Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are mainly caused by viral infections, but parental attitudes often lead to inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions, thereby increasing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to evaluate parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use for children with URTIs in Basrah, Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 14 primary healthcare centers in Basrah from November 2023 to April 2024. A questionnaire was designed and administered to determine parents' KAP regarding antibiotic use for children suffering from URTIs.

Results: Four hundred parents completed the questionnaire. The majority (81%) of parents were aware that antibiotic misuse leads to bacterial resistance. Sixty percent of respondents disagreed that viral infection is a leading cause of URTI and that it can be self-limited without antibiotics. A total of 67.6% of the parents were aware of the possibility of having side effects from antibiotic consumption. Moreover, more than half of parents (58.8%) never asked their pediatricians for an antibiotic prescription for their children.

Conclusion: Educational interventions are necessary to raise parents' awareness of antibiotics to reduce inappropriate use and its consequences.