Table 3 Summary of findings by intervention sites
Themes | Yabello | Menz Gera |
|---|---|---|
Understanding of antimicrobials | Antimicrobials were considered medications for treating sick animals. Women also included traditional treatments. | Antimicrobials were understood as antibiotics and anthelmintics used for treating sick animals. |
Sources of information on antimicrobials | Primary sources were veterinary drug stores, clinics, public officers, and CAHWs. Veterinary clinics and government officers were trusted sources. | Public veterinary clinics, researchers, private veterinary service providers, and other farmers were key sources. Men had greater access to information than women. |
Sources and quality of veterinary drugs | Public veterinary clinics and private drug stores were trusted sources. Quality concerns from roadside markets and CAHWs. | Public veterinary clinics were the main source. Hesitance to buy from private drug stores and informal markets due to quality concerns. |
Gendered use of antimicrobials | Women treated small animals (poultry, goats, sheep) with tablets, while men handled large animals with injections. Traditional treatments often preceded veterinary drugs. | No gender differences. Men and women took animals to public veterinary clinics and followed prescriptions. Community members rarely treated animals themselves. |
Understanding of AMR, causes, and consequences | Initial difficulty understanding AMR; later associated with prolonged and frequent drug use, expired drugs, and underdosing. Concerns about poor drug regulation and veterinary services. Awareness of financial loss and reduced animal productivity. | Similar difficulty understanding AMR; later linked to expired or poor-quality drugs, underdosing, using drugs for unknown diseases, and lack of diagnostics. Similar awareness of economic impacts. |
Withdrawal periods and handling of drugs | Limited awareness of withdrawal periods; consumption of animal products shortly after treatment. Leftover drugs were often kept for later use and expired drugs were disposed of in the open (termite mounds or latrines). | Some awareness of withdrawal periods, mostly due to fear of disease transmission, but unaware of drug residues. Leftover drugs were not stored; expired drugs were disposed of in toilets or burned; fear of harm to children. |
Preventive measures and community actions | Recognized the importance of responsible drug use, vaccination, biosecurity, and nutrition but faced resource limitations. | Similar understanding; emphasized improved animal health services, particularly diagnostics and mobile treatment options. |