Abstract:
Antimicrobials are vital for disease control and productivity; however, their inappropriate use
leads to antimicrobial resistance, a global threat to public health. A cross-sectional study was
conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of poultry farm owners and workers
towards antimicrobial use and resistance in three selected cities in Eastern Ethiopia, through
structured interviews with a census of 106 poultry farms. Findings indicated that only 30.2%
(95% CI: 22.1%-39.7%) had good knowledge, regarding antimicrobials (36.7%, OR=24.7,
p<0.001), unawareness of residues (67.9%; OR=0.02, p<0.001), disease-specific drug (34.9%;
OR=54.2, p=0.001), unfamiliarity with residue transmission (64.2%, OR=0.01, p<0.001), and
difference in efficacy of antimicrobials (64.2%; OR=8.79, p=0.033). Attitudes were desirable
in 48.1% (95% CI: 38.6%-57.7%), subjected to random antimicrobial use (64.4%, OR=3.94,
p=0.026), missing doses (7.7%, OR=0.04, p = 0.013), using with feed (53.6%, OR=20.91,
p<0.001), correct dosage (61.5%, OR=11.82, p=0.010), controlling access to antimicrobials
(57.4%, OR=7.02, p=0.016), not obliged to finish before expiration (65.3%, OR=10.01,
p=0.001), and minimizing antimicrobial use (75.9%, OR=15.37, p<0.001). Improved practices
were noted only in 38.7% (95% CI: 29.8%-48.4%), with personal drug administration (90.9%,
OR=11.8, p=0.010), non-professional recommendations (77.8%, OR=28.93, p=0.016),
uninformed about its use as growth promoter (8.3%, OR=0.05, p=0.036), noting withdrawal
times (87.5%, OR=30.9, p<0.001), adjusting dose when no recovery (95.6%, OR=13,
p=0.002), not ceasing treatment even if symptoms go (64.5%, OR=30.9, p=0.007), and not
switching antimicrobials (13.2%, OR=0.004, p=0.001). Pertaining to the associated factors for
each, knowledge was found to be directly related with attitudes (r=0.3278, p=0.0006) and
practices (r=0.4300, p<0.0001), and also attitudes with practices (r=0.2278, p=0.0189). In
general, this study identified significant gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antimicrobial use and resistance among commercial poultry farm owners and workers in
eastern Ethiopia, necessitating targeted interventions to enhance understanding and promote
responsible antimicrobial use practices. Therefore, comprehensive education, veterinary
guidance, mentorship programs, and robust antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems are
necessary to address the gaps and curb the spread of resistance in the study areas and beyond
