PREDICTORS OF IRRATIONAL ANTIBIOTIC USE: A SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction. Resistance to antibacterial therapy is one of the most serious threats to global health. Insufficient public awareness and the prevalence of self-medication are key factors contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Aim. To identify and evaluate the key socio-demographic factors associated with insufficient awareness, risk of non-adherence to therapy (low compliance), and the practice of self-medication with antibiotics among agricultural enterprise workers.
Materials and Methods. This single-center, cross-sectional study analyzed questionnaire data from 97 respondents. The CatBoost machine learning algorithm was used to identify predictors of risky behavior, insufficient awareness, non-compliance, and a tendency for self-medication. The SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) method was applied to interpret the results and assess the contribution of each feature.
Results. The greatest contributors to risky behavior were a low level of education (22%), male gender (18%), and rural residence (15%). A knowledge deficit was predominantly associated with a low income level (50%), young age (18%), and male gender (12%). The key predictors of non-compliance were male gender (30%) and rural residence (25%). The propensity for self-medication was most significantly determined by young age (25%) and unemployment (20%).
Conclusion. Socio-demographic characteristics are significant predictors of various behaviors related to antibiotic use. The findings allow for the identification of target groups for the development of preventive and educational programs aimed at optimizing the use of antibacterial drugs and curbing the growth of antibiotic resistance.
Keywords
Article Details
Information about financing and conflict of interests
The authors declare that they have no apparent or potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
How to Cite
References
Olaru ID, Walther B, Schaumburg F. Zoonotic sources and the spread of antimicrobial resistance from the perspective of low and middle-income countries. Infect Dis Poverty. 2023; 12(1): 59. doi: 10.1186/s40249-023-01113-z
Khairullah AR, Kurniawan SC, Effendi MH, Sudjarwo SA, Ramandinianto SC, Widodo A, et al. A review of new emerging livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from pig farms. Vet World. 2023; 16(1): 46-58. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.46-58
Katale BZ, Misinzo G, Mshana SE, Chiyangi H, Campino S, Clark TG, et al. Genetic diversity and risk factors for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance across human, animals and environmental com-partments in East Africa: a review. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020; 9(1): 127. doi: 10.1186/s13756-020-00786-7
Zubareva VD, Sokolova OV, Bezborodova NA, Shkuratova IA, Krivonogova AS, Bytov MV. Molecular mechanisms and genetic determinants of antibacterial resistance in microorganisms (review). Agricultural biology. 2022: 57(2): 237-256. Russian (Зубарева В.Д., Соколова О.В., Безбородова Н.А., Шкуратова И.А., Кривоногова А.С., Бытов М.В. Молекулярные механизмы и генетические детерминанты устойчивости к антибактериальным препаратам у микроорганизмов (обзор) //Сельскохозяйственная биология. 2022. Т. 57, № 2. С. 237-256.) doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2022.2.237rus
Chigrina VP, Tyufilin DS, Deev IA, Kobyakova OS. Awareness of the population of the Russian Federation about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Preventive medicine. 2023; 26(6): 68-75. Russian (Чигрина В.П., Тюфилин Д.С., Деев И.А., Кобякова О.С. Осведомленность населения Российской Федерации об антибиотиках и антибиотикорезистентности //Профилактическая медицина. 2023. Т. 26, № 6. С. 68-75.) doi: 10.17116/profmed20232606168
Fedorova OS, Fedosenko SV, Fedotova MM, Chigrina VP. Antibacterial therapy and attitude to the problem of antibiotic resistance in medical practice. Preventive medicine. 2021; 24(10): 106-118. Russian (Федорова О.С., Федосенко С.В., Федотова М.М., Чигрина В.П. Антибактериальная терапия и отношение к проблеме антибиотикорезистентности во врачебной практике //Профилактическая медицина. 2021. Т. 24, № 10. С. 106-118.) doi: 10.17116/profmed202124101106
Effah CY, Amoah AN, Liu H, Agboyibor C, Miao L, Wang J, Wu Y. A population-base survey on knowledge, attitude and awareness of the general public on antibiotic use and resistance. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2020; 9(1): 105. doi: 10.1186/s13756-020-00768-9
Gashaw T, Yadeta TA, Weldegebreal F, Demissie L, Jambo A, Assefa N. The global prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among the adult population: systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2025; 14(1): 49. doi: 10.1186/s13643-025-02783-6
Muhaimin K, Gunilla W. Strategies for information source selection: A focus group study on young people in Europe. Journal of Information Science. 2023; 1-14. doi:10.1177/01655515231193847