KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE REGARDING THE PROPER USE, RISKS AND RESISTANCE OF ANTIBIOTICS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS IN SANA'A, YEMEN

Maged Alwan Noman, Mahmoud Mahyoob Alburyhi*, Abdalwali Ahmed Saif

ABSTRACT

Background: Antibiotics (ABx) are chemical substances produced by living organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, or produced synthetically, and are used to inhibit the growth or kill bacteria. Antibiotic Resistance (ABR) occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines. Objectives: To Assess the Sociodemographic characteristics, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice levels among Medical and Health Sciences Students toward Proper use of ABx and the Risks of ABR in Sana'a, Yemen. Methods: The study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of Medical and Health Sciences Students of Al-Saeeda University in Sana'a, Yemen. The sample size is 377 respondents, selected randomly from the site during seven weeks from the 11th of February 2025. Electrical self-administered questionnaire was used to collect Socio-demographic, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice-level data on proper use of ABx and the risks of ABR, with the results analyzed using SPSS program version 24. Results: Most of the Medical and Health Sciences of Al-Saeeda University, Sana'a, Yemen. have an 80.4% Knowledgeable, have high positive attitude 78.4% and Practice 79.3% towards proper use of ABx and the risks of ABR. Most of the students were female, with main age 19 years old, single, and have an intermediate-level family income. Conclusion: Majority of the respondent were knowledgeable, had positive attitude and practical towards proper use of ABx and risks of ABR.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Antibiotic, Antibiotic resistance.