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Antibiotics use for upper respiratory tract infections among children in rural Anhui: children’s presentations, caregivers’ management, and implications for public health policy

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Abstract

Children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are among the highest receivers of antibiotics. Using a retrospective cross-sectional study, we described clinical management in rural China of recent URTIs in children. We explored antibiotics using behaviors and associations of caregivers’ variables and children’s symptoms. Children with URTIs had a high consultation rate and a high prescription rate of antibiotics. For the children, some caregivers adopted, without rationale, ‘self-medication’ with antibiotics. Children with fever were more likely to be taken to a doctor; among those, children with particular symptoms were more likely to receive a prescription for antibiotics. Disseminating knowledge on antibiotics, and on interpretation and management of URTI symptoms will be important targets for caregiver and physician education and should become routine in training for physicians. Our findings also suggest the need to improve communication between doctors and caregivers, to strengthen regulation of drug sales, and to help caregivers learn when over-the-counter drug purchase without medical consultation is reasonable. These activities can help to improve health of a vast population of children in rural China.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC 71704003). The authors thank the local health and family planning commission at each study site for their field coordination and support throughout the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Jing Cheng, Jing Chai & Debin Wang

  2. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Yehuan Sun

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  1. Jing Cheng
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  2. Jing Chai
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  3. Yehuan Sun
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  4. Debin Wang
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Correspondence to Debin Wang.

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Cheng, J., Chai, J., Sun, Y. et al. Antibiotics use for upper respiratory tract infections among children in rural Anhui: children’s presentations, caregivers’ management, and implications for public health policy. J Public Health Pol 40, 236–252 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-019-00161-w

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