Antibiotic Use in Poultry Production in Grenada

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Food Safety

Background:

• Antibiotic regulation in poultry production is often underdeveloped in low-income nations.
• The non-regulation of antibiotics in food animal industries poses risks to human health.
• Understanding farmer practices is essential for effective antibiotic stewardship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of poultry farmers concerning antibiotic use in Grenada.
• To identify gaps in understanding regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.
• To inform interventions for safer antibiotic use in poultry.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 30 commercial poultry farmers in Grenada.
• Data collection occurred between August and September 2016.
• Farmers managing 500 or more chickens were included.

Main Results:

• Antibiotics were used on 83.3% of surveyed farms.
• 63.3% of farmers had limited awareness of antibiotic use issues.
• 70.0% could not define antimicrobial resistance, and noncompliance with guidelines was high.

Conclusions:

• Farmer knowledge and practices were misaligned with World Health Organization antibiotic stewardship recommendations.
• Grenada faces resource challenges but requires immediate farmer education and antibiotic use monitoring.
• Interventions are needed to mitigate public health risks associated with antibiotic use in poultry.