Article Figures & Data
Tables
Characteristic Charleston 2004 (n=219) No. (%) Charleston 2008 (n=229) No. (%) Greenville 2008 (n=243) No. (%) NA=not applicable. a χ2 Analysis, Charleston 2004 significantly different from Charleston 2008. b χ2 Analysis, Greenville 2008 significantly different from Charleston 2008. c t Test analysis, Charleston 2004 significantly different from Charleston 2008. Country of birtha,b Mexico 164 (74.9) 78 (34.1) 59 (24.3) Central American country 24 (11.0) 42 (18.3) 57 (23.4) South American country 24 (11.0) 49 (21.4) 115 (47.3) United States 7 (3.2) 19 (8.3) 6 (2.5) Caribbean — 41 (17.9) 6 (2.5) Age, mean ± SD, yc 29.8±8.1 35.0±12.2 35.3±11.8 Health statusa Excellent 30 (13.7) 62 (27.1) 56 (23.1) Very good 64 (29.2) 56 (24.4) 71 (29.2) Good 96 (43.8) 71 (31.0) 70 (28.8) Fair 22 (10.1) 40 (17.5) 43 (17.7) Poor 7 (3.2) 0 (0.0) 3 (1.2) Sexa Male 76 (34.7) 117 (51.1) 135 (55.6) Female 143 (65.3) 112 (48.9) 108 (44.4) Years in United Statesa,b <1 18 (8.2) 6 (2.6) 8 (3.3) 1–3 71 (32.4) 39 (17.0) 32 (13.2) 4–6 68 (31.1) 72 (31.4) 48 (19.7) >6 62 (28.3) 112 (48.9) 155 (63.8) Insurancea None 200 (91.3) 156 (68.1) 144 (59.3) Medicaid 14 (6.4) 1 (0.4) 1 (0.4) Other 5 (2.3) 72 (31.4) 98 (40.3) Educationa Did not graduate from high school 107 (48.9) 54 (23.6) 77 (31.7) High school graduate or more 112 (51.1) 175 (76.4) 166 (68.3) Exposure to some form of appropriate antibiotic use message Print NA 132 (57.6) 109 (44.9)b Radio NA 96 (41.9) 88 (36.2)b Print or radio NA 158 (69.0) 147 (60.5) Awareness of exposure to our specific Solo Con Receta pamphlets NA 34 (25.9) 9 (8.6)b Characteristic Charleston 2004 (n=219) No. (%) Charleston 2008 (n=229) No. (%) Greenville 2008 (n=243) No. (%) a χ2 Analysis, Charleston 2004 significantly different from Charleston 2008. b χ2 Analysis, Greenville 2008 significantly different from Charleston 2008. Lifetime use of antibiotics obtained without a prescription Bought antibiotics without a prescription outside the United States 99 (45.2) 95 (41.5) 116 (47.7) Imported antibiotics bought outside the United States into the United States 36 (16.4) 28 (12.2) 39 (16.0) Bought antibiotics without a prescription inside the United States 42 (19.2)a 70 (30.6) 48 (19.7)b Imported antibiotics or bought antibiotics without a prescription in United States 67 (30.6) 88 (38.4) 72 (29.6)b Current attitudes or use of antibiotics without a prescription Believe that antibiotics should be available without a prescription 67 (30.6)a 110 (48.0) 87 (35.8)b Bought antibiotics 1 or more times in the United States without a prescription in past 12 months 31 (14.2) 43 (18.8) 30 (12.4) Likelihood very likely or likely of importing antibiotics obtained without a prescription 52 (23.7) 62 (27.1) 70 (28.8) - Table 3.
Current Attitudes or Use of Antibiotics Without Prescription by Exposure to an Appropriate Antibiotic Use Message
Exposure Attitude or Use Yes No PValue Believe that antibiotics should be available without a prescription, % Charleston and Greenville 2008 Yes 40.3 44.3 .40 No 59.7 55.7 Charleston 2008 Yes 45.6 53.5 .26 No 54.4 46.5 Greenville 2008 Yes 34.7 37.5 .66 No 65.3 62.5 Bought antibiotics in the United States without a prescription in past 12 mo, % Charleston and Greenville 2008 Yes 16.4 13.8 .45 No 83.6 86.2 Charleston 2008 Yes 19.0 18.3 .90 No 81.0 81.7 Greenville 2008 Yes 13.6 10.4 .46 No 86.4 89.6 Likelihood of importation of antibiotics obtained without a prescription, % Charleston and Greenville 2008 Yes 30.8 22.8 .06 No 69.2 77.2 Charleston 2008 Yes 31.7 16.9 .02 No 68.3 83.1 Greenville 2008 Yes 29.9 27.1 .63 No 70.1 72.9 Reason Charleston 2004 (n=42) No. (%) Charleston 2008 (n=70) No. (%) Greenville 2008 (n=48) No. (%) Note: Among those who acquired them without a prescription in the United States. a χ2 Analysis, Charleston 2004 significantly different from Charleston 2008. Why get antibiotics without a prescription while inside the United States?a To avoid a doctor visit 39 (92.9) 55 (78.6) 31 (64.6) Language barrier 3 (7.1) 5 (7.1) 3 (6.3) To avoid a more serious infection 0 4 (5.7) 7 (14.6) Other reasons 0 6 (8.6) 7 (14.6) Where do you get antibiotics? From family 11 (26.2) 9 (12.9) 6 (12.5) From friends 2 (4.8) 8 (11.4) 6 (12.5 Stores/other sellers 29 (69.1) 53 (75.7) 36 (75.0) What illness do you treat with these antibiotics?a Sore throat 8 (19.1) 26 (37.1) 19 (39.6) Cough 7 (16.7) 5 (7.1) 1 (2.1) Diarrhea 1 (2.4) 2 (2.9) 0 Cold 1 (2.4) 7 (10.0) 3 (6.2) Gripe 15 (35.7) 10 (14.3) 8 (16.7) Ear infection 0 8 (11.4) 1 (2.1) Urinary tract infection 0 0 3 (6.2) Dental 0 5 (7.1) 2 (4.2) Other 10 (23.8) 7 (10.0) 11 (22.9)
Additional Files
The Article in Brief
A Community Intervention to Decrease Antibiotics Used for Self-Medication Among Latino Adults
Arch G. Mainous III , and colleagues
Background Recent findings from Latino communities suggest that self-medication using antibiotics obtained without a prescription is common. The goal of this study was to implement and evaluate a culturally sensitive educational program to decrease self-medication with antibiotics in the Latino community.
What This Study Found A year-long multimedia campaign was not effective in decreasing the high incidence of acquiring antibiotics without a prescription among Latinos in a South Carolina community. Although most of the 250 adults surveyed had read or heard something on the radio about the appropriate use of antibiotics, this did not lead to differences in attitudes toward nonprescription antibiotics or having bought them in the last 12 months. Immigrants who had previously purchased antibiotics without prescription in their home country indicated they were likely to continue this practice in the United States.
Implications
- These results suggest that usual forms of health education may not be adequate to overcome the strong influence of past behavior. Successful programs may need to incorporate education about the reasons why antibiotics are regulated in the United States.
