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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 12, No. 6
Publication Date: December 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/aivp.126.17833.
Kelechi, D. J. (2024). The Impact of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics on Bacterial Infection Prevalence and Socioeconomic Determinants
in Middle-Aged Adults Across Three West African Countries. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(6). 259-276.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The Impact of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics on Bacterial Infection
Prevalence and Socioeconomic Determinants in Middle-Aged
Adults Across Three West African Countries
Dilaku Joseph Kelechi
Executive Director, Avoid Omission Health for All NGO, AkwaIbom, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This research is to ascertain the impact of Beta-lactam classes of antibiotics on the
prevalence of bacterial infections, and the socioeconomic determinants
influencing their usage in the middle-aged adults within (35-50) years, across
diverse populations of some West African countries. The investigation provides
insights into how antibiotics use varies by socioeconomics factors such as access
to healthcare, education, income level and its later effect on health outcomes. This
study utilizes the mix of quantitative analysis via survey questionnaire and
qualitative analysis through interviews and focus group of patients. It was used to
collect data from 3300 middle-aged adults across three West African countries to
understand the prevalence of bacterial infections, and socioeconomic factors
influencing the usage of the aforementioned classes of antibiotics. This mixed- methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis (descriptive,
regression, and multivariate analysis using Real Statistics v2 in Excel) with
qualitative thematic analysis of interviews and focus group data using taguette
software. Triangulation was also used to validate findings and provide a
comprehensive understanding of the research problem. Quantitative data
revealed that socioeconomic factors significantly impact antibiotic use, with
financial constraints and limited healthcare access correlating with increased self- medication and misuse. Cronbach’s Alpha indicated high internal consistency
across survey responses. Thematic analysis identified key themes, including cost
as a barrier to healthcare, the role of policies in antibiotic use, and awareness of
antibiotic risks. Participants expressed concerns about antibiotic resistance and
the quality of available medications, highlighting the growing issue of ineffective
drugs. The study emphasizes the need for health policy reforms, drug regulation,
and interventions that integrate education with economic support to promote
responsible antibiotic use. Future research should focus on long-term trends in
antibiotic resistance, the role of pharmacies, and interventions targeting both
system-level and behavioral factors.
Keywords: Beta-lactam Antibiotics, Antibiotic Resistance, Health Outcomes,
Socioeconomic Determinants, Middle-aged Adults.
INTRODUCTION
The issues concerning the intricate rise of antibiotic resistance is a concern. Antibiotic like
Beta-lactam have for decades, been proven good in the fight against bacterial infection.
However, the pattern of the use of antibiotics and its effectiveness varies across different
population in a view of socioeconomics factors contributing to it.
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Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom 260
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 12, Issue 6, December-2024
This research addresses the impact of Beta-lactam antibiotics on the prevalence of bacterial
infections and the socioeconomic determinants influencing their usage in the middle-aged
adults (35-50 years) across diverse populations of West African countries Ghana, Liberia, and
Nigeria. It delves into the relationship between the clinical capacity of Beta-lactam antibiotic,
the prevalence of bacterial infections, and socio-economic determinants influences on the use
of antibiotics, in different populations and its health outcomes.
Beta-lactam Antibiotics and its Clinical Impacts
Clinical indications have shown that Beta-lactam antibiotics being a major class of drug are
the most prescribed. Some of the classes of drugs under this classification including penicilins,
cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams. Among them the most available and
commonly used class is penicillins. (Pandey & Cascella, 2023) These classes of antibiotics use
the mechanism of inhibiting the biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall, which consequently results
to cell lysis and even death. Particularly, penicillin being one the class of this major class of
antibiotics, works by targeting the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in bacteria. These
actions of PBPs which is the enzymes involved in bringing about the synthesis of bacterial cell
wall leads to its death. (Zeng & Lin, 2023) Irrespective of being effective, the rise of Beta- lactamase enzymes which are produce by bacteria that can alter the structure of Beta-lactam
drug from binding to PBPs making the antibiotic inactivate, poses a significant challenge to
their continued use. (Werth, 2024)
The study is to ascertain the impact of these major class of antibiotics on the prevalence of
bacterial infections, especially in the middle age adults, which is a demographic that usually
have an increased risk of conditions that may require antibiotic use. This is an age group
where antibiotic use and more medical related conditions which one may be more vulnerable
to, may be noticed. This is between the youth age and the old age. Hence, the understanding of
how the classes of beta-lactam antibiotics is effective in this demographic across diverse
populations is essential for better treatment strategies.
