Antibiotics Availability and Usage in Health Facilities: A Case of the Offinso-South Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

The use of antibiotics has received increased public health attention in recent times because their irrational use could pose a global health problem. Since the introduction of antimicrobial agents, there has been an association between antibiotic use and the development of antimicrobial resistance. The emergence of antibiotic resistance is primarily due to excessive and often unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans. This study therefore sought to assess antibiotics availability and usage in a municipal area of Ghana. The study was retrospective and descriptive in nature. Folders of 300 patients were sampled from a municipal hospital and three health centres. Simple random sampling technique was used in the recruitment of patients’ folders. The study revealed a high antibiotics usage in the municipality. Overall, respiratory tract infections rated the highest so far as conditions for which antibiotics were prescribed were concerned. The penicillins which were the frequently prescribed antibiotics formed 50% of prescriptions for the treatment of gastroenteritis, which was in violation of the existing standard treatment guidelines to be adhered to by prescribers. Regular training and refresher courses could be organized for prescribers towards ensuring the adherence to the existing treatment guidelines.

Key words: antibiotics, availability, usage, health facilities