Abstract:
Background: Globally antimicrobials are a key tool in our fight against infectious
diseases. Antimicrobial knowledge entails being familiar with the many classes of
antimicrobials available and the infections they can treat. Assessing the knowledge
of Antimicrobial is necessary among patients to avoid its misuse and development
of antimicrobial resistance. It will aid in decision making and improving health
seeking behaviour of patients. This study seeks to assess the knowledge of
antimicrobial drugs among patients in a specialist hospital in Abuja Muncipal Area
council, FCT, Abuja. Methods: This was descriptive, cross-sectional study done in
September, 2022 among clients attending outpatient clinic at a District Hospital
Abuja's. it involved a sample size of sample size 423 with 400 responding. A
multistage sampling technique was adopted for this study. The data was analyzed
using the IBM SPSS 28 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) computer
software (IBM SPSS Inc. 2021). The data was summarized using descriptive
statistics which include the percentages, frequencies. Test of association was done
using, the chi-square test (χ 2), and p-value less than 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Ethical approval was granted by Bingham University
Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State. Results: One hundred and fifty respondents
(37.5%) had good knowledge of antimicrobials, 141 (35.25%) had fair knowledge
of antimicrobials, and 109 (27.25%) had poor knowledge (gave unsatisfactory
answers to questions regarding knowledge about antimicrobials). Between male
and female respondents. 22% of female respondents had good knowledge, 18.25%
had fair knowledge and 16.75% had poor knowledge. Of all the male respondents,
15.5% had good knowledge, 17% had fair knowledge and 10.5% had poor
knowledge. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of
antimicrobials with Marital Status (χ² (2, N=400) = 54.92, p < 0.001) where more
singles had poor knowledge of antimicrobial than married people, Education (χ² (2,
N=400) = 87.16, p < 0.001), where more of those with tertiary education had good
knowledge of antimicrobials than those with no education or only primary
education. and Age (χ² (2, N=400) = 56.84, p < 0.001) as more younger people (18 -
29 years) had good knowledge of antimicrobials than older people (40- 59 years).
Conclusion: Over a third of clients had good knowledge of antimicrobials, a third
also had fair knowledge while about a quarter had poor knowledge. The
government and health care workers should support efforts towards improving the
knowledge of communities on the basics of antimicrobials, in order to guide its use
and improve antimicrobial stewardship.
