Abstract:
Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs primarily aim identify solutions
to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It helps to optimize antimicrobial use to
improve patient outcomes, ensure cost-effective therapy, andreduce adverse sequel
of antimicrobial use (including antimicrobial resistance) among residents,
hospitalized patients, the public, and agricultural professionals. This study aims to
assess the knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship actions among outpatients
attending Maitama General Hospital, Abuja.Nigeria Methods: This was a descriptive
cross-sectional study done between June and November, 2022 among 423
outpatients using Multistage sample technique. Data was collected using
interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and analysed using the IBM
SPSS 28 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Ethical approval was granted
by Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Ethics committee, Jos, Plateau State.
Results: The level of knowledge about solutions to curb AMR (Antimicrobial
stewardship) between male and female respondents showed 179 (44.75%) of
female respondents had good knowledge, 28 (7.0%) had fair knowledge and 21
(5.25%) had poor knowledge. Of all the male respondents, 132 (33.0%) had good
knowledge,12 (3.00)% had fair knowledge and 28 (7.00%) had poor knowledge.
Summarily, 311 (77.75%) had good knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship, 40
(10.00%) had fair knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship and 49 (12.25%) had
poor knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship. Conclusion: Majority of clients had
good knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship actions, but this can be improved by
planning and implementing more antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) sensitization
activities in communities and among patients in the hospitals. Health care workers
should have continuous professional development (CPD) training on AMS.
