The increasing use of the internet for self-directed antibiotic consumption has become a growing public health concern, as it may accelerate antimicrobial resistance and lead to avoidable health complications. This study therefore examines the extent of internet-facilitated antibiotic self-medication and the factors associated with it among patients attending private clinics in Kawempe Division, Kampala Capital City, Uganda. An analytical cross-sectional design was used in this study. Participants were recruited from private clinics located in randomly selected zones of Kawempe Division. Data were collected through structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires. Analysis was performed using STATA version 12. Logistic regression was applied, and variables with P ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication. Of the 313 respondents, 246 (79%) reported having ever used internet sources to guide antibiotic self-medication. Increased likelihood of internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication was associated with being male; being unmarried; having knowledge about antibiotics; believing that the internet is an appropriate source for antibiotic self-medication; living approximately 5 km from the nearest health facility; and residing close to an unregulated drug shop or pharmacy dispensing antibiotics without prescription. Conversely, a reduced likelihood was observed among participants from households with more than three members; those who reported routine antibiotic self-medication within the household; those who disagreed that illness can resolve without a physician’s prescription; and those whose healthcare providers failed to explain prescribed antibiotic regimens adequately. The study demonstrates that internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication is widely practiced and is shaped by a combination of individual, household, and health system-related determinants. These findings highlight the importance of strict enforcement of national regulations on antibiotic dispensing. In addition, strengthened public health education at the community level is essential to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.
