Prevalence and factors associated with the use of human antibiotic formulations in commercial poultry farming in Nansana municipality, Uganda

Abstract

Use of human antibiotic drug formulations in poultry and other livestock could contribute significantly to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Indiscriminate and irrational use of antibiotics in livestock production, including poultry, reduces effectiveness of the antibiotics due to the development of drug resistance. However, there is increasing use of antibiotics in livestock production in Uganda and world over for both growth promotion and disease prevention and management. This study therefore aimed at assessing the prevalence and factors associated with the use of human antibiotic in Nansana Municipality Uganda. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with the use of human antibiotic drug formulations in commercial poultry farming in Nansana Municipality Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A pretested standardized semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data which was later analyzed using SPSS version 18. The study was conducted in Nansana municipality, Wakiso district, Central Uganda. A written informed consent was obtained before collecting the data and participation was voluntary. The research was approved by IRB School of health sciences with MAKSHSREC-2021-196. Results: 385 commercial poultry farmers participated in the study (response rate of 100%). A total of 119 respondents (30.9% of total sample size) had bought antibiotics from pharmacies (15.8%) and drug shops (15.1%) selling human medicines. The commonest drugs used were tetracycline (67.5%), amoxicillin (16.4%) and chloramphenicol (16.1%). Human antibiotics among poultry farmers were more marked in females (62.2%) and in farmers with lack of formal training about poultry farming (81%). Conclusions: The prevalence of human antibiotic use among poultry farmers was (30.9%) with high rates of use more marked in farmers with secondary level of education and lack of formal training about poultry farming Recommendations: Providing formal education to poultry farmers; reinforcement of the policies and regulations requiring antibiotics sale and conducting further studies to assess the association of different factors leading to human antibiotic formulations use among poultry farmers in different settings of Uganda.