Muhammad Rasheed. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance among poultry farmers in Pakistan. Master's Degree(). Chiang Mai University. Library. : Chiang Mai University, 2024.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance among poultry farmers in Pakistan
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a severe public health threat caused by the
misuse of antimicrobials in food-producing animals, including poultry. The knowledge,
attitudes, and practices (KAP) of poultry farmers influence their use of antimicrobials
and contribute to the AMR problem This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes,
and practices regarding to antibiotic use (AMU) and AMR among poultry farmers in
Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted between August to October 2023.
involving 386 poultry farmers from Pakistan using a convenience sampling technique
through a structured questionnaire. Demographic characteristics, farm specifics, and the
level of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) were evaluated using descriptive
statistics. To identify factors associated with KAP, the Mann-Whitney U-test and
Kruskal-Wallis H-test were employed. Additionally, a Spearman rank-order correlation
test was conducted to explore the correlations among KAP variables.
All the participants were male except three, 39.4% had graduation or above
education, majority and (58.5%) were broiler farmers. Most participants belonged to
Punjab province (62.0%) and most famers were from the non-corporate sector (82.0%).
The results showed that a significant number of farmers lack information on AMR, and
there is extensive use of critically important, highly important, and important
antimicrobials in poultry farming in Pakistan, with enrofloxacin and colistin sulfate being
the top-used antimicrobials included in this study. The breeder farmers had the highest
level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and the backyard farmers showed the lowest
level of knowledge and practice. However, their level of attitude was higher than that of
the broiler and layer farmers. The layer performed better than the broiler in all three
sections of the current KAP survey. The overall mean knowledge score was 8.55 ±2.32.
The breeders, broilers, lavers, and backyard famers exhibited a mean knowledge score
of 10.74 ±1.56, 8.28 ±2.32 8.94 ±1.93, and 6.79 ±2.62 respectively, on a scale of 12. The
knowledge level of 59.6% of participants was good. The overall mean attitude score was
36.48 ±5.90 while that of breeder, broilers, layer, and backyards farmers was 42.18 ±4.82,
35.30 ±5.73,37.27 ±5.76, and 37.46 ±4.97 respectively on a scale of 50 The attitudes level
of less than 50% of farmers was good. Similarly, the overall mean practice score was
45.35 ±6.68 while that of the breeder. broiler, layers, and backyard farmers was
53.59 ±6.32,44.56 ±5.81. 45.29 ±6.89, and 43.83 ±6.95 respectively on a scale of 65. It was
revealed that 51.8% of farmers had a good practice level. Several factors were
significantly associated with KAP level. The education level, family income, geographic
location, faming status, types of poultry farming, flock size, biosecurity, training, access
to veterinary services, and AMR information were significantly associated with KAP
level. There was a fair correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice.
Our finding suggests that there is an urgent necessity to phase out the use of WHO-
listed Critically Important Antimicrobials in poultry farming. Many famers can be
trained in judicious and safe AMU through nationwide training. Antimicrobial use in food
animals must be regularized by adopting new rules and enforcing existing laws and
guidelines.