Knowledge and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Among Smallholder Pig Farmers in Timor-Leste

Shawn Ting; Abrao Pereira; Steven Davis; Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva; Amalia Alves; Cristibela Dos Santos; Jenny Ann L.M.L. Toribio; Olavio Morais; Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong; Tamsin S. Barnes

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.819643

Knowledge and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Among Smallholder Pig Farmers in Timor-Leste

Shawn Ting, Abrao Pereira, Steven Davis, Paulo Gabriel Vong da Silva, Amalia Alves, Cristibela Dos Santos, Jenny Ann L.M.L. Toribio, Olavio Morais, Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong, Tamsin S. Barnes

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Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global health threat which is linked to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This study was conducted to understand the knowledge and practices of smallholder pig farmers on antibiotic use and resistance in Timor-Leste. A cross-sectional study using a structured face-to-face interview was conducted in three municipalities. The interview was piloted and implemented in the local Tetun language. This study found that knowledge of antibiotics was very poor as only 12.7% (95% CI: 6.3–23.9) of farmers reported knowing what antibiotics were, and of these only one was able to correctly explain how an antibiotic worked. None of the farmers knew about antibiotic resistance and were able to explain the concept correctly. After the definition of antibiotic was explained to the farmer, only 3.6% (95% CI: 0.8–14.9) reported that their pigs had ever received antibiotics, and the majority of farmers whose pigs had not received antibiotics reported the lack of access to veterinary services. When used, antibiotics were only used for treatment with no reported use for disease prevention or growth promotion. None of the commonly used antibiotics were critically important antimicrobials. Compliance with withdrawal periods was not routinely followed. There is a need to improve access to government veterinary services for farmers in Timor-Leste, while addressing identified knowledge gaps on antibiotics and promoting prudent use practices. The findings from this study serve as baseline information to inform future interventions.

Original language	English
Article number	819643
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Number of pages	10
Journal	Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.819643
Publication status	Published - 6 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Joshua Francis (Menzies School of Health Research) and Jennifer Yan (Menzies School of Health Research) for their overall supervision of the Fleming Fund work. We acknowledge the staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste for their support in this study. We thank Joanne Millar (Charles Sturt University) for comments to the initial study design, Clara E.T. Pereira (Animal Health Graduate from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e) for assistance with field data collection and Winnie Chen (Menzies School of Health Research) for editorial assistance. The smallholder pig farmers are greatly appreciated for their participation.

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Timor-Leste (FF/17/233) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), through the small research activity Improved animal health surveillance in Timor-Leste (LS/2019/158). The Fleming Fund is a UK aid investment programme to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance in LMICs around the world and is managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Ting, Pereira, Davis, Vong da Silva, Alves, Dos Santos, Toribio, Morais, da Costa Jong and Barnes.

Copyright:
Copyright 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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10.3389/fvets.2021.819643

48326780-oaFinal published version, 569 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Ting, S., Pereira, A., Davis, S., Vong da Silva, P. G., Alves, A., Dos Santos, C., Toribio, J. A. L. M. L., Morais, O., da Costa Jong, J. B., & Barnes, T. S. (2022). Knowledge and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Among Smallholder Pig Farmers in Timor-Leste. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 1-10. Article 819643. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.819643

@article{c9debb9960184e3b92881f0f3bb430f5,

title = "Knowledge and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Among Smallholder Pig Farmers in Timor-Leste",

abstract = "Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global health threat which is linked to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This study was conducted to understand the knowledge and practices of smallholder pig farmers on antibiotic use and resistance in Timor-Leste. A cross-sectional study using a structured face-to-face interview was conducted in three municipalities. The interview was piloted and implemented in the local Tetun language. This study found that knowledge of antibiotics was very poor as only 12.7\% (95\% CI: 6.3–23.9) of farmers reported knowing what antibiotics were, and of these only one was able to correctly explain how an antibiotic worked. None of the farmers knew about antibiotic resistance and were able to explain the concept correctly. After the definition of antibiotic was explained to the farmer, only 3.6\% (95\% CI: 0.8–14.9) reported that their pigs had ever received antibiotics, and the majority of farmers whose pigs had not received antibiotics reported the lack of access to veterinary services. When used, antibiotics were only used for treatment with no reported use for disease prevention or growth promotion. None of the commonly used antibiotics were critically important antimicrobials. Compliance with withdrawal periods was not routinely followed. There is a need to improve access to government veterinary services for farmers in Timor-Leste, while addressing identified knowledge gaps on antibiotics and promoting prudent use practices. The findings from this study serve as baseline information to inform future interventions.",

keywords = "antibiotic use, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), antimicrobials, knowledge, pig, practices, smallholder, Timor-Leste (East Timor)",

