Antibiotic use in rural Kenyan livestock: navigating misuse, experience gaps and AMR risks
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat. In Kenya, pastoralists misuse antibiotics due to limited veterinary advice, highlighting a need for education on antimicrobial stewardship in livestock.
Area Of Science
- Global health
- Veterinary medicine
- One Health approach
Background
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- The World Health Organization promotes a One Health approach, emphasizing intersectoral collaboration, including agriculture, to combat AMR.
- Limited information exists on antimicrobial use and stewardship in livestock within pastoralist communities in northern Kenya.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate antimicrobial use and stewardship practices in livestock within pastoralist communities in northern Kenya.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to appropriate antimicrobial use in this specific context.
- To inform targeted interventions for improving antimicrobial stewardship.
Main Methods
- Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
- Data collected from 51 participants across four pastoralist communities in northern Kenya in December 2023.
- Thematic analysis conducted by four researchers.
Main Results
- Widespread misuse of antibiotics, often based on intuition rather than professional guidance.
- Lack of veterinary advice identified as a major barrier; reliance on agrovets and past experience is common.
- Observed cross-use of antibiotics (animal to human), limited AMR awareness, and sharing/saving of leftover antibiotics.
Conclusions
- Findings highlight critical gaps in knowledge and practice regarding antimicrobial use in pastoralist livestock.
- Urgent need for targeted education and training programs to improve antimicrobial stewardship in these communities.
- Addressing AMR requires context-specific interventions within the One Health framework.
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