Prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among adolescents with suspected genital infection in the Ngiri-Ngiri health zone in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Authors

  • Rosie N Mubindukila Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Jean Jacques D Amogu Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Jean Paul M Nzundu Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Mireille K Mbuyi Kokolo Camp Military Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Eric M Mwalumba Chief Medical Officer for the Ngiri-Ngiri zone, Kinshasa Provincial Health Division, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Serge A Inia Centers of Excellence in Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical (CoE-NRBC), Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Odette N Kabena National Committee for Protection against Ionizing Radiation (CNPRI), Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Thierry T Tangou Department of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v15i1.82806

Keywords:

Antibiotics, Bacterial resistance, Self-medication, DR Congo

Abstract

Adolescents are among the groups most exposed to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and most likely to resort to self-medication, which constitutes a threat to public health. This study aimed to assess self-medication practices for symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents in the commune of Ngiri-Ngiri in the City of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted by interviewing 224 adolescents using ODK software. Data were processed with XLSTAT. Of the 224 adolescents, 34.3% admitted to having symptoms associated with STIs. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 45.5%. Of those who self-medicated, 70% attended school, 47% were male, and 53% were female. Of all the drugs used, amoxicillin ranked first, followed by penicillin, vaginal ovules, and tetracycline. The study also showed that some women resorted to phytotherapy. As for the source of information, 70% of teenagers confirmed that they had obtained this information from pharmacy owners, 29% from the community, and 23% from healthcare providers. Given the considerable prevalence of self-medication for symptoms associated with STIs in this environment, health workers and political decision-makers are called upon to pool their efforts to raise awareness of the rational use of medicines to reduce or even eradicate this harmful practice.

Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(1): 147-154, June 2025

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Author Biographies

Rosie N Mubindukila, Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Jean Jacques D Amogu, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Jean Paul M Nzundu, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Mireille K Mbuyi, Kokolo Camp Military Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Eric M Mwalumba, Chief Medical Officer for the Ngiri-Ngiri zone, Kinshasa Provincial Health Division, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Serge A Inia, Centers of Excellence in Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, and Chemical (CoE-NRBC), Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Odette N Kabena, National Committee for Protection against Ionizing Radiation (CNPRI), Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

Thierry T Tangou, Department of Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, P.O. Box 190, Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

 

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Published

2025-07-08

How to Cite

Mubindukila, R. N., Amogu, J. J. D., Nzundu, J. P. M., Mbuyi, M. K., Mwalumba, E. M., Inia, S. A., … Tangou, T. T. (2025). Prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics among adolescents with suspected genital infection in the Ngiri-Ngiri health zone in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology, 15(1), 147–154. https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v15i1.82806

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