author = "Shawn Ting and Abrao Pereira and Steven Davis and \{Vong da Silva\}, \{Paulo Gabriel\} and Amalia Alves and \{Dos Santos\}, Cristibela and Toribio, \{Jenny Ann L.M.L.\} and Olavio Morais and \{da Costa Jong\}, \{Joanita Bendita\} and Barnes, \{Tamsin S.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Joshua Francis (Menzies School of Health Research) and Jennifer Yan (Menzies School of Health Research) for their overall supervision of the Fleming Fund work. We acknowledge the staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste for their support in this study. We thank Joanne Millar (Charles Sturt University) for comments to the initial study design, Clara E.T. Pereira (Animal Health Graduate from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e) for assistance with field data collection and Winnie Chen (Menzies School of Health Research) for editorial assistance. The smallholder pig farmers are greatly appreciated for their participation. Funding Information: This study was supported by the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Timor-Leste (FF/17/233) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), through the small research activity Improved animal health surveillance in Timor-Leste (LS/2019/158). The Fleming Fund is a UK aid investment programme to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance in LMICs around the world and is managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2022 Ting, Pereira, Davis, Vong da Silva, Alves, Dos Santos, Toribio, Morais, da Costa Jong and Barnes. Copyright: Copyright 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.3389/fvets.2021.819643",

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AU - Ting, Shawn

AU - Pereira, Abrao

AU - Davis, Steven

AU - Vong da Silva, Paulo Gabriel

AU - Alves, Amalia

AU - Dos Santos, Cristibela

AU - Toribio, Jenny Ann L.M.L.

AU - Morais, Olavio

AU - da Costa Jong, Joanita Bendita

AU - Barnes, Tamsin S.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Joshua Francis (Menzies School of Health Research) and Jennifer Yan (Menzies School of Health Research) for their overall supervision of the Fleming Fund work. We acknowledge the staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor-Leste for their support in this study. We thank Joanne Millar (Charles Sturt University) for comments to the initial study design, Clara E.T. Pereira (Animal Health Graduate from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e) for assistance with field data collection and Winnie Chen (Menzies School of Health Research) for editorial assistance. The smallholder pig farmers are greatly appreciated for their participation. Funding Information: This study was supported by the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Timor-Leste (FF/17/233) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), through the small research activity Improved animal health surveillance in Timor-Leste (LS/2019/158). The Fleming Fund is a UK aid investment programme to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance in LMICs around the world and is managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Ting, Pereira, Davis, Vong da Silva, Alves, Dos Santos, Toribio, Morais, da Costa Jong and Barnes. Copyright: Copyright 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/1/6

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N2 - Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global health threat which is linked to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This study was conducted to understand the knowledge and practices of smallholder pig farmers on antibiotic use and resistance in Timor-Leste. A cross-sectional study using a structured face-to-face interview was conducted in three municipalities. The interview was piloted and implemented in the local Tetun language. This study found that knowledge of antibiotics was very poor as only 12.7% (95% CI: 6.3–23.9) of farmers reported knowing what antibiotics were, and of these only one was able to correctly explain how an antibiotic worked. None of the farmers knew about antibiotic resistance and were able to explain the concept correctly. After the definition of antibiotic was explained to the farmer, only 3.6% (95% CI: 0.8–14.9) reported that their pigs had ever received antibiotics, and the majority of farmers whose pigs had not received antibiotics reported the lack of access to veterinary services. When used, antibiotics were only used for treatment with no reported use for disease prevention or growth promotion. None of the commonly used antibiotics were critically important antimicrobials. Compliance with withdrawal periods was not routinely followed. There is a need to improve access to government veterinary services for farmers in Timor-Leste, while addressing identified knowledge gaps on antibiotics and promoting prudent use practices. The findings from this study serve as baseline information to inform future interventions.

AB - Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global health threat which is linked to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This study was conducted to understand the knowledge and practices of smallholder pig farmers on antibiotic use and resistance in Timor-Leste. A cross-sectional study using a structured face-to-face interview was conducted in three municipalities. The interview was piloted and implemented in the local Tetun language. This study found that knowledge of antibiotics was very poor as only 12.7% (95% CI: 6.3–23.9) of farmers reported knowing what antibiotics were, and of these only one was able to correctly explain how an antibiotic worked. None of the farmers knew about antibiotic resistance and were able to explain the concept correctly. After the definition of antibiotic was explained to the farmer, only 3.6% (95% CI: 0.8–14.9) reported that their pigs had ever received antibiotics, and the majority of farmers whose pigs had not received antibiotics reported the lack of access to veterinary services. When used, antibiotics were only used for treatment with no reported use for disease prevention or growth promotion. None of the commonly used antibiotics were critically important antimicrobials. Compliance with withdrawal periods was not routinely followed. There is a need to improve access to government veterinary services for farmers in Timor-Leste, while addressing identified knowledge gaps on antibiotics and promoting prudent use practices. The findings from this study serve as baseline information to inform future interventions.

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KW - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

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KW - practices

KW - smallholder

KW - Timor-Leste (East Timor)

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JF - Frontiers in Veterinary Science

M1 - 819643

ER -

Knowledge and Practices on Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance Among Smallholder Pig Farmers in Timor-Leste

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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