Policy Programs Research Articles

Impacts, Adaptations, and Preparedness Among SNAP-Ed Implementers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multistate Study

Objective: The study examines: 1) impacts of COVID-19 on the work of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) implementers, 2) facilitators and barriers experienced in making adaptations, and 3) factors that would have helped with preparedness to adapt. Design, Setting, and Participants: A purposive sample of 181 SNAP-Ed program implementers from across five states completed a survey or interview based on the study aims. Quantitative data was summarized with descriptive statistics and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Results: Direct education activities were found to be most impacted during COVID-19 while working to change policies, systems, and environments and indirect education were less impacted. Both positive and negative impacts surfaced. Respondents were most likely to say they were moderately or slightly prepared to make adaptations. Elements of internal organizations, technology, and partners both helped and hindered adapting. Pre-established virtual capacity, formal preparation and planning protocols and procedures, and better and more frequent communication with partners and program leadership would have helped with preparedness. Conclusion: SNAP-Ed needs assessment and implementation processes should integrate and expand upon the lessons learned in the study to enhance future emergency preparedness among program implementers. Program policy should be updated to allow for implementation flexibility during future emergencies.

The evolution of SNAP-Ed: policy, systems and environment (PSE) interventions to enhance nutrition security and health equity in the United States

Purpose This study uses a comprehensive literature review and analysis of recent research, policy documents and program evaluations related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and policy, systems and environmental (PSE) strategies. Key sources include peer-reviewed articles, the 2025 SNAP-Ed Plan Guidance and case studies of successful PSE interventions. The Social-Ecological Model serves as a framework to organize and analyze the multilevel impacts of PSE interventions. The method involves identifying relevant information, synthesizing key themes and patterns and critically examining the potential impact of PSE strategies on nutrition security and health equity. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the evolution of the SNAP-Ed from direct nutrition education to a comprehensive approach integrating PSE change strategies. It aims to analyze the rationale, implementation and potential impact of PSE approaches in SNAP-Ed on nutrition security and health equity in the USA. The study explores how these strategies address social determinants of health, promote sustainable population-level changes in nutrition environments, and their capacity to reduce health disparities in low-income communities. It seeks to identify challenges, opportunities and future research directions in implementing PSE strategies within SNAP-Ed. Findings The review reveals that PSE strategies in SNAP-Ed show promise in creating sustainable, population-level changes in nutrition environments and health outcomes. Successful examples, such as healthy corner store initiatives and workplace wellness programs, demonstrate the potential of PSE approaches to improve access to healthy food options and physical activity opportunities. The integration of PSE strategies has enhanced SNAP-Ed’s capacity to address social determinants of health and promote health equity. However, challenges including resource constraints, political opposition and the need for cross-sector collaboration persist. The effectiveness of PSE interventions relies heavily on community engagement, partnerships and supportive policies. Practical implications The findings underscore the importance of adopting comprehensive, multilevel approaches in nutrition education and obesity prevention programs. For SNAP-Ed implementers, this implies a need to develop expertise in PSE strategies, foster cross-sector partnerships and engage communities in intervention design and implementation. Policymakers should consider increasing support and resources for PSE approaches within SNAP-Ed and similar programs. Public health practitioners can use these insights to design more effective, equitable interventions that address root causes of nutrition insecurity. The study also highlights the need for improved evaluation methods to assess the long-term impact of PSE strategies on population health outcomes. Social implications This study highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and access to healthy food options, to promote equitable health outcomes. It underscores the potential of community-driven, multilevel interventions in building a more just and equitable food system accessible to all. Originality/value This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the shift toward PSE strategies in SNAP-Ed, offering valuable insights into the program’s evolution and its potential to address complex public health challenges. By examining both successes and challenges, it contributes to the growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of multilevel interventions in promoting nutrition security and health equity. The study’s emphasis on the role of community engagement and partnerships in PSE implementation offers practical guidance for program planners and policymakers.

