PREVALENCE, KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR OF RATIONAL USES OF ANTIBIOTICS AND STEROID-ADULTERATED HEALTH PRODUCTS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN SURATTHANI PROVINCE

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional research is to study the prevalence, knowledge, attitude, and behavior of rational uses of antibiotics and steroid-adulterated health products and comparison results of knowledge, attitude, and behavior with population characteristics. The sample size is the elderly in Suratthani from 6 districts, with the elderly from one sub-district in each of the six districts being sampled. The data, compiled during October 2019 – January 2020 from 591 household surveys and interviews of 618 samples, revealed that leftover antibiotics were discovered 9.32 percent, while risky health products were discovered 31.64 percent. Moreover, testing by means of test kits were steroids at 69.44 percent (50 of 72 samples). In terms of knowledge, attitude, and behaviors towards antibiotics use, the majority (54.21 percent) described antibiotics as anti-inflammatory drugs, with an average score of positive knowledge, positive attitude, and positive behaviors equal to 2.44±1.94, 1.83±1.717 and 2.74±1.44 (out of full marks of 6, 4 and 4). In terms of knowledge, attitude, and behaviors towards risky health product use, only 26.90 percent of the respondents knew what steroids were. Among those who did, 55.35 percent understood its prescription, 69.81 percent understood the side effects arising from the continual usage of steroids. The average score of positive knowledge and positive behavior equaled 2.60±1.90 and 4.51±1.70 (out of full marks of 5 and 6). Comparison between variables, 1) the sample size with different age also exhibited different knowledge on antibiotics usage with statistical significance (F=3.165, p-value=0.043). 2) The sample size of different ages exhibited differences in antibiotics usage with statistical significance (F=4.407, p-value=0.013). 3) The difference in sample size of different ages is correlated in steroid-adulterated health product usage with statistical significance. (F=5.535, p-value=0.004). 4) The difference in education level also exhibited different attitudes towards antibiotics usage with statistical significance (F=3.904, p-value=0.021). 5) The difference in education level exhibited different attitudes towards steroid-adulterated health product usage with statistical significance (F=5.535, p-value= 0.004). 6) The difference in education level (χ²=25.26, p-value<0.001) and 7) the difference in age (χ²=30.45, p-value<0.001) was correlated to steroid knowledge.