Antimicrobial stewardship: knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among non-healthcare students at the University of Zambia

Steward Mudenda; Patience Chisha; Billy Chabalenge; Victor Daka; Ruth Lindizyani Mfune; Maisa Kasanga; Martin Kampamba; Phumzile Skosana; Eustus Nsofu; Jimmy Hangoma; Linda Siachalinga; Christabel Nang'andu Hikaambo; Tadious Chimombe; Aurel Constant Allabi; Bawa Boya; Webrod Mufwambi; Zikria Saleem; Scott Kaba Matafwali

doi:10.1093/jacamr/dlad116

Antimicrobial stewardship: knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among non-healthcare students at the University of Zambia

JAC Antimicrob Resist. 2023 Nov 7;5(6):dlad116. doi: 10.1093/jacamr/dlad116. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Steward Mudenda^{1

2}, Patience Chisha¹, Billy Chabalenge³, Victor Daka⁴, Ruth Lindizyani Mfune⁴, Maisa Kasanga⁵, Martin Kampamba¹, Phumzile Skosana⁶, Eustus Nsofu¹, Jimmy Hangoma⁷, Linda Siachalinga^{1

7}, Christabel Nang'andu Hikaambo¹, Tadious Chimombe¹, Aurel Constant Allabi⁸, Bawa Boya⁹, Webrod Mufwambi¹, Zikria Saleem¹⁰, Scott Kaba Matafwali¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
² Surveillance and Research Technical Working Group, Antimicrobial Resistance, Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.
³ Department of Medicines Control, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.
⁵ College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
⁶ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁷ Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁸ Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Abomey-Calavi and Teaching Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
⁹ Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
¹¹ Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to the world and could become humanity's next major challenge. This study assessed non-healthcare students' knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR at the University of Zambia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 443 non-healthcare students from August to October 2022 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 24.0.

Results: Of the 433 participants, 55.2%, 63.5% and 45% had moderate KAP scores regarding AMU and AMR. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 76.7%. Male participants were less likely to have good knowledge (OR = 0.524, 95% CI: 0.347-0.792) and positive attitudes (OR = 0.585, 95% CI: 0.364-0.940) towards AMU and AMR compared with females. Students who were studying Engineering and Mining were more likely to have good knowledge of AMR (OR = 1.891, 95% CI: 1.197-2.987) compared with those in Social Sciences. Those who were in their fourth and fifth years were more likely to have positive attitudes towards AMU and AMR (OR = 1.851, 95% CI: 1.147-2.986) compared with those who were in the first, second and third years. Finally, students who practised self-medication were less likely to have good self-reported practice towards AMR (OR = 0.442, 95% CI: 0.278-0.702) compared with those who did not.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that non-healthcare students had moderate KAP regarding AMU and AMR. All university students should be provided with education about AMU and AMR through free short courses, seminars, workshops, and AMR and antimicrobial stewardship awareness campaigns.