ANTIBIOTIC USE AND HEALTHCARE-SEEKING PRACTICES AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN: THE ROLE OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

Abstract

Antibiotic misuse among children is an important contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), yet parental antibiotic practices are shaped by more than knowledge alone. Parents' perceptions of illness severity, awareness of AMR, previous experiences with antibiotics, healthcare accessibility, cost, waiting time, and trust in healthcare providers may collectively influence whether antibiotics are obtained through appropriate consultation or used without professional guidance. This article examines the relationship between AMR awareness, access to healthcare, healthcare-seeking behaviour, and parental antibiotic-use practices, with particular attention to self-medication and inappropriate antibiotic use. Existing evidence indicates substantial variation in parental antibiotic practices across settings. A systematic review of pediatric antibiotic self-medication found considerable regional variation, while research from Pakistan has documented non-prescription antibiotic use and misconceptions among parents. A recent meta-analysis also found that parental expectations for antibiotics during childhood respiratory infections were common, although substantial heterogeneity existed between studies. The proposed analytical framework integrates the Health Belief Model with healthcare-access and behavioural variables. A cross-sectional survey design is proposed, using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, bivariate tests, and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use. No original empirical dataset is claimed in this manuscript; therefore, numerical findings reported here are explicitly identified as evidence from previously published studies rather than original results. The framework provides a basis for developing context-sensitive antibiotic stewardship interventions targeting parents and caregivers.