Situational Analysis and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among Broiler Poultry Farmers in Nepal

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of broiler poultry farmers (BPF) in Nepal concerning the use of antimicrobials (AMU) and the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A total of 500 farmers from all seven provinces of Nepal, spanning 40 districts, participated in this study. The collected data, encompassing AMU, demographic distribution, and KAP regarding AMU and AMR among BPF, underwent descriptive statistic and logistic regression analysis. This study’s results revealed that BPF possessed limited understanding and engagement in practices related to AMU and AMR, whereas they exhibited positive attitudes. This highlights the importance of implementing effective regulatory measures, improving veterinary services, and providing training and awareness programs to address the issue of AMR in the poultry farming sector. ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to conduct a situational analysis, and second, to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of broiler poultry farmers (BPF) regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Data were collected from 500 BPF across 40 districts, representing 88.1% of Nepal’s broiler poultry population. Among these farmers, 81.0% were male, 59.6% had up to 4 years of experience in poultry farming, and 50.8% had completed at least a high school education. The most used antimicrobials on the farms were doxycycline (23.5%), neomycin (17.1%), and colistin sulfate (9.6%) out of 27 reported antimicrobials. While the BPF exhibited limited knowledge (62.6%) and practice (55.5%) related to AMU and AMR, their overall attitude toward these issues was positive (91.6%). This study also identified significant factors influencing farmers’ attitudes toward AMU and AMR. Farmers aged 31–40 showed a stronger inclination compared to other age groups (OR = 4.2, p = 0.02), and those using antimicrobials for preventive purposes had a more favorable attitude compared to those using them for other purposes (OR = 5.9, p = 0.02). In light of these findings, this study recommends the implementation of effective regulatory measures for drug usage, along with awareness programs addressing AMU and AMR to address the issue of AMR in poultry production.