Knowledge, belief and practice of interventions to contain antimicrobial resistance among physicians in Sokoto, North-West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continued to be a major public health problem worldwide. The present study assessed the knowledge, belief and practice of intervention to contain AMR among physicians in Sokoto State, North-West Nigeria.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study involving 105 physicians sampled for the current population of 400 physicians working across the State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select eligible participants for this study. Using self-administered questionnaire relevant data was obtained from the respondents. This study receives ethics approval from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Data analysis included mean, proportions, chi square test and independent sample t-Test.

Results: Overall, all the participants were knowledgeable about AMR. We found that 57.1% of the participants lack the up-to-date information on AMR. Majority of the participants (81.9%) had no training on AMR. Over 2/3^rd (67.6%) use results of anti-microbial sensitivity test (AST) test to guide patients anti-microbial treatment and 69.5% of the respondents were aware of general interventions to contain AMR. Similarly, 73.3% of the respondents were not aware of the WHO Global strategy for the containment of AMR. Majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed AMR as worldwide and national problem but few considered AMR as problem in their own hospitals.

Conclusion: Majority of physicians lack knowledge on the WHO Global Strategy for the containment of AMR and up-to-date knowledge on AMR. Self-prescription by patients and poor awareness on WHO global strategy for the containment of AMR are areas of interventions for prevention and control of AMR.

Keywords: Antibiotics, healthcare workers, sensitivity test, WHO global strategy