Policy rhetoric, realities, and burdens: Using critical policy analysis to center at-promise student success in the McNair program

Educational policies designed to benefit students from first-generation, low-income, and racially minoritized backgrounds do not always consider the realities these students experience during college. Instead, students participating in compensatory education programs can endure further marginalization. Using critical policy analysis’ core tenets as guiding principles to frame our study and guide our analysis, we conducted a three-phase qualitative analytic study. We examined interviews with students and McNair program policy documents to interrogate policymakers’ hidden assumptions and the (de)centering of minoritized student perspectives in the McNair program policy. Students in the program discussed varied and conflicting definitions of success, such as learning they did not want to attend graduate school—a primary goal and measure of success for the federal government. They also highlighted advisors as a source of support. By centering the experiences of students, our findings highlight this critical gap and draw attention to the administrative burdens placed on at-promise students, emphasize the need for holistic socio-emotional support in federal policy, and underscore the powerful role of supportive faculty and staff.

Developing Strategies to Promote Physical Fitness for University Students

Background and Aims: The physical fitness problems of university students must be paid great attention to. As the backbone of training university students, how to guide the students to exercise scientifically and achieve the best physical fitness for effect has become an urgent problem for physical educators in universities and universities. The objective of this research was to develop strategies to promote physical fitness for university students. Methodology: This research is mixed methods research. The population for this research includes 5,275 first-year students enrolled at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies for the 2023 academic year. Using the Taro Yamane formula, the sample size was calculated to be 371 university students. The questionnaire was distributed to 371 university students to investigate the problems and current situation of physical fitness of university students. After that, 7 experts were invited to develop a question framework for a focus group. 10 experts conducted a focus group to develop the question framework for use in the Delphi consensus, and 19 experts were invited to conduct a two-round Delphi consensus, to develop the strategies to promote physical fitness for university students. Finally, a connoisseurship method was used to confirm the developed strategies with 9 experts. The data gathered from the questionnaire were analyzed using the average and standard deviation, while consensus data were evaluated through the median and interquartile range. The established criteria for consensus required a median of ≥ 3.50 and an interquartile range of ≤ 1.50. Results: The strategies to promote physical fitness for university students were organized into 6 key aspects and comprised 51 factors. These 6 key aspects include: (1) Policy and Administrative Support, (2) Physical Education Curriculum and Programs, (3) Facilities and Equipment, (4) Engagement and Motivation, (5) Monitoring and Assessment, and (6) Sustainability of Fitness Programs. Conclusion: The study emphasizes a thorough strategy for improving university students' physical fitness by addressing program sustainability, policy, curriculum, facilities, motivation, and assessment. These six tactical elements guarantee a balanced, encouraging atmosphere for sustained health and fitness.

Evaluations of State Medical Cannabis Programs in the US: A Narrative Review

Background: Medical cannabis (MC) use is increasing across the US, with functional MC programs now operating in 38 states. While program policies and practices vary widely, little is known about whether and how states evaluate their programs. Better characterization of state MC program evaluation to date could inform states, program officials, and providers about best practices and provide a roadmap for future program evaluation. Summary: We conducted a narrative review of state MC program evaluations, including peer-reviewed literature and reports produced by independent state-based and non-state-based evaluators. Among 304 abstracts initially screened, seven evaluations met inclusion criteria. Within these evaluations, we report results according to three overarching themes: 1) evaluation characteristics, including comparison across evaluations; 2) program experience, including perceptions of providers and patients; and 3) assessment of cannabis use, including self-reported efficacy for qualifying medical conditions, patterns of medical and nonmedical cannabis use, and assessment of risk factors relevant to MC use. Additionally, we found that while goals and methods for state MC evaluations varied widely, evaluations that relied on independent, non-state entities tended to have more comprehensive and quantitatively rigorous results. Key Messages: Few states operating MC programs have completed a formal evaluation of their program. Among states that have completed an evaluation, approaches varied widely; however, common themes were also present, which may inform future state evaluation efforts. Evaluation through independent, non-state partners may provide an optimal strategy to ensure high-quality data and meaningful results.

