Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Perceptions Among Poultry Stakeholders in Abeokuta, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens poultry production, food safety and public health. This cross-sectional survey evaluated poultry stakeholders' attitudes toward AMR and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Of 120 questionnaires returned, 113 and 111 complete questionnaires were analyzed descriptively and in multivariable regression, respectively. Seven stewardship-supportive statements (D2-D8), each scored from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), were averaged to form a perception scale; no items required reverse coding. Agreement proportions and 95% Wilson confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, and scale reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and associations with age, sex, tertiary education, poultry experience and farm size were investigated using multiple linear regression with HC3 robust standard errors. The mean age of respondents was 34.1 years (SD 8.2), 54.9% were female, and 60.2% had a tertiary education. Agreement was high that antimicrobial overuse contributes to AMR (78.8%; 95% CI 70.3-85.3), improper use contributes to multidrug resistance (87.6%; 95% CI 80.3-92.5), self-prescription should be discouraged (86.7%; 95% CI 79.2-91.8), and training farmers in non-antibiotic disease prevention is a priority (92.0%; 95% CI 85.6-95.8). The scale had acceptable internal consistency (alpha = 0.711; mean = 4.12/5, SD = 0.58). Each 10-year increase in age was associated with a 0.211-point lower score (beta = -0.211; 95% CI -0.388 to -0.034), while tertiary education was associated with 0.247-point higher score (beta = 0.247; 95% CI 0.011-0.483). These results reflect perceptions of stewardship, not actual antimicrobial-use patterns. Veterinary support, vaccination, biosecurity, diagnostics and farmer education could thus be considered intervention priorities.