Awareness of Caregivers Regarding Pediatric Medications administration and preparation to Children Attending Mohamed Alamin Hamid Pediatrics Hospital, Sudan

Abstract

Introduction: Ensuring proper children drug utilization is essential for successful treatment.  Several studies have reported various problems including dosing errors and drug misuse, including use without prescription. There is a lack of data regarding this issue in Sudan where a large portion of the population is under 16 years. Objectives: We aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding pediatric medications among caregivers of children admitted to the largest paediatric hospital in Sudan. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional survey in Mohamed Alamin Hamid Pediatric Hospital between 1 April to 30 September 2021. We randomly invited caregivers of admitted children and interviewed consenting particiapnts using avalidated structured questionnaire. Results: 385 caregivers participated in the study (82% response rate) with a mean age of 32.6 years (SD 7.2). The majority of respondents were mothers (75.3%), with a mean age of 32.6 years. Over a third (37.4%) were primary school graduates, while 23.1% were university graduates. Mothers were primarily responsible for giving medication at home in 88.1% of cases. 38% of participants reported the treatment process failed due to children’s refusal to take medication. A significant finding was that 61% of parents reported using drugs without a prescription; of these, antipyretics (56.4%) and antibiotics (36.3%) were the most common. While 87.3% of parents recorded the time of medication administration, only 59.7% administered drugs at regular 8-hour intervals when prescribed three times daily. A concerning 52.7% of parents stated they would keep leftover liquid medication for later use. The study also found that parents with higher education levels were more likely to use medical leaflets as a source of information (p=.000) and to record medication administration times (p=.008). Conclusion: This study reveals a high rate of self-medication, particularly with antibiotics, which poses a serious risk for antimicrobial resistance. While practices like recording administration times were common, storing leftover medication was a frequent, potentially harmful practice. The educational level, income, and residence of caregivers were significant factors influencing their knowledge and practice . Efforts should focus on simplifying pediatric medication formulations to reduce errors. Further research in assessing factors associated with self-medications are recommended in Sudan.