Power Dynamics of Cross-Border Conflict in Lebanon and Syria

This paper identifies the main conflict actors in cross-border conflict across Lebanon and Syria as being Hezbollah and the Syrian Arab Armed Forces, and highlights the power hierarchies between those actors as well as between them and ordinary people in those border regions. The paper shows that in those two countries, both state and non-state actors (de factor authorities) are the main conflict actors who are invested in the conflict status quo that they profiteer from—the state is therefore also part of the problem. The paper additionally argues that there is a need to understand hierarchies of power among conflict actors and how they position local communities at the bottom of the conflict economy pyramid. The paper shows that local communities end up entangled in the conflict economy for the sake of economic coping and survival. Often, both conflict actors and local communities act pragmatically rather than ideologically for the sake of economic survival or gain, but conflict actors trap local communities in the coping economy by removing alternatives, cultivating relationships of dependency by coping communities on major conflict actors. The paper uses these conclusions to present recommendations for conflict response policies. The paper is published as part of the Cross-Border Conflict, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme funded by UK International Development.

Bilingualism Policies and Bilingual Education Programs in European Countries: The Example of Belgium

Bilingualism Policies and Bilingual Education Programs in European Countries: The Example of Belgium

Causal Inference with Complex Surveys: A Unified Perspective on Sample Selection and Exposure Selection

Probability surveys are a major source of population representative data for policy research and program evaluation. However, the data come with the added complications of being observational and selected with unequal probabilities. Propensity score adjustments have become increasingly popular for inferring causal relationships in non-randomized studies, but when using survey data, estimates of the population level causal effect may be biased if the sampling design is not adequately adjusted for. The current practice of using propensity score estimators with complex surveys is somewhat ad-hoc. We propose a potential-outcome super-population framework to streamline the causal analysis. We also develop propensity-score-and-survey weighted estimators and corresponding variance estimators, as well as their asymptotic properties. Our framework clarifies the confusion regarding the use of survey weighted propensity score in practice. The choice actually depends on the available sampling weights. Various estimators are compared in a simulation study, which shows that the proposed estimators perform better than the competing methods in terms of bias and confidence interval coverage when treatment effects are heterogeneous. To address an important public health issue, we evaluate the impact of e-cigarette use on future tobacco use intention in teens, using a large nationally representative survey in the United States.

Policy Reforms of Justice Reinvestment: Differences Between a Sample of US States' Implementations

ABSTRACTDuring the last two decades the United States federal government has promoted the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), a technical assistance program to help states implement reinvestment programs. However, much of the literature does not detail what kinds of reforms have been passed in these programs. This study seeks to answer the question: do JRI states have differing legislative focuses? One state from each U.S. Census region was selected based on their year of Justice Reinvestment Initiative program implementation during the study period (January 2004 to December 2020). Results of thematic analyses indicate that great variation exists in the 35 legislative bills that implemented justice reinvestment principles between the four states. Many have prioritized sentencing reforms and supervision enhancements to achieve implementation goals. Additionally, each of the reinvestment programs were revised at least once, with initial reinvestment strategies focusing on tough‐on‐crime priorities and their revisions moving substantially toward rehabilitation. Finally, no state legally earmarked reinvestment funds for the original purpose of justice reinvestment, community development. Policymakers and researchers alike should use an abundance of caution when comparing states' justice reinvestment successes or failures, as states have unique programs policies may contain critical differences that may affect their success.

Perencanaan Strategi Bisnis Usaha Online: UMKM

The development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) requires a joint role in the environment from both regulators and other companies. The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) together with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs signed a memorandum of understanding to form a task force to monitor partnerships established between SMEs and large industries. This article explores the programs organized by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises for the development of MSMEs. Through literature and online research about company programs, researchers can compare them with government policy programs to analyze the accuracy of expert programs. The research results show that the joint Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) program can fulfill the policies of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs stipulated in the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.

