Factors influencing the frequency, knowledge, attitudes and practices of antibiotic use in commercial layer chicken farms, Tanzania

Siha Mdemu ^1,2* Augustine B. Matondo ³ Jens Christensen ⁴ Ahmed Amasha ⁵ Helena Ngowi ¹ Erica Westwood ⁶ Sunday Ochai ^6,7,8 Kristina Obsjer ⁹ Hezron E. Nonga ¹ Robinson Mdegela ¹

• ¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, college of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture., Morogoro, Tanzania
• ² Tanzania Vaccine Institute, Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries,, Kibaha, Tanzania
• ³ Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture., Morogoro, Tanzania
• ⁴ Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
• ⁵ University farm, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Morogoro, Tanzania
• ⁶ ICARS, International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions, Ørestads Boulevard, Denmark
• ⁷ Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
• ⁸ Antimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
• ⁹ ICARS, International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions, Ørestads Boulevard, Copenhagen, Denmark

Indiscriminate use of veterinary antibiotics significantly contributes to the current antibiotic resistance in the world. The aim of this study was to explore the factors that could influence knowledge, attitudes and practices of antibiotic use in commercial layer farms. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate antibiotic use patterns and their associated factors among layer chicken farmers in Tanzania.The study surveyed 205 farmers randomly selected from three regions: Unguja, Morogoro, and Dar es Salaam. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while negative binomial and multiple linear regression models were employed to identify factors influencing antibiotic usage patterns. Results revealed a widespread use of antibiotics, with 97.1% of farmers using antibiotics for treatment, prophylaxis and/or increasing egg productivity. The most commonly used antibiotics were Oxytetracycline (63%), doxycline-tylosin combination (29.8%) and enrofloxacin (22.4%) . Notably, 95.6% of farmers reported that they do not observe withdrawal periods. Assessment of farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices yielded mean scores of 55.5%, 69.1% and 50.9% respectively. Furthermore, older adults and individuals with primary education were more likely to have higher attitude scores. Geographic location and flock size are among other factors that are likely to influence knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotic use. Higher frequency of antibiotic use was significantly associated with young adults, medium-scale farm operators, and farmers in Morogoro region (compared to the other two regions). These findings provide insights into antibiotic stewardship among layer farmers that could suggest future multifaceted interventions to promote prudent use of antibiotics, hence mitigating risk of antibiotic resistance.