Prevalence of Antibiotic Use and Disposal at Household Level in Informal Settlements of Kisumu, Kenya

Kellen J. Karimi (), Aijaz Ahmad, Adriano Duse, Mutuku Mwanthi and Richard Ayah
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Kellen J. Karimi: Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Aijaz Ahmad: Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Adriano Duse: Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Mutuku Mwanthi: Department of Public and Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 19676-00202, Kenya
Richard Ayah: Department of Public and Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 19676-00202, Kenya

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: The use and abuse of antibiotics are directly related to the development of drug resistance, a global public health problem. Whereas the majority of research focus is on the use and misuse of antibiotics in drug resistance development, little is known about improper disposal, as a source of contamination in the environment that includes groundwater, especially in informal settlements. This study sought to determine antibiotic use and disposal in informal settlements in Kisumu, Kenya. A random cross-sectional sample of 447 households in selected informal settlements of Kisumu, Kenya was studied. A structured questionnaire was issued to persons heading households. The prevalence of antibiotic use was 43% (n = 193). Among these people, 74% (n = 144) had consulted a health worker in a healthcare facility for a prescription. Respondents did not always complete doses but kept the remainder for the next time they would become ill (54%). About 32% disposed of the remainder of the antibiotics in pit latrines and compost pits (10%) while 4% disposed through burning. Antibiotic use was fairly high despite a low level of awareness of the health effects of consuming water contaminated with antibiotics (35%) (n = 156); p = 0.03. Misuse and inappropriate disposal of antibiotics as identified may lead to a higher risk of antibiotic resistance, increasing the disease burden in the informal settlements.

Keywords: antibiotic use; antibiotic disposal; human health effect; antibiotic resistance; environment; informal settlements (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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