Assessment of Antibiotic Self-Medication Practices and the Chemical Identity of Antibiotics Used Without Prescription in Kaduna South Communities

Antibiotic self-medication without a prescription is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria. In peri-urban communities of Kaduna South, access to patent medicine vendors and the cultural normalisation of antibiotic self-treatment contribute to widespread unsupervised antibiotic use. This study assessed antibiotic self-medication practices and confirmed the chemical identity of commonly self-purchased antibiotics in three communities in Kaduna South LGA, Kaduna State. A community survey interviewed 350 adult residents using a structured questionnaire to characterise self-medication patterns, antibiotic types, indications, and sources. Antibiotic samples obtained from consenting self-medicators were subjected to TLC and UV-Visible spectrophotometric analysis to confirm chemical identity and assess basic quality. Antibiotic self-medication in the preceding month was reported by 62% of respondents. Amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole, and metronidazole were the most frequently self-administered antibiotics. Self-treatment was most often for respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal complaints. Chemical analysis confirmed that 18% of samples analysed were either substandard or could not be confirmed as the labelled antibiotic. Sources of self-purchased antibiotics were predominantly patent medicine vendors. The combination of high self-medication prevalence and substandard product quality in Kaduna South communities creates an environment conducive to treatment failure and resistance emergence. Community health education and strengthened vendor regulation are urgently recommended. Keywords: antibiotic self-medication, antimicrobial resistance, Kaduna State, TLC, patent medicine vendors.