Home storage practices and associated factors of orally reconstituted antibiotics in Kawaala, Kampala District, Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: Bacterial infections such as pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the under 5s’and in Uganda it accounts for 10-30% of childhood deaths. These infections are managed mainly with antibiotic dry powders that once reconstituted should be stored in the refrigerator until the dose is completed to maintain efficacy. However, factors such as low availability of refrigerators may result into inappropriate storage leading to loss of stability of the reconstituted antibiotic suspensions and rendering them ineffective. Very few studies have been conducted on storage of orally reconstituted antibiotic suspensions and associated factors. The main objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting home storage of orally reconstituted antibiotics. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study carried out among the 296 of the 7000 households of Kawaala located in Kampala district. Only households with children below 11 years were recruited in the study. Proportionate and systematic sampling methods were used and all data collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire, was coded and entered in to EPIDATA. After entry, the data was cleaned and exported to STATA computer package version 18for analysis. Results: Majority of the respondents were females 201 (67.9%) and had stopped in secondary level of education 189 (63.9%). Amoxicillin 151 (51.0%), ampiclox (ampicillin+cloxacillin) 98 (33.1%) and cefixime 41 (13.9%) were the commonly prescribed orally reconstituted antibiotic suspensions. Respondents stored the medicines in the bedroom 184 (62%), dining room 86 (29%) and refrigerator 24 (8%). The overall knowledge of participants on storage of reconstituted oral antibiotics was poor 258 (87.2%). At multivariate level, secondary education (aOR =3.5, P=0.038), having a good knowledge (aOR=0.2, P= 0.024) and availability of a refrigerator (aOR=1.1, P=0.007) were significantly associated with the correct storage of reconstituted antibiotics. Conclusion: Residents of Kawala, Kampala Uganda demonstrated incorrect storage practices for reconstituted oral antibiotic suspensions and had a poor knowledge on how to store oral antibiotic suspensions. Secondary education, having good knowledge and availability of a refrigerator were significantly associated with correct storage practices for reconstituted oral antibiotic suspensions. Drug companies are recommended to write storage instructions in a simple way, easy to understand by a lay person. Also, prescribers should inform patients’ caretakers the correct instructions of drug storage before dispensing them. Key words: Oral antibiotic suspensions, storage practices, Kawaala.