Utilization of non-prescribed medications and associated factors for treating upper respiratory tract infection among children attending services at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2025.

OBJECTIVES: Utilization of non-prescribed medications remains high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. It contributes to antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to identify the utilization of non-prescribed medication and its predictors for treating upper respiratory tract infections among children attending services at Debre Tabor. METHODS: A facility-based mixed study design was employed among 406 participants. A systematic random sampling technique and a purposive sampling technique were used to recruit the study participants. Data were collected using Kobo toolbox data collection tools and analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Descriptive statistics were presented in tables, figures, and text. Additionally, five participants were interviewed using an in-depth interview guideline. Multivariable regression analysis was computed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Variables with P < 0.25 were included in the multivariable analysis, while P < 0.05 was used to assess the strength of the association and statistical significance. In the qualitative study, thematic content analysis was used to examine the data, enhancing the quantitative findings. In the qualitative study, the opinions of mothers, the reasons behind non-prescribed medication use in children, and their perceptions were the primary themes that supplemented the results of the quantitative study. RESULTS: The utilization of non-prescribed medication for treating upper respiratory infections in children was 12.6%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) (9.5-16.2). Urban residency (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.4, CI 1.04-5.52), maternal age between 31 and 40 years (AOR = 4.2, CI 2.44-7.19), maternal education level at primary school (AOR = 3.1, CI 1.09-8.72), and children with chronic diseases (AOR = 0.33, CI 0.14-0.78) were statistically significant factors. The qualitative study results supported the quantitative results. CONCLUSION: The utilization of non-prescribed medication in children remains a concerning issue. Participants' residency, age, educational status, and having children with chronic diseases were significantly associated with the utilization of non-prescribed medications. We recommend that health professionals and other stakeholders empower mothers to avoid the utilization of non-prescribed medication to treat their children.