Abstract

Antimicrobial agents are widely used chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of various infectious diseases; however, they are sometimes misused, contributing to antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the knowledge and practices related to antimicrobial use among residents of Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted. A sample size of 252 respondents was selected, and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and Chi-square statistics. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents (95%) had an adequate level of knowledge regarding antimicrobial agents. Vomiting was the most commonly reported side effect following antimicrobial use, while 4.4% reported fever, 2.0% reported cough, 1.2% experienced drowsiness, and 17.5% reported other side effects. Regarding commonly used antimicrobials, 1.6% reported using Flagyl, 0.8% Septrin, 0.4% Fluconazole, 0.4% Albendazole, 0.8% Tetracycline, 0.8% Clotrimazole, 0.8% ACT, and 3.2% reported using other antimicrobials, while 91.0% had taken more than one antimicrobial combination. In terms of practice, 35.3% of respondents obtained antimicrobials from medicine shops, and 66.3% complied with prescription instructions. The study concluded that residents demonstrated good knowledge of antimicrobial use and awareness of associated resistance. However, public enlightenment programs on the rational use of antimicrobials are recommended. Furthermore, effective laboratory investigations should be encouraged prior to the prescription and administration of antimicrobial agents to promote appropriate use in order to reduce antimicrobial resistance.