The global prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among the adult population: systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antibiotic self-medication (ASM) is when a person takes antibiotics without a prescription or consulting a healthcare professional. These practices contribute to the misuse of medicines and antibiotic resistance which is a growing global health threat that can lead to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality rates. Though various studies have been conducted on ASM in different countries, there has not yet been a systematic review that comprehensively assesses the problem in the entire globe. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the global pooled prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and the reasons for its practice.

Method

A systematic search of electronic registers and databases was conducted on PubMe

SUBMITTER: Gashaw T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11863577 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature