%0 Journal Article %A Faith Miller %A Ania Zylbersztejn %A Graziella Favarato %A Imad Adamestam %A Lucy Pembrey %A Laura Shallcross %A Dan Mason %A John Wright %A Pia Hardelid %T Factors predicting amoxicillin prescribing in primary care among children: a cohort study %D 2022 %R 10.3399/BJGP.2021.0639 %J British Journal of General Practice %P e659-e667 %V 72 %N 722 %X Background Antibiotic prescribing during childhood, most commonly for respiratory tract infections (RTIs), contributes to antimicrobial resistance, which is a major public health concern.Aim To identify factors associated with amoxicillin prescribing and RTI consultation attendance in young children in primary care.Design and setting Cohort study in Bradford spanning pregnancy to age 24 months, collected 2007–2013, linked to electronic primary care and air pollution data.Method Amoxicillin prescribing and RTI consultation rates/1000 child–years were calculated. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted with general practice (GP) surgery as the random effect.Results The amoxicillin prescribing rate among 2493 children was 710/1000 child–years during year 1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 677 to 744) and 780/1000 (95% CI = 745 to 816) during year 2. During year 1, odds of amoxicillin prescribing were higher for boys (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.36, 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.61), infants from socioeconomically deprived households (aOR 1.36, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.86), and infants with a Pakistani ethnic background (with mothers born in the UK [aOR 1.44, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.94] and outside [aOR 1.42, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.90]). During year 2, odds of amoxicillin prescribing were higher for infants with a Pakistani ethnic background (with mothers born in the UK [aOR 1.46, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.94] and outside [aOR 1.56, 95% CI = 1.19 to 2.04]) and those born <39 weeks gestation (aOR 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.45). Additional risk factors included caesarean delivery, congenital anomalies, overcrowding, birth season, and childcare attendance, with GP surgery explaining 7%–9% of variation.Conclusion Socioeconomic status and ethnic background were associated with amoxicillin prescribing during childhood. Efforts to reduce RTI spread in household and childcare settings may reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care. %U https://bjgp.org/content/bjgp/72/722/e659.full.pdf