Socioeconomic Determinant of Antibiotic Use
Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in influencing health access, the use of antibiotic,
even its availability. Socioeconomic consist of multiple factors, such as education,
employment, income, healthcare infrastructure, attitudes of people towards medicine, all have
an important role in how antibiotics are prescribed and used. (CDC, 2023) Antibiotics are
some times over prescribed in high income area that has easier access to medication and
healthcare. Depending on wellness of an area involved antibiotic misuse and income level
varies by the nature of the misuse, though antibiotic can be underuse or misuse in the low- income areas and vice versa. (Otaigbe & Elikwu, 2023) (Mallah, Orsini, Figueiras, &
Takkouche, 2021)
By focusing this research on ascertaining socioeconomic determinants variation in middle- aged adults, across the three aforementioned west African countries, is to understand the use
of beta-lactam antibiotics in different context and how they affect the clinical results. This is to
provide deep understanding and insights into the disparities in antibiotic effectiveness and its
level of accessibility across these countries.
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261
Kelechi, D. J. (2024). The Impact of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics on Bacterial Infection Prevalence and Socioeconomic Determinants in Middle-Aged
Adults Across Three West African Countries. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 12(6). 259-276.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.126.17833
The Interplay Between Antibiotic Use and Socioeconomic Factors in Middle-Aged
Adults
This research is distinguishing from others in that it combines clinical and socioeconomic
analyses in middle-aged adults. Unlike previous research work that typically focus on either
the socioeconomic determinants of healthcare which are non-medical agents impacting health
(CDC, 2024) or the pharmacological aspect of antibiotics based on deficiency of novel
antimicrobial factor (Gajdács & Jamshed, 2024) The effort to reduce antibiotic use only is
improbably to solve antibiotic resistance menace (Maugeri, Barchitta, Puglisi, & Agodi, 2023)
A more holistic comprehensive approach is used in this study. The interplay between
antibiotic use and socioeconomic is particularly pertinent in the context of antibiotic
resistance, which is aggravated by both misuse and overuse of antibiotics.
In a socioeconomically underserved community, for instance there may be high prevalence of
self-medication and incomplete antibiotic course. In contrast, issues related to antibiotic
overuse may be the problem of the wealthier population, as a result of greater access to
healthcare services. This study is to present the social status influence on the use of antibiotic,
also the associated health outcome with bacterial infection.
Public Health Implications
The result from this study can inform public health strategies targeted to salvage the exact
needs of different populations. The understanding of socioeconomic factors that influence the
use of antibiotics can help to improve health outcome. Also using appropriate antibiotics
when deem necessary will aid in the fight against antibiotic resistance, this strategy will
enhance antibiotic use. (CDC, 2024) Policy makers can develop strategies to ensure the good
use of beta-lactam antibiotics, thereby reducing the risk of resistance.
This study ultimately aims to contribute to global initiative to fight antibiotic resistance a
major public health threat, by offering evidence-based recommendations that will look into
socioeconomic conditions of various populations.
This research has the potential to advance one’s understanding of beta-lactam antibiotics, the
clinical impact and also the things that shape their use like socioeconomic factors. The study
will propagate valuable insight to the field of public health, encouraging equitable and
effective strategies in handling this issue of antibiotic resistance. The significance of this study
is that it can inform public health schemes aimed at bringing down the level of prevalence of
bacterial infection, improve antibiotics use, especially in underserved populations, and help to
alleviate the global antibiotic resistance.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
This research handles the prevalence of bacterial infections, across three different countries
and demographic group, especially in middle-age adults, addressing the problem of deficient
understanding of how the socioeconomic factors contribute to variations in health outcomes.
Filling the gap in the understanding considering the ways factors such as access to health,
cultural belief, and education, affect the usage and effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics in
relation to the prevalence of infections. Most studies out there either focused on the clinical
efficacy of antibiotics or explored socioeconomic disparity in health access in more general