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Variation in antibiotic prescriptions: Is area deprivation an explanation? Analysis of 1.2 million children in Germany.
Infection 41, 121-127 (2013)
PURPOSE: Inadequate use of antibiotics can lead to problems such as resistance. Overuse is especially a problem for children, since they are more affected by acute (often virus-caused) infections. While the problem has been addressed internationally over the past several years, regional variations in prescriptions are striking. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze regional variations in antibiotic prescription on a district level in Germany and tries to identify reasons for those variations through adding possible influencing factors to the analysis on individual and district levels. METHODS: We analyzed 1.2 million children insured in a German health insurance fund. Antibiotic prescriptions were quantified in 2010 and reasons for prescriptions were analyzed in multilevel regressions based on the district of residence, regional deprivation, and age and sex of the child. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of all children aged 0-17 years received an antibiotic prescription in 2010. In the south, prevalences are generally lower, and also to the very north. The highest prevalences are found in the close-to-border districts in the west, as well as in a band throughout the middle of Germany, in rather low population density areas. Regional variation in the prevalence range from 19 to 53 % between districts. Regional deprivation can explain part of this variation. CONCLUSIONS: Including area deprivation measures helped identify an influence of especially regional income and occupational deprivation on antibiotic prescriptions for children. Regional analysis such as this can help identify specific regions and groups of persons to address information programs on the risks of preventable antibiotic consumption and alternative treatment methods.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Web of Science
Times Cited
Times Cited
Altmetric
2.659
1.208
42
Anmerkungen
Besondere Publikation
Auf Hompepage verbergern
Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Schlagwörter
antibiotics; children; claims data; multilevel analysis; area deprivation; Respiratory-tract Infections ; Acute Otitis-media ; Multilevel Logistic-regression ; Multiple Deprivation ; Practice-guideline ; Health ; Pediatricians ; Consumption ; Resistance ; Bronchitis
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2013
Prepublished im Jahr
2012
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2012
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0300-8126
e-ISSN
1439-0973
Zeitschrift
Infection - A Journal of Infectious Disease
Quellenangaben
Band: 41,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: 121-127
Verlag
Urban & Vogel
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP-Element(e)
G-505300-001
PubMed ID
22826031
WOS ID
WOS:000315756200016
Erfassungsdatum
2012-08-21