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Table 3 Pooled estimates of the proportion of antibiotics dispensed without prescription based on disease/symptom category

From: Non-prescription dispensing of antibiotic agents among community drug retail outlets in Sub-Saharan African countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Types of symptom

Pooled estimate %(95% CI)

Heterogeneity

Number of studies

Acute diarrhoea

60 (33–86)

I2 = 98.0%,

P < 0.001

7 [27,28,29, 32, 33, 37, 39]

Upper respiratory tract infections with or without a direct antibiotics request

84 (74–94)

I2 = 92.1%,

P < 0.001

6 [29,30,31, 33, 34, 41]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

25 (21–28)

I2 = 0.0%

2 [39, 40]

Acute diarrhoea and Urinary tract infection

88 (81–92)

NA

1 [20]

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

94 (74–99)

NA

1 [32]

Sore throat

78 (55–91)

NA

1 [32]

Case not reported or reported but the magnitude for each symptom not identified

67 (52–83)

I2 = 98.9%, P < 0.001

10 [35, 36, 38, 42,43,44,45,46,47,48]

  1. NA, not applicable