Author(s)

Bunna Chea^1,2, Sokom Kong², Sokha Thim², Naiheak Ban², Rithy Chrun³, Vutey Venn², Cherry Fernandez-Colorado⁴, Kroesna Kang²

¹Graduate School, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
³Faculty of Agro-Industry, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
⁴Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Philippines.

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 knowledge, 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 following [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 purposively 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 stewardships 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.

Antimicrobial Use, Antimicrobial Resistance, Attitudes, Knowledge, Practices

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 Veterinary Drug Retailers in Cambodia. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 13, 98-113. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2023.131007.