Awareness of Antimicrobial Usage and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among Livestock Farmers in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Awareness of antimicrobial usage and emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among livestock farmers is of paramount importance in overcoming the challenges of AMR in agriculture and public health. A survey was conducted among 100 livestock farmers in ten randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Katsina State, Nigeria using a structured questionnaire to explore awareness of livestock farmers towards antimicrobial usage and Antimicrobial Resistance. Descriptive statistics were conducted to obtain frequencies and proportions of the outputs. A Mann-Whitney test was performed to get the difference in attitude of participants to antimicrobial use and AMR. Fifty-four (54%) of livestock farmers were shown to have poor knowledge of and 35 (35%) were shown to be misusers of antimicrobials and AMR. On the practices in the use of antimicrobial, the study revealed that, the most common antimicrobials used by the participants were oxytetracycline (59%), penicillin (10%), and gentamicin (2%). There was no significant association between participants’ level of knowledge, attitude and practices and the usage of Antimicrobials and AMR among livestock farmers in Katsina State (p= 0 .219). Therefore, in line with the recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) for creating Awareness, and improving KAP of antimicrobials and AMR emergence, the results of the survey underpin the need for concerted efforts to overcome the threat of AMR through tailored programmes, research and policy direction