Assessment of appropriateness of antibiotics prescription for the management of acute diarrhea and associated factors among under-five children in Gondar town health centers, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Acute infectious diarrheal disease is common public health problem worldwide. It is the second leading cause of mortality in under-five children. It accounts 1.8 million deaths annually. There is estimation that 20-50% of antibiotics prescription is inappropriate which results in an increased risk of side effect, higher rates of antimicrobial resistance to enteric pathogens, inappropriate patient demand, and increase health care cost. Factors that influence appropriateness of antibiotics use for management of acute diarrhea are the insufficient number of qualified and competent staffs, care giver preference, experience of the prescriber, patient load, age of the child, lack of continuing medical education and supervision.