Kajian Reflektif Pelaksanaan Program Kampung Deret di Jakarta

Slums are one of the phenomena of urban poverty problems caused by the lack of resources for the urban poor to access livable housing. The purpose of this research is to describe government policies in tackling slums in Jakarta through the Kampung Deret Program and analyze the application of social capital in the implementation of the Kampung Deret Program in Jakarta. The research approach used is a qualitative approach with the type of literature review. This method collects relevant data from various reference sources including previous research, books, media coverage, laws, and regulations. The results showed that the Kampung Deret program is one of the policies of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government in tackling slum problems. In addition, there are differences in the description of community participation in the implementation of the Kampung Deret program caused by unequal responses from the community. The conclusion is that community participation is determined by the existence of reciprocal social relations between residents, as well as between residents and the government, in which there are elements of trust, values, and social norms. This study recommends that future researchers conduct studies on community involvement in the formulation of slum program policies in Jakarta.Keywords : slums, kampung deret program, social capital

The role of social entrepreneurship education and corporate social responsibility in shaping sustainable behaviour in the education sector of Lahore, Pakistan

Social Entrepreneurship Education (SEE) has the potential to benefit society by reducing poverty and advancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. This study examines how SEE enhances students’ perception of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and leads to more sustainable behaviour among students. Additionally, this study explores how the Institutional Environment strengthens the connection between SEE and perceived CSR, both crucial for cultivating sustainable behaviour. The theory of planned behaviour serves as the foundation for this study. A questionnaire-based survey was completed by purposively selected 271 undergraduates from private universities in Lahore, Pakistan. The findings indicate that social entrepreneurial education positively impacts the students’ perception of CSR and sustainable behaviour. Additionally, the study found that CSR plays a mediating role, which is statistically significant. The findings also suggest that the institutional environment acts as a moderator. This study contributes significantly to the existing knowledge and is a valuable guide for educational institutions to develop policies for education programs based on social entrepreneurship courses and training.

The Transformative Impact of the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) Toward Reaching HIV 95-95-95 Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the last 20 years, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has rapidly expanded and made remarkable progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets to end the HIV epidemic. Nevertheless, HIV continues to pose a significant health challenge globally, with a particular impact on the African continent. Funded by PEPFAR, the African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) has served as a monitoring and evaluation tool for PEPFAR to help guide HIV policy and PEPFAR programming for the last 10 years since its inception and offers a compelling example of how PEPFAR's investment in science continues to reap dividends. This paper details and critically reviews the transformative research AFRICOS has had on helping to end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

Air Pollutants and Ovarian Reserve: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

Abstract Background Growing evidence points to an association between ambient air pollution and decreased human reproductive potential. The aim of this study was to systematically review the association between air pollutants and female ovarian reserve. Methods The literature was searched in six electronic databases through August 2023. Screening of the 75 articles retrieved for inclusion criteria resulted in the selection of 12 human observational studies that evaluated the effect of environmental pollutants on markers of female ovarian reserve. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration code CRD42023474218). Results The study design of selected studies was found to be cross-sectional (2 of 10), retrospective cohort (7 of 10), prospective cohort (2 of 10), and case-control (1 of 10). The study population was equally distributed between Asians (60%) and Americans (50%) with an Italian minority (10%). The main findings showed a higher body of evidence for the environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, while a low body of evidence for PM1, O3, SO2, and a very low body of evidence for benzene, formaldehyde, and benzo(a)pyrene, yet consistently showing significant inverse association data. The overall methodological quality of the selected studies was rated moderated across the 14 domains of the NIH toolkit. Conclusions Increased exposure to air pollutants seems to be associated with reduced female ovarian reserve with evidence being strongest for pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2. More evidence is needed to draw conclusions about causality. Key messages • Increased exposure to air pollutants seems to be associated with reduced female ovarian reserve with evidence being strongest for pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2. • Global environmental policy programs are urgently needed to reduce the risks associated with reduced fertility such as reduced birth rates or the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

