Understanding Antimicrobial Use Contexts in the Poultry Sector: Challenges for Small-Scale Layer Farms in Kenya

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Agricultural Economics

Background:

• The Kenyan poultry sector is vital for food and economic security, facing threats from antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• AMR emerges from the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in animal agriculture, impacting both animal and human health.
• Understanding the contextual drivers of antimicrobial use in poultry is crucial for effective interventions, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate antimicrobial use patterns and their underlying drivers in Kenyan poultry production.
• To identify opportunities for behavior change interventions to promote prudent antimicrobial use in the poultry sector.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) study was conducted.
• Data were collected from 76 layer farms in Kiambu County, Kenya.
• Analysis focused on understanding farmer practices and the motivations behind antimicrobial drug selection and administration.

Main Results:

• Commonly used antibiotics were frequently labeled for prophylaxis, growth promotion, and egg production enhancement.
• Antimicrobial use was often triggered by disease presence, despite many conditions being manageable through infection prevention strategies.
• Identified drivers included disease symptoms and inappropriate drug labeling and marketing.

Conclusions:

• Improving farm-level vaccination and biosecurity practices are key areas for intervention.
• Collaborating with drug manufacturers to ensure appropriate labeling and marketing of antimicrobials is essential.
• Behavioral science and social behavior change communication strategies can be employed to reduce disease burden and promote prudent antimicrobial use.