KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS & ADHERENCE TOWARD THE ANTIBIOTIC USE AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AMONG THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN BORDER REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA

Antimicrobial resistance has become a global concern, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the human health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and adherence to the antibiotic use and the antimicrobial resistance among the people of the Northern Border Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional epidemiological study was done by using a pretested and structured questionnaire from November 2015 to March 2016 among the Northern Border Region population (764 participants) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data obtained was analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. This study has provided a very significant insight about the level of knowledge, awareness & adherence toward the antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among the people of the Northern Border Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was found that about 70.7% of the people were not aware about the antibiotic resistance and the majority of the people used antibiotics irrationally without the consultation of the doctor. Most of the people were also able to get an antibiotic from pharmacy without any prescription. It was also noticed that about 79.6% of the people did not attend any antibiotic awareness program. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to conduct antibiotic awareness campaigns or educating the general population through media/health professionals about the antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance and its consequences. Further, the Ministry of Health should implement strict legislatures on the dispensing of antibiotics without prescription. Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, Knowledge, Awareness, Adherence, Northen Border, Saudi Arabia