Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste
IntroductionAntibiotic resistance is a global health threat, and there is growing concern on the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the livestock sector especially in low and middle income countries. The purpose of the study was to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices on antibiotic use...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1063530/full |
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| author | Shawn Ting Abrao Pereira Amalia Alves Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva Cristibela Dos Santos Steven Davis Hanna E. Sidjabat Jennifer Yan Joshua R. Francis Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong Tamsin S. Barnes Tamsin S. Barnes |
| author_facet | Shawn Ting Abrao Pereira Amalia Alves Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva Cristibela Dos Santos Steven Davis Hanna E. Sidjabat Jennifer Yan Joshua R. Francis Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong Tamsin S. Barnes Tamsin S. Barnes |
| author_sort | Shawn Ting |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionAntibiotic resistance is a global health threat, and there is growing concern on the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the livestock sector especially in low and middle income countries. The purpose of the study was to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance of government animal health workers in Timor-Leste.MethodA cross-sectional survey using a census approach was conducted between August 2021 and January 2022 focusing on government animal health workers involved in field work and access to antibiotics. Interviews were face-to-face in the local Tetun language. Descriptive and regression analysis informed by causal diagrams were performed.ResultThe study found poor knowledge of antibiotics among participants, with only 8.0% (13/162) able to correctly answer questions on how antibiotics worked. Knowledge of antibiotic resistance was poor as only 29.0% (47/162) of participants had heard of antibiotic resistance and were able to accurately identify that it made antibiotics less effective. Knowledge of antibiotics and knowledge of antibiotic resistance were crudely associated with being a veterinary technician and having university education. Attitude scores were positively influenced by knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics were most commonly used in pigs, cattle and buffalo, with oxytetracycline being the most commonly used antibiotics in pigs and chicken. However, most participants reported a lack in supply of this antibiotic (137/162, 78.4%) and other antibiotics. Empiric use of antibiotics in sick animals was common, and some participants used antibiotics for parasitic diseases. Less than a fifth of participants reported ever using human antibiotics, and use of antibiotics for growth promotion was uncommon.ConclusionThere is a need to develop Timor-Leste specific treatment guidelines, strengthen veterinary diagnostic support, improve antibiotic procurement, and develop training programs to address knowledge gaps and poor practices found in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:47:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-449d9aaf9a5c4159891a84ad6283c00e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:47:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-449d9aaf9a5c4159891a84ad6283c00e2022-12-22T03:47:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-11-01910.3389/fvets.2022.10635301063530Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-LesteShawn Ting0Abrao Pereira1Amalia Alves2Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva3Cristibela Dos Santos4Steven Davis5Hanna E. Sidjabat6Jennifer Yan7Joshua R. Francis8Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong9Tamsin S. Barnes10Tamsin S. Barnes11Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaGlobal and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, AustraliaMinistry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Government of Timor-Leste, Dili, Timor-LesteEpivet Pty. Ltd., Withcott, QLD, AustraliaThe University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, QLD, AustraliaIntroductionAntibiotic resistance is a global health threat, and there is growing concern on the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the livestock sector especially in low and middle income countries. The purpose of the study was to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance of government animal health workers in Timor-Leste.MethodA cross-sectional survey using a census approach was conducted between August 2021 and January 2022 focusing on government animal health workers involved in field work and access to antibiotics. Interviews were face-to-face in the local Tetun language. Descriptive and regression analysis informed by causal diagrams were performed.ResultThe study found poor knowledge of antibiotics among participants, with only 8.0% (13/162) able to correctly answer questions on how antibiotics worked. Knowledge of antibiotic resistance was poor as only 29.0% (47/162) of participants had heard of antibiotic resistance and were able to accurately identify that it made antibiotics less effective. Knowledge of antibiotics and knowledge of antibiotic resistance were crudely associated with being a veterinary technician and having university education. Attitude scores were positively influenced by knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics were most commonly used in pigs, cattle and buffalo, with oxytetracycline being the most commonly used antibiotics in pigs and chicken. However, most participants reported a lack in supply of this antibiotic (137/162, 78.4%) and other antibiotics. Empiric use of antibiotics in sick animals was common, and some participants used antibiotics for parasitic diseases. Less than a fifth of participants reported ever using human antibiotics, and use of antibiotics for growth promotion was uncommon.ConclusionThere is a need to develop Timor-Leste specific treatment guidelines, strengthen veterinary diagnostic support, improve antibiotic procurement, and develop training programs to address knowledge gaps and poor practices found in this study.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1063530/fullantibiotic useknowledgepracticesantimicrobial resistanceTimor-Lesteanimal health worker |
| spellingShingle | Shawn Ting Abrao Pereira Amalia Alves Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva Cristibela Dos Santos Steven Davis Hanna E. Sidjabat Jennifer Yan Joshua R. Francis Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong Tamsin S. Barnes Tamsin S. Barnes Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste Frontiers in Veterinary Science antibiotic use knowledge practices antimicrobial resistance Timor-Leste animal health worker |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices of government animal health workers on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in timor leste |
| topic | antibiotic use knowledge practices antimicrobial resistance Timor-Leste animal health worker |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1063530/full |
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