Relationship Between Education and the Use of Antibiotics Across Countries
Yin Yee Ella CHAN
ABSTRACT
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a clinical and research focus in recent years due to its long-term negative impact. Failure to quickly control the use of antibiotics may cause AMR to surpass all other causes of mortality worldwide by 2050. This study investigated factors that might affect the overuse of antibiotics in 52 regions worldwide. The results show that access and watch percentages of antibiotics in consumption were associated with a total use of antibacterials, expressed as the defined daily dose per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Government expenditure on education (as a percentage of the gross domestic product) was found to be positively associated with the access percentage but negatively associated with the watch percentage of antibiotics in consumption across regions.
