Table 3 Symptoms characteristics and caregivers’ perceptions associated with antibiotic use

Associates symptoms

 Cough

80 (43.2)

105 (56.8)

5.59 (1.62–19.32)

0.001

5.12 (1.43–18.32)

 DIB

10 (52.6)

9 (47.4)

1.80 (0.70–4.63)

0.226

-

 Common cold

78 (40.8)

113 (59.2)

1.93 (0.67–5.59)

0.206

-

 Diarrhoea

48 (50.5)

47 (49.5)

2.33 (1.33–4.11)

0.003

2.27 (1.25–4.13)

 Vomiting

30 (38.0)

49 (62.0)

0.90 (0.51–1.60)

0.721

-

 Convulsions

2 (50.0)

2 (50.0)

1.54 (0.21–11.18)

0,649

-

 Throat/Ear pain

8 (47.1)

9 (52.9)

1.40 (0.52–3.78)

0.511

-

 Temp (≥ 38.5 °C)

40 (35.4)

73 (64.6)

0.69 (0.40–1.20)

0.187

0.60 (0.33–1.10)

 Fever (≥ 1 week)

18 (75.0)

6 (25.0)

5.59 (2.11–14.76)

 < 0.001

4.87 (1.79–13.24)

Perceived cause of fever

 Infections

78 (39.8)

118 (60.2)

1.19 (0.38–3.68)

0.761

-

 Teething

40 (46.0)

47 (54.0)

1.58 (0.90–2.78)

0.108

0.92 (0.43–1.97)

 Weather changes

8 (38.1)

13 (61.9)

0.94 (0.37–2.37)

0.888

-

 Witchcraft

7 (58.3)

5 (41.7)

2.25 (0.69–7.34)

0.176

1.02 (0.19–5.49)

Perceived fever complications

 Convulsions

81 (46.0)

95 (54.0)

13.64 (3.17–58.68)

 < 0.001

5.64 (1.23–25.91)

 Brain damage

55 (42.6)

74 (57.4)

1.41 (0.79–2.50)

0.243

-

 Death

60 (41.7)

84 (58.3)

1.34 (0.73–2.45)

0.346

-

 Others

6 (40.0)

9 (60.0)

1.02 (0.35–2.99)

0.969

-

Perceived indications of antibiotics

 Fever

55 (55.0)

45 (45.0)

3.58 (2.00–6.41)

 < 0.001

3.58 (1.66–7.74)

 Cough

67 (51.1)

64 (49.9)

4.12 (2.16–7.87)

 < 0.001

3.54 (1.55–8.06)

 Common cold

24 (48.0)

26 (52.0)

1.58 (0.83–3.00)

0.163

1.51 (0.60–3.79)

 Diarrhoea

41 (77.4)

12 (22.6)

9.36 (4.49–19.49)

 < 0.001

8.00 (3.31–19.30)

 Bacterial infection

38 (46.3)

44 (53.7)

1.59 (0.91–2.81)

0.107

1.66 (0.75–3.71)

 Any infection

33 (63.5)

19 (36.5)

3.75 (1.95–7.23)

 < 0.001

8.21 (3.23–20.82)