Antibiotic Use in Home Treatment of Childhood Diarrhoea in Uyo, Nigeria0

Background: Diarrhoea is a common reason for hospitalisation among under-fives. Caregivers often administer medications, including antibiotics before hospitalisation. Objective: To determine the pattern of antibiotic use by caregivers before hospitalisation of under-fives with diarrhoeal diseases. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of under-fives admitted for diarrhoea at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on diarrhoeal illness in the children and home treatment by caregivers. Results: One hundred under-five children were enrolled in the study. Of these, 75 (75.0%) had acute watery diarrhoea, 22 (22.0%) had dysentery, and 3 (3.0%) had persistent diarrhoea. Caregivers administered antibiotics to 32 (32.0%) children. Twenty-five children (78.1%) received a single antibiotic, while 7 (21.9%) received multiple antibiotics. Metronidazole 10/39 (25.6%), Amoxicillin 9/39 (23.1%) and Cefuroxime 5/39 (12.8%) were the most frequently administered antibiotics. The rate of antibiotic use was high in children of high social class and those with dysentery. The association between diarrhoea type and unwarranted antibiotic use by caregivers was statistically significant (χ2 = 4.127; p = 0.04). Conclusion: About one-third of the caregivers administered antibiotics in home treatment of childhood diarrhoea. Metronidazole, amoxicillin and cefuroxime were the most frequently used antibiotics. Antibiotic use was related to social class and children with dysentery. The type of childhood diarrhoea was significantly associated with unwarranted use of antibiotics.