AUTHOR=Kibooga Charity , Nakiyemba Constance , Asiimwe Robert 

TITLE=Antibiotic use in Uganda’s livestock-keeping households: prevalence, patterns, and determinants

JOURNAL=Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/pastoralism-research-policy-and-practice/articles/10.3389/past.2024.13017

DOI=10.3389/past.2024.13017

ISSN=2041-7136

ABSTRACT=Livestock farming is vital for global food systems, but the misuse of antibiotics in this sector has raised concerns about the sector’s role in emergence of antimicrobial resistance-now a public health issue. Addressing misuse of antibiotics requires understanding usage patterns and determinants among livestock farmers. This study investigated antibiotic use among livestock farmers in Uganda, examining frequency of use and factors influencing usage using data from the 2018 Uganda Annual Agricultural Survey. Descriptive results showed that on average one in every three livestock keepers had used antibiotics in the last one year 15% of whom used antibiotics at least every month in the past one year. Regression analysis results revealed that, among other factors, production systems (keeping cattle, keeping exotic livestock, and herd size) and livestock keepers’ perceptions of antibiotics remaining consistently efficient in controlling target disease even with continuous use significantly influenced the decision to- and frequency of antibiotics use. The results of this study confirmed the rising concerns that antibiotics use in Uganda was no longer limited to humans but had significantly expanded to the livestock sector too. The results further affirmed that antibiotics use in livestock production has reached significant levels to require streamlining from a public health perspective. The study recommends strengthening veterinary education and enhancing public awareness regarding appropriate antibiotic use to combat wrong perceptions towards antibiotics use and encourage safe use.