Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Regarding Antimicrobial Usage and Resistance Among Animal Health Professionals of East Wallaga Zone, Oromiya, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and economic threats. The use of antimicrobials (AMs) in animal production is a major contributor to the development of AMR globally. Animal health professionals (AHPs) play a key role in ensuring judicious use of AMs.

Objective

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of antimicrobial usage (AMU) and AMR among healthcare professionals in Nekemte town, Leka Dulecha and Sibu Sire districts.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 purposively chosen AHPs residing in the districts and the town. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 49 questions was used to ascertain the KAP. The chi-square test (X²) was used to analyze the association between the knowledge score and demographic profile of the study participants.

Results

In the study the overall knowledge of the participants was moderately appreciable, and all participants had positive attitudes toward AMR and appropriate usage. In terms of knowledge of antibiotic use, the majority (93.33%) of the participants correctly answered the statement that antibiotics can kill viruses. About 84.17% of the participants correctly knew that antibiotics killed or stopped the growth of both bad and good bacteria. The majority of the participants (74.17%) always or (25.83%) sometimes rely on usage of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. It was shown that comparing respondents from Sibu Sire, Leka Dulecha and Nekemte town, the scores of knowledge of AMU were significantly (X²=14.13, p=0.007) different. Most animal healthcare professionals from the Sibu sire have a good knowledge of AMU, and contribute to AMR development.

Conclusion

The study revealed that there was moderate knowledge and positive attitude toward AMU and resistance. This warrants continuing capacity building programs for the professionals on AM usage and resistance, and development of field-friendly disease diagnosis and management tools is essential in the need to reduce AMR.

Keywords:

• antimicrobial use
• antimicrobial resistance
• attitude
• East Wallaga zone
• knowledge score

Abbreviations

AMR, Antimicrobial resistance; AMU, Antimicrobial use; CSA, Central Statistics Agency; DA, Disagree; FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization; KAP, Knowledge, attitude practice; SA, Strongly agree; SD, Strongly disagree; SD, Standard deviation; TLU, Tropical domesticated animals units; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The data regarding this study can accessed from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Before startup of the research, Wallaga University School of veterinary Medicine Review committee has seen the proposal of the research and approved by minute reference number VMERC 16/02/01/2022 as the study has no ethical or moral problem on the respondents. Written consent was prepared and shared each and every respondent, and the respondent agreed before giving data.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Wallaga University for financial support and AHPs of the study areas for their contributions for this study.

Author Contributions

All authors agreed to submit the work to the current journal, agreed to be held accountable for all aspects of the work, and made significant contributions to the conception and design, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. They also participated in the article’s drafting or critical revision for important intellectual content.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.