Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 2023, 13, 98-113
https://www.scirp.org/journal/ojas
ISSN Online: 2161-7627
ISSN Print: 2161-7597
DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2023.131007 Jan. 10, 2023 98 Open Journal of Animal Sciences
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among
Village Animal Health Workers and Veterinary
Drug Retailers in Cambodia
Bunna Chea
1,2
, Sokom Kong
2
, Sokha Thim
2
, Naiheak Ban
2
, Rithy Chrun
3
, Vutey Venn
2
,
Cherry Fernandez-Colorado
4
, Kroesna Kang
2
1
Graduate School, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
3
Faculty of Agro-Industry, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
4
Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños,
Los Baños, Philippines
Abstract
Misuse, overuse, and missed prescription of antimicrobials are the driving
factors to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) leading to a globally increasing
public health concern. This study was conducted to assess the current know-
ledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of village animal health workers
(VAHWs) and veterinary drug retailers (VDRs) on antimicrobial use (AMU)
and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The sample size was calculated follow-
ing [1]. KAP data were scored and categorized following Bloom’s cut-off
score. A total of 108 study populations (66 VAHWs and 42 VDRs) were pur-
posively surveyed using a validated KAP questionnaire in 5 provinces across
Cambodia. This study found that VAHWs and VDRs have moderate levels of
knowledge (61% to 65%) and good attitudes towards AMU (83% to 84%) but
employed moderate practices (59% to 74%) on AMU. VAHWs had moderate
(66%); while DVRs had poor knowledge (58%) on AMR. Thus, regular
awareness education specifically on proper use, prudent use, and steward-
ships on AMU and AMR in the form of refresher training or awareness
events must be provided to VAHWs and VDRs to avoid inappropriate use of
antimicrobials and spreading the AMR knowledge across Cambodia.
Keywords
Antimicrobial Use, Antimicrobial Resistance, Attitudes, Knowledge, Practices
How to cite this paper: Chea, B., Kong, S.,
Thim, S., Ban, N., Chrun, R., Venn, V.,
Fernandez-Colorado, C. and Kang, K. (2023)
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of
Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among
Village Animal Health Workers and Vete-
rinary Drug Retailers in Cambodia. Open
Journal of Animal Sciences, 13, 98-113.
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2023.131007
Received: December 1, 2022
Accepted: January 7, 2023
Published: January 10, 2023
Copyright © 2023 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access