PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTICS IN PEDIATRICS WARD OF HIWOT FANA SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, HARAR, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Lelise Ambaw1 and Tesfaye Gabriel

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Background: Irrational prescribing of drugs is the major health problem in medical practice resulting in ineffective treatment, development of antibiotic-resistant organism, adverse effects and economic burden on patient and society. The aim of the study was to assess prescribing pattern of antibiotics in pediatric ward of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital (HFSUH). Methods: A retrospective study of all prescribing records in the pediatric ward of HFSUH from April 1/2012 to April1/2013 was conducted. All prescribing records were evaluated for the appropriate dose, frequency and duration of treatment. The WHO core prescribing indicators were assessed. Result: A total of 326 patient’s medical cards with at least one antibiotic were reviewed. From this 142(43.6%) were female where as 184(56.4) were male. Crystalline penicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. Amoxclav was the least prescribed drugs for the pediatric patients. The maximum number of antibiotics concomitantly prescribed was five and the average number of antibiotics per patient was 2.1. Conclusion: In this study, irrational prescribing pattern of antibiotics was evaluated. From a total drug prescribed, antibiotics took 68.8%. This showed over prescribing of antibiotics when compared to standard WHO value.

Keywords: Prescribing Pattern, Antibiotics, Pediatrics, Inappropriate Prescription, WHO Core Drug Use Indicators.