Factors Influencing Awareness of the One-Health Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance: A Case Study amongst Selected SHS Final Year Students in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is getting worse, endangering the practice of modern medicine worldwide. Antibiotic resistance is a result of widespread antibiotic usage and abuse in human and animal health. Local and international action is needed to stop the development of resistant germs in these industries, and it must start with raising awareness, especially among students. The aim of the study is to determine the parameters impacting final-year SHS students' knowledge of the One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Resistance. Methodology: The research involved 202 students who were 16 years of age or older and was conducted as a quantitative cross-sectional study between 8th and 30th of August, 2023. The information was entered into Microsoft Excel and exported to SPSS for descriptive and inferential analysis. Frequencies and percentages were utilized in descriptive statistics, whereas Chi-squared and logistic regressions were used in inferential statistics. For statistical significance, a p-value of 0.05 or lower was required. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables using logistic regression and the results are presented as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Results: Approximately 18 % and 11.9 % (out of 202 respondents) were aware of the terms ‘Antimicrobial resistance’ and the ‘One-Health Approach respectively. The program of study [AOR=0.233 95% CI =0.075-0.726] with the p value of [0.012] Based on the results, it appears that the program of study had substantial impact on students' knowledge of AMR and the OH approach to AMR. Conclusion: The programs of study were found to have an impact on people's awareness of the One-Health Approach. AMR and OH components were not fully in the curricula of students studying science and agricultural science, therefore it should be included.