Comic-Based Educational Intervention Enhances Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge and Perceptions Among Adolescents in...

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, yet awareness among adolescents remains low, especially in low-resource settings. Novel educational approaches are needed to appropriately inform and sustain the interest of young people to encourage behavioral change in the use of antimicrobials. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a comic-based intervention in improving AMR knowledge and perceptions regarding the responsible use of antimicrobials among junior high school students in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a before-and-after educational intervention at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Basic Schools in Kumasi, Ghana, during the 2023 World AMR Awareness Week. All junior high students (JHS 1-3) present were exposed to a comic storyline illustrating appropriate antibiotic use and the risks of AMR, delivered via PowerPoint presentation and print, as an intervention. Questionnaires were administered pre- and post-intervention to assess changes in AMR knowledge and perceptions. Results: The median age of the student participants was 13 years. Out of the 1068 students involved, 611 matched responses were analyzed. Knowledge of AMR increased significantly after the comic intervention (p < 0.001). Correct responses increased across all items, and the proportion of students with a knowledge score increased substantially (33% to 70%). Attitudinal perceptions also shifted positively: 85.1% acknowledged their personal role in tackling AMR after the intervention, up from 67.4% before the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The educational intervention resulted in increased AMR knowledge and positive perceptions among the adolescents. The study findings suggest that comics and their deployment are viable tools for enhancing AMR awareness in school settings. Therefore, integrating and engaging visual storytelling in health education programs can increase awareness and promote responsible behavior towards the use of antimicrobials and support the global and national efforts for the containment of AMR.