Parental self-medication with antibiotics in Iran

Background: Parents behavior is an important factor to reduce self-medication, which not only affects health outcomes negatively but also influences health economy. In the present study, parents behavior regarding self-medication using antibiotics for children and its relation to their social status, especially education, are studied in primary schools. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was performed using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Results: 600 anonymous questionnaires were distributed among the children’s parents in primary schools in Tehran, Iran, and 62.0% of which were returned. Responses showed that 11.1% of parents did not visit a physician to treat their children seasonal cold, while about half of them did self-medication. Furthermore, 52.8% of those who had visited a doctor in the first seasonal disease of their children did not refer again in next events and just refilled their last prescription. In addition, the results of this study indicated significant correlation between self-medication and mothers' education (P < 0.05); that means mothers with higher education had higher rates of physician visits. Conclusion: Mothers' education and health literacy are main factors in the rational use of medicines in children and should be addressed by policy makers in public health training programs.