TITLE:
Medication Errors in Poultry Practice: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Economic Consequences in Wakiso District, Uganda
AUTHORS:
Rogers Dankaine, Isaac Magulu Kimbowa, Patrick Vudriko, Dickson Stuart Tayebwa, Benedicto Byamukama, Godfrey S. Bbosa
KEYWORDS:
Poultry, Medication Errors, Risk Factors, Economic Implications, Uganda
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.15 No.11,
November
7,
2025
ABSTRACT: Medication errors (ME) in poultry production pose significant threats to animal health, productivity, and public health. In Uganda, data on such errors in poultry practice remain limited. The study assessed prevalence, associated risk factors, and economic implications of medication errors in poultry practice in Wakiso District, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to November 2024 among poultry farmers, and veterinary practitioners. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on medication practices, errors, and associated economic impacts. Descriptive statistics were performed using STATA Version 17. Among the 455 respondents that participated in the study, 265 were poultry farmers, 120 veterinary paraprofessionals and 70 veterinary surgeons. Among 455 participants response, 83.5% (380/455; CI: 80.0% - 87.0%) committed MEs, with most prevalent being medication administration errors 87.5% (336/384, CI: 83.8% - 91.2%). Veterinary para-professionals (99.2%, 119/120, CI: 97.6% - 100%) and poultry farmers (36.6%, 97/265, CI: 22.4% - 44.4%) were illegally prescribing medicines for poultry. Veterinary surgeons committed the highest monitoring errors with majority (83.6%, 95% CI: 76.5 - 90.7, n = 51) failing to follow up on patient after treatment. Risk factors to MEs were not conducting laboratory tests (AOR = 8.4, CI: 2.1 - 34.4, p