Unveiling Trends: Self-Medication With Antibiotics and Its Associated Factors in the Adult Population of South Waziristan

Objectives: To determine the frequency of self-medication with antibiotics and its causative factors in South Waziristan. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Tehsil Wana of South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 400 participants were selected using a convenient random sampling technique. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. The questionnaire included demographics, socioeconomic variables, and information on self-medication with antibiotics i.e. reason for self-medication, source of procurement, symptoms that lead to self-medication, and type of antibiotic used. Results: Of 400 subjects, 373 (93.25%) agreed to participate. The frequency of antibiotic self-medication in the study area was 84.5%. The most common reason for self-medication with antibiotics was saving money (38%). The common antibiotic used by most study participants was Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (42%) with respiratory tract infections as the most common indication for their usage (62%). A significant association between self-medication of antibiotics was observed with age, marital, education, and economic status of the respondents (p<0.05). No significant association of self-medication was found with gender distribution (p-value 0.438). Conclusion: The study showed a significantly high prevalence of self-medication practices with antibiotics, revealing a strong association with socio-demographic factors. A multi-sectoral approach is needed to deal with this alarming situation in this war-affected underdeveloped district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.