The Library
Examining antibiotic use in Kenya: farmers’ knowledge and practices in addressing antibiotic resistance
Tools
Harrison, Rware, Kansiime , Monica K., Mugambi, Idah, Makale, Fernadis, Ikiror, Davis, Wako, Buke, Danielsen, Solveig, Karanja, Daniel, Chacha, Duncan, Byskov, Morten Fibieger and Hyams, Keith D. (2024) Examining antibiotic use in Kenya: farmers’ knowledge and practices in addressing antibiotic resistance. CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, 5 (1). 21. doi:10.1186/s43170-024-00223-4 ISSN 2662-4044.
|
PDF
43170_2024_Article_223.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (1175Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-024-00223-4
Abstract
Background: Antibiotics hold the promise of mitigating the spread of livestock diseases while enhancing productivity. However, there is global concerns surrounding the improper handling and administration of antibiotics, which has led to an alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Kenya is currently listed as an AMR hotspot. This study assesses farmers’ knowledge and practices on antibiotics in livestock production, knowledge on AMR as well as factors influencing farmers’ knowledge of antibiotic safety and resistance, and antibiotics use. Methods: A across-sectional, quantitative survey was employed with 319 farming households in five counties in Kenya. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify explanatory factors. Results: About 80% of households use antibiotics in their livestock, and 58% administer the antibiotics themselves. The vast majority of farmers buy antibiotics without a prescription. Antibiotics are used for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes, the latter mainly in form of growth promoters and feed enhancers in poultry. The withdrawal periods reported by farmers are shorter than the officially recommended periods. Although the majority of farmers reported risky antibiotic practices, most (76%) were well aware of bacterial AMR. Nineteen of 21 knowledge statements on AMR and safe use of antibiotics were answered correctly by 55–89% of respondents, indicating considerable farmer knowledge on different aspects of antibiotics risk, while certain knowledge gaps remain. Number of livestock owned was the factor most positively influencing farmers’ knowledge on AMR and safe use. Conclusion: Kenya has made notable progress towards creating knowledge and awareness of farming communities on the risks and requirements associated with antibiotic use in livestock. Nonetheless, farmers’ antibiotics practices continue to constitute considerable risk of further AMR development. This shows that knowledge is not enough to ensure fundamental behavioral change. There needs to be an enabling environment driven by (1) effective policy interventions and enforcement to ensure compliance with set guidelines for antibiotic use; (2) research on and deployment of alternatives, such as probiotics, vaccinations and disease prevention measures, (3) continued public awareness raising and education using multiple channels to reach farmers and, (4) strengthened cross-sector, multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the multi-dimensional complexities of AMR.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies | ||||||
SWORD Depositor: | Library Publications Router | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience | ||||||
Publisher: | BioMed Central | ||||||
ISSN: | 2662-4044 | ||||||
Official Date: | 26 February 2024 | ||||||
Dates: |
|
||||||
Volume: | 5 | ||||||
Number: | 1 | ||||||
Article Number: | 21 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1186/s43170-024-00223-4 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Re-use Statement: | ** From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router ** History: received 03-02-2023; accepted 16-02-2024; registration 17-02-2024; epub 26-02-2024; online 26-02-2024; collection 12-2024. ** Licence for this article: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ** Acknowledgements: We would like to thank The British Academy for its financial support, as well as the excellent collaboration between Warwick University UK, VSF Suisse, and the University of Nairobi, which greatly contributed to the study’s success. We also thank the county governments of Kenya’s Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Narok, Machakos, and Isiolo for their assistance in mobilizing and identifying respondents during the survey. Many thanks also to the Key informant respondents (KEPHIS, State Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and Health, Kenya Veterinary Paraprofessional Association, Veterinary Board of Kenya, The Brooke East Africa, and HH survey respondents as well as farmers. | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||
Related URLs: |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |