The study conducted was aimed to assess prescribing pattern among pediatric patients by using WHO prescribing indicators with a focus of enhancing rational medication use and improving prescribing practices among pediatric population. The present study aims to analyse the prescribing pattern among pediatric patients by using WHO prescribing indicators and to assess the rational prescribing pattern of drugs according to NLEM-2022 and WHO-EML for children (9th list 2023). A Descriptive observational cross-sectional study was carried out in pediatric outpatients with a sample size of 78 patients for a period of three months. Among the patients, 53% were males and 47% were females and many were from the age group of early and late childhood. Respiratory tract infections were the major diagnosis made among the sample size. The drug class commonly prescribed were analgesics and antipyretics (16.53%) followed by antibiotics (14.61%). In the category of antibiotics Cephalosporin group (42%) of antibiotics are most commonly prescribed. The average numbers of drugs per prescription were 3.33. Among the total number of prescription percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name and antibiotics were 24.23% and 48.71% respectively. Percentage of patients prescribed with injection was 8.97%. The findings in this study shed light on the need to establish national strategies to improve prescribing practices among the pediatric population. It helps in reinforcing rational prescribing practices and increases awareness among physicians and medical students.
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