Knowledge and Attitude Toward Antimicrobial Resistance Among the Community: An Institution-Based Study in Nefas Silk Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background-Antibiotics overuse means excessive consumption of antibiotics and misuse refers to the incorrect order of antibiotics, self-medication, and improper use in agriculture. The World Health Organization (WHO), defined self-medication as the selection and use of drugs to address self-identified diseases or symptoms (4). Both misuse and excessive use of antibiotics because of limited awareness have brought about the rise of antimicrobial resistance by creating environments good to thrive for resistant bacteria. This has given rise to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where microorganisms develop resistance to drugs that were once effective.
Objective-To evaluate the community knowledge and attitudes toward antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance and factors associated in Nifas Silk Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July to August 2025.
Methods-This study was done in Nifas Silk Sub-City, Addis Ababa in a diverse area with approximately 400,000 residents and 8 public health centers. An institutional-based cross-sectional design was used to assess adults’ knowledge and attitudes toward antimicrobial resistance between July 20 and August 31, 2025. Total participants of 401 were selected using a lottery sampling technique: five health centers were randomly chosen, and then convenience sampling was applied at triage areas. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from validated tools and processed using Stata. The study used descriptive statistics and setting the P<0.05 for significance analyses was done using logistic regression to explore relation between socio-demographic factors and levels of knowledge and attitude.
Results- Of the 401 participants (54.1%) were females. A large number of respondents were young adults aged 26–35 years (35.9%), followed by those aged 18–25 years (31.2%). 42.1% of the participants have diploma or degree-level education followed by secondary education 35.9%. Out of the total 401 participants, 398 respondents had complete responses for knowledge with response rate of 99.3%. 52.5% (n = 209; 95% CI: 47.6–57.4%) of the participants had poor knowledge. 48.5% (n = 194; 95% CI: 43.6%–53.4%) of the participants had a poor attitude toward antimicrobial resistance. Analysis done using multivariable logistic regression showed the main predictors of poor knowledge were education level, monthly income, and sex. Occupation and monthly earning were significantly associated with poor attitude.
Conclusions-The study revealed that majority of the respondents demonstrated poor knowledge about antimicrobial resistance and rational antibiotic use, almost half had poor attitude about antimicrobial resistance.
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Keywords
Knowledge, attitude, antimicrobial resistance