Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance: A Latent Class Analysis of a Romanian Population

Elena Narcisa Pogurschi, Carmen Daniela Petcu, Alexandru Eugeniu Mizeranschi, Corina Aurelia Zugravu, Daniela Cirnatu, Ioan Pet and Oana-Mărgărita Ghimpețeanu
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Elena Narcisa Pogurschi: Public Health and Food Safety Laboratory, Department Formative Science in Animal Breeding and Food Industry, Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Carmen Daniela Petcu: Department Animal Production and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Eugeniu Mizeranschi: Research and Development Station for Bovine, 310059 Arad, Romania
Corina Aurelia Zugravu: Department-Fundamental Disciplines, Faculty of Midwifery and Nursing, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Daniela Cirnatu: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, 310025 Arad, Romania
Ioan Pet: Department of Biotechnologies, Bioengineering, Faculty of Animal Resources, Banat University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei”, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Oana-Mărgărita Ghimpețeanu: Department Animal Production and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 050097 Bucharest, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Considering the major limitations of the latest studies conducted in Romania on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, we conducted this study to assess this major public health threat. A cross-sectional survey based on a validated questionnaire was conducted among the general population of Romania for a period of 5 months, i.e., September 2021–January 2022. The questionnaire was distributed using Google Form and it covered demographic characteristics and KAP assessments consisting of 12 items on knowledge, 10 items on attitudes and 3 items on practices. Latent class analyses (LCAs) were conducted to group respondents based on their responses. The response rate was 77%, of which females responded in a greater number ( n = 1251) compared to males ( n = 674). For most of the respondents (67.32%, n = 1296), the education level was high school, while 23.58% ( n = 454) of respondents were college graduates. One in three Romanians (33.3%) know the WHO predictions related to this topic. Overall, the Romanian population is less disciplined when it comes to completing antibiotic treatments, as 29.19% of the respondents stop the course of antibiotic administration if their symptoms improve. The key findings from the present study may help policy makers in designing targeted interventions to decrease confusion, ambiguity or misconceptions about antibiotic use.

Keywords: antibiotics; antimicrobial resistance; knowledge; attitudes; practices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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