Economic Program Policy BUMNIn Increasing Economic Growth In Indonesia

Economic program policies towards state-owned enterprises (BUMN) in economic growth in Indonesia have become commonplace in various countries. The main reason for implementing economic program policies is to improve and streamline the performance of BUMN so that it can achieve its founding targets, namely the provision of public services for the community and profits for the state. However, this policy is often rejected due to concerns that the role of the state is minimal and the role of the private sector is too dominant, which refers to a free market system so that the interests of society are not guaranteed. The method used in this research is qualitative research with a descriptive-analysis method using relevant secondary data and normative/literature assessment using a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. The aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive understanding of economic program policies by BUMN in Indonesia, both from a historical perspective and applicable positive law. The research object is BUMN (State-Owned Enterprises). This research concludes that the majority of listed BUMNs are able to improve business performance and profit generation. Economic programs are not the only solution for state company management, but they must always be able to reform and innovate in terms of future BUMN business strategies.

What Really Matters in Old Age? A Study of Older Adults’ Perspectives on Challenging Old Age Representations

Aim: Older age is not a homogenous or stereotypical experience. Age-stereotypical representations can often be disconnected from older people’s own experiences. Challenging the status quo is relevant for aging well. The aim of this study is to analyze older adults’ perspectives on stereotypical versus their own age representations. Method: This qualitative study included a sample of 433 older adults who were 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85+ years of age. Content analysis was carried out. Results: Findings from this study indicated that the great majority of the participants (88%) did not identify with stereotypical age representations. This was so among participants in the 65–74 age group in relation to Showing a sense of agency (81.1%); Feeling spiritual (73.4%); Having meaningful goals (72.2%); Holding a significant social network (70.9%); Staying tuned to the world (67.1%); and feeling physically attractive (59.8%). Participants who were 75–84 years of age clarified what physical health (81.0%) and surviving chronic illnesses (78.9%), autonomy (75.5%), being socially active (74.9%), and staying mentally active (70.1%) represent at that age. The +85 years age group drew attention to No pain or physical limitations (95.6%), Physical health (93.1%), Cognitive autonomy (87.1%), Staying tuned to society and the world (76.3%); and Mobility (72.2%). Conclusions: Participants’ favoring their own over stereotypical thinking about people their age represents inner resourcefulness and a penchant for aging well. Collaborative partnerships for sharing such wisdom around could enrich policy programs and interventions that favor inclusivity and fight ageism, fostering a more accurate perspective of what it means to be a certain ‘age’ versus simply being ‘old’.

Transformational Leadership, Technological Competence and Teachers' Performance

This study evaluated the extent of transformational leadership and technological competencies of school teachers in selected universities in China. The study further formulated a policy program that ensured the practice of transformational leadership in the involved institutions. It made use of a quantitative research design. More specifically, the study utilized a descriptive-comparative-correlational research design to gather data and further process, analyze, and interpret these. This research was conducted among three (3) selected universities in Hunan Province of China. The Universities are Hunan International Economic University, Hunan Normal University, and Hunan University. The study was conducted among 186 teachers selected from a population of 357. Several statistical tools such as frequency count and percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA, and Pearson’s Correlation was used for the data analysis. Based on the study findings, the majority of the teachers are between 31-40 years old, mostly males, with mostly 16-20 years of teaching experience, and are mostly post-graduates. In the assessment of the transformational Leadership of the superiors, the evaluation showed that the superiors possess a higher level of individualized consideration, followed by idealized influence, then intellectual stimulation, and inspiration motivation. In the assessment of the difference in transformational leadership based on age, the finding suggests that the mean assessment of all the age groups are similar, indicating a balanced distribution of the respondents based on age in individualized consideration, inspiration motivation, and idealized influence. The assessment on technological competence show that the highest dimension is the technological pedagogical knowledge, followed by technological content knowledge, and the technological knowledge. A significant relationship exists between technological leadership, technological competency, and the performance of the teacher superiors. This relationship entails that a transformational leadership practice among the superiors influences the level of technological competency and the performance of the teachers.

