Abstract:
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of antimicrobial resistance among Primary
Health Care Workers in Buyende district.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study employing qualitative and quantitative methods.
Administration of a questionnaire evaluating knowledge and practices of health workers in Buyende
community was conducted. The study was designed to cover all health workers involved in
prescribing and dispensing drugs in selected health facilities of Buyende district. The participants
were from four health facilities (Kidera Health Center IV, Nkondo Health Center III, Buyende Health Centre III and Miseru Health Center III) and ten private community drug shops. Health care workers
were assigned to different cords for the data collection process. One hundred twenty-four (124)
respondents participated in the survey, representing a majority of the health workers in Buyende
district.
Results: Most respondents (75%) reported receiving information about antibiotic resistance with
medical training school (67.2%) being the main source of information. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the
participants believed that the widespread use of antibiotics is an important cause of resistance,
while 60% attribute antimicrobial resistance to inadequate restrictions on antibiotic prescription due
to advertising and promotion by pharmaceutical companies. Guidelines for the use of antibiotics
against common infections and regular microbiological consultations/ward rounds were reported as
crucial in controlling the problem of anti-microbial resistance. Though most health workers reported
following clinical guidelines when prescribing antibiotics (79%), a substantial proportion still
prescribed use of antibiotics for the treatment against common cold/cough (64%) and viral infections
(44%).
Conclusion: The awareness of anti-microbial resistance is a public health problem in rural Eastern
Uganda. Campaigns for appropriate prescription and awareness of anti-microbial resistance should
include educating the public and rural health care workers with the aim of decreasing the
emergence antibiotic resistant microbes.
