Assessment of Antibiotic Self-medication Pattern among University Students in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics has been reported among university students in many countries, but no study has been conducted on this issue in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and behaviours of university students in Eastern DRC regarding antibiotics self-medication.

Methods: A questionnaire-based data collection instrument was used. It was distributed to the students of the Université Catholique du Graben (UCG), a university comprising 7 faculties in Butembo, Eastern DRC and welcomes an average of 1100 students per year.

Results: From the 500 questionnaires distributed, 430 students responded (response rate 86%). Self-medication with antibiotics was influenced by gender, age, class level and the faculty. Students frequently self-medicated in 44.6% for genitourinary infections (76.1%), catarrh (63.9%), cough (54.1%), sore throat (49.2%), fever (26.9%) and diarrhoea (18.7). Factors influencing self-medication were predominantly the illness considered not serious for consultation (75.4%), whereas prior experience on antibiotics use and knowledge about drugs constitute respectively 60.3% and 54.6% of SMA reasons. The most used antibiotics were amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (75.1%), penicillin (69.5%), amoxicillin (65.9%), ciprofloxacin (54.1%), erythromycin (51.5%) and doxycycline (40.8%).

Conclusion: This study shows that prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo among university students is alarmingly high and this situation may increase antimicrobial resistance.