اتجاهات
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Background: Metronidazole is a
commonly used antibiotic for treating
gastrointestinal infections, including
diarrhea and abdominal pain. However, selfmedication with metronidazole without
proper medical consultation may lead to adverse health outcomes, antimicrobial
resistance, and misuse of the drug.
Objective: This study aims to
assess the level of awareness regarding the self-use of metronidazole among the
residents of Dongola city to treat diarrhea and abdominal pain during the
period from July to December 2024.
Method: A cross-sectional study was
conducted in Dongola city using structured questionnaires distributed among a
randomly selected sample of residents. Data,collected included demographic
information, knowledge about metronidazole sources of information, patterns of
self-medication, and awareness of associated risks.
Result: The study included 384
participants, 266 (69.3%) were aged 15–30 years, and 237 (61.7%) were female.
Most participants, 288 (75.0%), had a university education, while 77 (20.1%)
reported having chronic diseases, primarily hypertension (9.4%), diabetes (8.3%),
and asthma (6.0%). Regarding their overall experience with Metronidazole
(Flagyl), 126 (32.8%) rated it as excellent, 191 (49.7%) as good, and 67
(17.4%) as acceptable.
Conclusion: The study highlights a
need for increased public awareness campaigns and regulatory measures to
control the unsupervised use of metronidazole.
Enhancing health education and promoting
consultation with healthcare
professionals can reduce the risks
associated with antibiotic misuse.
Key words:
Metronidazole; Self-medication; Antibiotic
misuse; Awareness; Adherence; Antimicrobial resistance
