatal care in their third trimester of pregnancy in the selected areas. Using a structured questionnaire at third trimester of pregnancy we captured data on knowledge regarding antibiotic use and resistance. We collected information on attitudes and reported practice at two time points: (i) at third trimester of pregnancy and (ii) 6 months after birth. Univariate analysis and frequency distributions were used to study pattern of responses. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables respectively. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: We surveyed 539 women with a mean age of 25 years. Two oral antibiotics, i) ampicillin and ii) amoxicillin were correctly identified by 68 and 47% of participants respectively. Only 24% of women (19% in Feuang and 29% in Vangvieng) answered correctly that antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections. The most prevalent response was "I don't know" suggesting the questions were challenging. Significantly less women would use antibiotics from a previous illness for their child than for themselves (16% vs 29%), however they would be more willing to use antibiotics for their baby even in case of mild symptoms (29% vs 17% while pregnant). The majority of antibiotics were prescribed by healthcare providers and 46% of children with the common cold received antibiotics.

Conclusions: Women's knowledge was sub-optimal, still, they manifested appropriate attitudes towards antibiotic use during pregnancy and for their child. Nearly half of children received antibiotics for the common cold. There is a need for context adapted programs aiming at improving women's knowledge, as well as healthcare providers, emphasising rational antibiotic prescribing during pregnancy and for children.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotic use; Childhood illness; Lao PDR; Pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Lao PDR and the study areas
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Study diagram
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Identification of medicines by study participants in the two study districts
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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