Abstract
M.A. (Public Health)
Background: The misuse of antimicrobials in food-producing animals is one of the main drivers of the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A critical component in addressing AMR is the understanding of general public perceptions and behaviour towards antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals. Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate public awareness, risk perception and the factors that influence the public behaviour towards human health impact of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use in food-producing animals in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 416 participants. The study was conducted among the general public in Malaysia using a web-based questionnaire. Participants were selected using convenience and snowball sampling methods. A pilot study was carried out before the actual survey. Several strategies were used to reach as many respondents as possible all over the country. These included relying on professional and personal networks, family members, friends, and colleagues to broadcast and share the survey. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise the data. Crude odds ratios (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression in SPSS Version 26 to analyse the factors associated with participants' behaviour towards the risk of antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals. The statistical significance of relationships among the variables was determined using a 95% CI. Results: The key findings of this research, based on the objectives and the methodology applied, are summarised as follows. More than half of the participants (n = 238, 57.2%) did not take any action to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Higher educational level (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.10-0.97]), Malay race (COR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.21-0.86]), those professing Islam (COR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.28-0.99]), income of RM2001-RM3000 (ZAR7304.90- ZAR10952.84) (AOR = 0.30, 95% CI [0.14-0.62]) and RM3001-RM4000 (ZAR10957.54- ZAR14602.0) (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.22-0.84]), awareness about antibiotic resistance occurrence (AOR= 3.77, 95% CI [1.53-9.24]), awareness about antibiotic resistance in both human and animals (COR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.13-0.92]), lack of awareness (AOR= 4.44, 95% CI [1.66-11.89]), slightly aware (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI [1.06-8.25]) and somewhat aware (COR = 2.68, 95% CI [1.00-7.18]) of antibiotic resistance transfer via well-cooked meat, lack of exposure to information on antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals (AOR= 2.17, 95% CI [1.04-4.55]), never thought (AOR=4.50, 95% CI [1.33-15.18]) and rarely thought (AOR=3.02, 95% CI [1.24-7.36]) about the risk of antimicrobial resistance,..