Knowledge, attitudes and practices of broiler chicken farmers toward antimicrobial resistance

Background and Aim : One important issue in food safety in veterinary medicine is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to using antibiotics on the farm. Understanding farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices could highlight the factors that influence decision-making in using antibiotics by farmers. The purpose of the present study was to determine the level of knowledge of poultry farmers about antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance, and to evaluate their attitudes and practices toward this subject. Methods : A total of ۹۴ broiler chicken farmers from Fars province, southern Iran were asked to complete a structured questionnaire regarding antibiotic use and AMR. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of respondents were measured and data were entered into statistical software. In addition to descriptive statistics, association of explanatory variables such as age and education with knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers was determined using univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses. Results : One third of farmers failed to recognize the relationship between antibiotic use in poultry and AMR in human, and the majority failed to acknowledge the high importance of antibiotic usage for growth promotion in inducing AMR. Less than half always adhered to using recommended dosage of drugs; and selecting the antibiotics without culture and susceptibility testing was practiced to some extent by ۵۲% of farmers. Statistical analyses showed that farmers with history of completing official training for poultry production had more positive attitudes and better practices compared with farmers who had not history of training. Most farmers cited veterinarians as their main favorite source of information to learn more about the concept of AMR. Conclusion : This study establishes baseline estimates for knowledge, attitudes and practices of poultry farmers toward AMR. Program planning for transfer of relevant information to farmers, in particular association of antibiotic use in poultry and AMR in human, and importance of antibiotic use for growth promotion in inducing AMR, are highly warranted. These tasks are preferentially better to be implemented by the veterinary practitioners, the favorite source of information of the farmers.