Proceedings of the 2024 Australasian Road Safety Conference - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Proceedings of the 2024 annual Australasian Road Safety Conference held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. The proceedings provide the Extended Abstracts and Posters describing research, educational and policing program implementation and policy and management strategies related to all aspects of road safety and especially related to the conference theme of Target 2030: What's the pathway forward? Almost 600 delegates from 20 countries attended the face-to-face conference. Authors of accepted Extended Abstracts represented international and local institutions from all aspects of their respective communities including research centres, private companies, government agencies and community groups. These Extended Abstracts provide an indication of the important work being done in Australia, New Zealand and internationally as part of the United Nations, One UN Vision for Road Safety to reduce the number of crashes on the road by 50 percent by 2030. Almost 200 Extended Abstract manuscripts were accepted for long, short and poster sessions. Each Extended Abstract was peer-reviewed by two experts with relevant expertise. Authors were also provided the option of submitting a Full Paper. Those authors who chose to submit a Full Paper for consideration in the Journal of Road Safety (JRS) could do so based on the outcome of the peer review of their Extended Abstract. Submitted Full Papers undergo peer-review by three independent experts matched by their sector. The matching pairs academic authors iwth academic reviewers and practitioner authors with practitioner reivewers. Inclusion in the JRS follows acceptance by the peer-reviewers.The conference covered a comprehensive range of topics including speed, infrastructure and road design, cyclist safety, motorcyclist safety, pedestrian safety, road safety education, licensing, vehicle design, impairment due to distraction from mobile phones, alcohol, drugs as well as the impacts of climate change on future transport systems road safety, road safety issues for Indigenous people groups across New Zealand and Australia, integrating road safety into local Government, automated enforcement, gig economy road safety, older drivers, etc.

Insurance Coverage and Flood Exposure in the Gulf of Mexico: Scale, Social Vulnerability, Urban Form, and Risk Measures

Increasing flood losses in the Gulf of Mexico related to development patterns and climate hazards pose serious threats to resilience and insurability. The purpose of this study is to understand how scale, social vulnerability, risk, and urban form relate to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy coverage and flood exposure. Our multilevel models identify that flooding is significantly clustered by region and counties, especially shoreline counties. Our measures of risk suggest that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) special flood hazard area (SFHA) underestimates risk and exposure when compared with the Flood Factor and that there is some compensation in terms of insurance coverage, suggesting a pattern of adverse selection. Older housing stock appears both less insured and less exposed, raising questions of whether current growth patterns are increasing risk independent of environmental change. Our models suggest that census tracts with higher percentages of black residents are less insured and more exposed, and a similar pattern exists for rural areas. Our results highlight the need to seek common solutions across the Gulf of Mexico, concentrating on the most flood-exposed counties, and that specific resilience strategies may be necessary to protect areas with socially vulnerable populations, especially in rural areas. Underlying challenges exist due to the spatial relationship between exposure and social vulnerability and the potential for adverse selection in insurance markets due to different measures of risk.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from Locally Produced Fish and Imported Fish Sold in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a significant threat to global health, with the World Health Organization (WHO) classifying it among the top 10 public health threats. However, more epidemiological information is needed to support policy and stewardship programs. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. isolated from locally produced and imported fish sold in markets in the Mfoundi Division of the Centre Region of Cameroon. A total of 11 Escherichia coli and 28 Staphylococcus spp. strains were isolated from the 100 fish samples collected in the study area. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 16 antimicrobial agents using the disk diffusion method. Overall, multidrug resistance rates of 54.54% (95% confidence interval :26.9- 82.1) and 60.7% (95% confidence interval: 43.7-77.7) were obtained for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp., respectively. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. strains was significantly (p<0.05) higher in locally produced fish (18.6%; 32.6%) than in imported fish (5.3%; 24.6%). According to the WHO Essential Medicines List Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification, the antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli strains isolates ranged from 5% to 45% for antimicrobials classified as Access and Watch. For Staphylococcus spp., the antimicrobial resistance profile ranges from 7% to 60% for drugs categorized as Access, whereas it ranges from 25% to 100% for drugs belonging to the Watch category. This study revealed that locally produced fish were more contaminated by antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. than imported fish. The continuous awareness of fish farmers about the appropriate use of aqua drugs is one of the cornerstones for reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance related to public health.