Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat. The role of health promotion to increase awareness among the key population cannot be deemphasized. Education and awareness raising are the primary tools of global health policy to change public behavior and tackle AMR. Our project aimed at increasing the awareness of AMR for a period of 100 days in Nigeria. Methods and materials: From February 2nd to May 13th, 2019, we carried out an awareness-based project using community outreaches and social media to raise awareness on AMR. The key targets of the awareness are to correct misconceptions regarding antimicrobial use, informed populace on the threat of AMR, to increase people's commitment to fighting AMR, to engage healthcare professionals in the fight against AMR, and to influence healthcare leaders to prioritize AMR in their political agenda. However, to monitor impacts and reach of the AMR messages, hashtag enabled tracker was used to monitor to reach of the #100DaysAwarenessOnAMR. In addition, a self-administered web-based questionnaire was completed and data gotten were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Over 200,000 social media reaches were achieved with the highest reach from Facebook (65.7%). Exactly 380 respondents filled the web-based questionnaire with 60% (n = 228) not aware that AMR is a global public threat and 90% (n = 342) perceived AMR to be fueled by poverty and believed that to address AMR, poverty must be reduced drastically. The misconception regarding AMR among healthcare professionals is not uncommon with 25% (n = 95) believed that antimicrobial resistance occurs where human being is resistant to antimicrobials. Commitment to fighting AMR increases with increase in awareness about the threats of AMR. This is evident in that 300 respondents signed up for to become frontline fighters for AMR through peer education and community awareness initiatives. Conclusion: Student-led efforts should be encouraged in the fight against AMR because of their capability to disseminate the information to hard-to-reach people and wider communities. Healthcare professionals should be actively involved in providing information regarding AMR. Social media should be leverage on to raise public awareness on AMR.
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