Abstract
Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have been reported in Hajj. However, little is known about Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of pilgrims themselves in relation to these agents.
Adult pilgrims from seven countries attending the 2015 Hajj were interviewed using a structured KAP questionnaire.
KAP information was collected from 1476 pilgrims. Misconceptions regarding antibiotics included that they: cure all diseases (24.6%); cure common cold and flu (63.0%); are used to stop fever (47.3%); have no side effects (43.2%). Negative attitudes included prophylactic use (50%), self-medication (43.2%), non-compliance with therapy (63.5%) and storage of left-overs for future use (54.1%). In practice, 87.3% of pilgrims admitted to using non-prescribed antibiotics, only 19.3% use antibiotic as directed by their doctor and 54% do not usually check the expiry date of antibiotics before use. Over 60% brought antibiotics from their home country to KSA and 39.2% acquired non-prescribed antibiotics in Saudi Arabia. KAP scores were higher among the younger age group (≤43 years old) and among those with healthcare-related work or education and increased with increasing levels of education.
Multifaceted and multidisciplinary approaches, both in KSA and in pilgrims' countries of origin, are needed to address antibiotic misuse during Hajj.