Assessment of Knowledge, attitude and perception of drug resistance in rural communities of Ada district, central Ethiopia

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat, and improving public knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic use is a crucial early strategy for containment. This study was conducted in the rural part of Ada’a district, Oromia regional state, to assess community knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotic use. A cross-sectional survey using a pretested questionnaire was administered to 392 randomly selected residents (330 males and 62 females) aged 18 years and above. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and one-way ANOVA. Most participants (81%) were farmers. A large proportion (61%) did not know what antibiotics are or their intended uses. Additionally, 34% could not name the antibiotics they had used for themselves or their animals, and 68% lacked knowledge about the diseases for which they were treated. Encouragingly, 73.5% reported completing the full course of antibiotic treatment even when symptoms improved, and 72.5% disagreed that antibiotics can be safely used without prescription. Most respondents (95%) sought treatment for their animals after diagnosis, and over 80% refrained from purchasing veterinary drugs from local traders. A strong positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic use (p < 0.001), indicating that greater knowledge was associated with more favorable attitudes. However, the correlation between knowledge and practice was weak and not statistically significant (p > 0.05), suggesting that better knowledge did not consistently translate into improved practices. Occupation had no significant effect on knowledge (p > 0.05), while education level showed a significant positive correlation with antibiotic knowledge (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study highlights substantial knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding antibiotic use among rural residents. Targeted educational interventions are recommended to enhance community awareness and promote rational antibiotic use in both humans and animals.

Keywords: Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Resistance, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/76-01

Publication date: July 31^st 2026