Abstract

Oyetunde, Olubukola O.*, Olugbake, Olubusola A. and Famudehin, Kehinde F.

Antibiotics are usually prescription only medicines. A high percentage of world’s antibiotics are however used in the community without prescriptions. The study evaluated use of antibiotics without prescription among young adults in Nigeria. A questionnaire was designed to assess reported purchase, name and use of antibiotic without prescription. 38.79% respondents reported purchase of an antibiotic without a prescription. Only 25.86% correctly named an antibiotic as the medicine purchased. Among the respondents who purchased an antibiotic without a prescription, 90% used medicine for inadequate duration (< 5days) or at wrong dosing intervals. The most commonly named antibiotic purchased without a prescription is Ampiclox®. It is important to enforce regulation and sales of antibiotic to ensure rational use.