scholarly journals Acute respiratory infections in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: Time to get better data to guide better preparedness

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-376
Author(s):  
Stephen S. Morse ◽  
Huma Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections

scholarly journals Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Shah Jahan Shayan ◽  
Rajab Nazari ◽  
BSc. Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
MSc. Sanaz Akhavan Rad
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
World Health ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Inappropriate Use

Abstract Background Recently, inappropriate use of antibiotics has been correlated with life-threatening side-effects such as adverse effects, increased cost of treatment, and the higher rate of microbial resistance. Besides, it leads to a waste of resources. Therefore, this review sought to determine the pooled prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics, self-medicated illness, reasons for self-medication, antibiotics used for self-medication, source of obtaining antibiotics, the inappropriate practice of antibiotics and suggested recommendations for talking self-medication with antibiotics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (EMRWHO). Methods Review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Database search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science using a combination of keywords which included; antimicrobial, antibacterial, antibiotic, self-medication, self-treatment, self-prescription, non-prescribed, irrational use, inappropriate use, misuse, abuse and Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO countries. The lists of references of the selected articles were also hand-searched to obtained additional relevant articles. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2018 were included in the review. Results We report on data from 60 articles and 49629 participants in this review. The overall prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in EMRWHO was 47.2% (95% CI 41.6% – 52.9%). Yemen has the highest pooled rate with a rate of 75.0% (95% CI 63.4% − 83.9%), whilst Lebanon has the lowest pooled rate with a prevalence of 28.7% (95% CI 18.4% − 41.8%). The most common illnesses implicated in antibiotic self-medication were upper-respiratory infections and the most common antibiotic was Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid. The commonest reasons for antibiotic self-medication include: saving time and money. Pharmacies pointed out as the most common source of obtaining antibiotics for self-medication. Conclusion Self-medication with antibiotics is significantly high in the member states of EMRWHO. Intervention such as an educational program for communities’ members to change their behaviors, policy on the mechanism of distribution of antibiotics is called for in this area.

Self-medication with antibiotics in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shah Jahan Shayan ◽  
Reza Negarandeh ◽  
Rajab Nazari ◽  
Frank Kiwanuka ◽  
Sanaz Akhavan Rad
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
World Health ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Objective This review sought to assess the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication, common antibiotics and reasons for self-medication in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of World Health Organization (EMRWHO).Results We report on data from 45 articles and 29606 participants in this review. The overall prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in EMRWHO was 49.7% (95% CI 49.2% – 50.2%). Yemen has the highest rate with a rate of 69.6% (95% CI 68.1% - 71.1%), whilst Kuwait has the lowest rate with a prevalence of 27.5%. The most common illnesses implicated in antibiotic self-medication were upper-respiratory infections and the most common antibiotic was Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid. The commonest reasons for antibiotic self-medication include: saving time and money. Pharmacies pointed out as a most common source of obtaining antibiotics for self-medication.

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