Health Expert Warns Sierra Leoneans Against Excessive Use of Antibiotics to Prevent or End Pregnancy

A senior World Health Organization (WHO) health expert has warned that the widespread misuse of antibiotics in Sierra Leone – especially by young women attempting to prevent or end pregnancies – is fueling dangerous levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across the country.

Dr. Ibrahim Kamara, WHO Sierra Leone’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) National Focal Point, said many women are wrongly using antibiotics as birth-control methods, including taking several tablets with soft drinks such as Coca-Cola.

Others reportedly use antibiotics during menstruation to “clean their system,” or for mild symptoms that require no medical treatment. He stressed that these practices are not only ineffective but also harmful.

“Antibiotics do not prevent pregnancy, nor do they terminate it. Family planning methods exist for that purpose – condoms, implants, injections, emergency pills,” Dr. Kamara said. “When you take antibiotics when you shouldn’t, it leads to resistance. Globally, this misuse is the major problem for AMR.”

Health experts warned that AMR, which develops when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites adapt to resist medicines, now kills more than one million people every year. They caution that without urgent action, procedures such as childbirth, routine surgeries and treatment for minor injuries could become more dangerous.

Kamara noted that young people aged 15 to 24 are among the biggest contributors to antibiotic misuse. “We found they misuse antibiotics a lot, for pregnancy prevention, abortion, and even during menstruation,” he said.

He also dispelled another common belief that intravenous (IV) medication is stronger than tablets. “That’s a lie. They have the same strength. IV medications were made for people who can’t take oral medication. Nobody should take IV medications at home.”

Unregulated drug sales and substandard medicines remain major drivers of AMR in the country. Dr. Joseph Sam Kanu, AMR Focal Point at Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency, said medicines sold on the streets are often improperly handled. “Anybody who holds medicine to sell on the street doesn’t know what they are doing. Exposing medicines to the sun reduces their potency, and substandard drugs contribute to resistance,” he said.

Kanu added that many common illnesses do not require antibiotics, but weak laws and poor enforcement allow counterfeit and poorly stored drugs to circulate widely. He warned against self-medication, saying it is a growing and dangerous trend. “The danger is that you end up with a bigger problem that harms you and those around you. If you contribute to bacteria resistance, it can kill you and transfer to others,” he said, emphasizing that antibiotics are powerful drugs, not routine remedies.

As the world observes World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, national authorities and WHO are intensifying public education. Dr. Kamara said information sessions are being organized for journalists, youth groups and professional bodies to help counter widespread misinformation. WHO officials stress that public awareness and responsible antibiotic use are essential to slow the spread of resistance.

Both experts urged the public to seek antibiotics only through proper medical channels. “Only use them when prescribed at a hospital and take them exactly as instructed. Don’t share antibiotics with family members,” Dr. Kamara said. Dr. Kanu added, “We are raising awareness so people understand that antibiotics are medicines. Even if given freely, they should not just be taken.”

With rising levels of resistance and more than one in six bacterial infections now difficult to treat, health officials warn that Sierra Leone faces a serious threat if misuse continues. The message for World AMR Awareness Week remains clear: act now, use antibiotics responsibly and protect the medicines that still work.