Prevalence and determinants of antibiotics self-medication among indigenous people of Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) contributes significantly to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially in low-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to generate evidence on the self-reported prevalence of antibiotic self-medication and its determinants among indigenous people residing in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts. DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional design with data collected through a survey using a semi-structured questionnaire. SETTING: This study was conducted from late January to early July 2021; among different indigenous group populations aged 18 years or more olders residing in the three districts of CHT. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1336 indigenous people residing in Bangladesh's CHT districts were included. PRIMARY OUTCOME AND EXPLANATORY VARIABLES: The primary outcome measure was SMA while…