Evidence mapPaperPMID 41864922Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Exploring antibiotic knowledge and practices in a sample of damascus residents: a foundation for informed interventions and public health strategies.

Abdullah H Maad, Alissar AlJerf, Atem Bethel Ajong, Muaaz Alajlani, Loai Aljerf

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Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Abdullah H MaadDepartment of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Al- Ameed, Karbala City, Iraq.
Alissar AlJerfHaitham Abdel-Salam School, Ministry of Education, Al-Jama'at District, Jaramanah, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Atem Bethel AjongDepartment of Mother and Child Care, Kekem District Hospital, Kekem, West Region, Cameroon.
Muaaz AlajlaniFaculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Muaaz.alajlani@aiu.edu.sy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9087-6863
Loai AljerfKey Laboratory of Organic Industries, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. loai789.aljerf@damascusuniversity.edu.sy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1132-9659

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a formidable global health threat, spanning bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Within this broader context, antibiotic resistance (ABR)—specifically the resistance of bacterial pathogens to antibiotic agents—is the primary focus of this investigation, as it is most directly influenced by community-level knowledge and practices (KP).

methodsThis study employed a cross-sectional survey of 200 participants in Damascus, Syria, to explore the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use. However, given the cross-sectional nature of the study, the observed relationships are interpreted as associations rather than causal effects.

resultsThe findings highlight patterns of antibiotic-related KP among surveyed residents in Damascus and suggest areas where educational and public health initiatives may be beneficial. Our data reveal generally high adherence to prescribed antibiotic courses alongside ongoing behaviors such as self-medication and antibiotic reuse, reflecting persistent gaps in awareness and access barriers. Observed associations between education level, gender, and age with responsible antibiotic behaviors suggest that social determinants may serve as important correlates of health practices within this sample. By exploring community-level factors associated with antibiotic use in a Damascus-based sample, this research provides descriptive data that may help inform the development of local educational initiatives tailored to this specific context.

conclusionsThis exploratory study provides preliminary evidence connecting social and demographic variables to self-reported antibiotic misuse, contributing to the available data regarding antibiotic use behaviors within a specific urban context in Syria and highlighting the utility of behavioral science frameworks as conceptual lenses for future public health interventions to combat AMR effectively.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesSyriaYoung AdultAnti-Bacterial AgentsAntibiotic useAntimicrobial resistanceEducationHealth behaviorHealthcareMiddle EastPublic healthReliabilitySelf-medicationSociodemographic

Identifiers

PMID41864922
PMCPMC13130608

What Socratic holds

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