Indication for Antibiotic Prescription Among Children Attending Primary Healthcare Services in Rural Burkina Faso

Of 61 355 visits by children <5 years old to 48 government-run primary healthcare facilities in Nouna District, Burkina Faso, 30 975 had an antibiotic prescribed (58% for pneumonia diagnoses). A minority of prescriptions were for diagnoses not requiring antibiotics, including malaria, nonbloody diarrhea, and cough without pneumonia.

Automated summary

A study conducted in Nouna District, Burkina Faso, found that a high percentage of children under 5 years old visiting government-run primary healthcare facilities were prescribed antibiotics, with the majority being for pneumonia. Some prescriptions were given for diagnoses that did not necessitate antibiotics, such as malaria, nonbloody diarrhea, and cough without pneumonia.