Antibiotic dispensing behaviors for pediatric diarrhea: A qualitative study of informal healthcare providers in rural Bangladesh.

ABSTRACT: Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern and requires coordinated efforts to promote antibiotic stewardship. In rural Bangladesh, informal healthcare providers known as "village doctors" are a primary source of antibiotics for a range of ailments, including pediatric diarrhea. This qualitative study explored the factors influencing antibiotic dispensing practices for pediatric diarrhea among village doctors in the Chattogram district of Bangladesh. In May 2023, we conducted in-depth interviews with 18 village doctors and analyzed the data using thematic analysis approach. The resulting themes were mapped onto the five domains of the Social Ecological Framework (SEF) to identify the multi-level drivers of antibiotic dispensing practices. At the individual level, antibiot

SUBMITTER: Biswas D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12714273 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature