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1
Antibiotic self-medication means using antibiotics without a prescription or medical supervision. The paper links inappropriate use to treatment failure, adverse effects, and antimicrobial resistance.
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2
The study surveyed 422 Gaza residents in 2025. Reported antibiotic self-medication rose from 60.4% before the war to 80.6% during it.
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3
During the war, participants cited difficulty accessing healthcare (75.4%), overcrowded facilities (74.6%), and treatment costs (69.0%) as reasons for self-medication.
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Reported purchases from pharmacies without a prescription rose from 23.7% before the war to 80.6% during it; black-market acquisition rose from 2.1% to 41.0%.
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5
The authors call for public education, antibiotic stewardship, better healthcare access, and stronger oversight of antibiotic distribution.
