Knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk perception of rural poultry farmers in Cameroon to antimicrobial use and resistance

• Published in: Preventive veterinary medicine Vol. 182; p. 105087
• Main Authors: Moffo, Frédéric, Mouliom Mouiche, Mohamed Moctar, Kochivi, Fabrice Landjekpo, Dongmo, Jarvis Bouna, Djomgang, Hervé Kapnang, Tombe, Patchely, Mbah, Cleophas Kahtita, Mapiefou, Nabilah Pemi, Mingoas, Jean-Pierre Kilekoung, Awah-Ndukum, Julius
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry - statistics & numerical data; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Antimicrobial resistance; Antimicrobial use; Attitude; Cameroon; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Farmers - psychology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Knowledge; Perception; Poultry; Poultry farmers; Practice; Risk Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Risk perception; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Cameroon; Cameroon; Attitude; AMR; MINEPIA; Practice; AMU; Risk perception; Poultry farmers; AM; Knowledge; Antimicrobial use; KAPP; Antimicrobial resistance; DREPIA
• ISSN: 0167-5877; 1873-1716
• DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105087

•Little is known about poultry farmer’s motivation on antimicrobial use in West and Central African countries.•Knowledge of poultry farmers towards antimicrobial use and resistance remains very low in Cameroon.•Inadequate training in poultry farming and lack of awareness on AMR favour with inappropriate practice surroundings antimicrobial use.•Continuous sensitization will empower rural farmer’s knowledge on antimicrobial use and resistance. There is wide use of antimicrobial products in rural poultry farms in most sub-Sahara African countries. However, little is known of the factors that motivate rural poultry farmers towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and their level of awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This cross sectional survey was conducted to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices, perception of poultry farmers in Cameroon about AMU and risk of AMR (KAPP) (n = 358). The data collection was conducted using questionnaires administered through face-to-face interview and the responses were recoded into binary scale. The sum of sufficient responses provided by each participant divided by the total number of items within the category gave a percentage of correct answers. One-way ANOVA was used to assess significant differences of mean KAPP scores across regions. Pearson correlations were used to calculate the association between KAPP scores across and within regions, while the linear regression was done to explore the relationship between demographics and farmer’s dynamic characteristics. Overall, surveyed poultry farmers showed low mean score knowledge of AMU (0.30 ± 0.24) and AMR (0.26 ± 0.22), desirable attitude (0.29 ± 0.29), appropriate practice (0.58 ± 0.18) towards AMU and positive risk perception of AMR (0.37 ± 0.21). Digestive tract infections and chronic respiratory diseases were the most common reasons for antimicrobial use and for preventive purposes. Gender, experience in poultry farming and stocking density were negatively associated with practice of antimicrobial use. Inappropriate combination of antimicrobials with diuretics or tetracyclines and minerals for treatment purposes were frequently observed. The findings revealed strong positive association between educational level and KAPP score and between biosecurity measures and AMU and risk perception of AMR. Thus, continuous education of rural poultry farmers on husbandry norms, drug use and microbial resistance in animal farms will enhance their knowledge and risk perception on AMU as well as enable them adopt suitable attitude and practices to control animal and human health hazards due to AMR.