Prevalence and Determinants of Antibiotic Self-Medication Among Adults in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background Antibiotics Self-medication (ASM), is a significant public health concern globally, leading to antibiotic resistance, prolonged hospital stays, and high mortality rates. In the Hohoe Municipality of Ghana, the practice is reported among the public; however, the extent of the problem remains unknown. Therefore, the study assessed the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics and its associated factors among community members in the Hohoe Municipality. Methods A community-based cross-sectional design was employed in this study with a multi-stage sampling of 431 participants. Data was collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Stata Version 17. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the association between the dependent and independent variables with statistical significance determined at a p-value of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results The study found a 32.2% prevalence of ASM. Higher education levels were associated with reduced odds of ASM: secondary education (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03–0.25) and tertiary education (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07–0.97). In contrast, factors significantly associated with increased odds of ASM included perceived delays in hospital visits (aOR = 5.34, 95% CI: 2.70–10.55), the belief that the illness was mild (aOR = 11.87, 95% CI: 5.46–25.82), possession of leftover antibiotics (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.46–6.49), and the perception that buying antibiotics without hospital consultation is less costly (aOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23–0.91). Conclusion This study identified a high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication (ASM). Key contributing factors included educational level, financial constraints, and prolonged waiting times at healthcare facilities. Effective interventions should address both socio-demographic determinants and systemic healthcare inefficiencies, particularly patient wait times. The findings reinforce the need for a multi-sectoral strategy to mitigate ASM.