“Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi
Background The overuse of antimicrobial medicines is a global health concern, including as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. In many low- and middle-income countries, a substantial proportion of antibiotics are purchased over-the-counter without a prescription. But while antibiotics are wi...
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| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2322839 |
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| author | Susan Nayiga Eleanor E MacPherson John Mankhomwa Fortunata Nasuwa Raymond Pongolani Rita Kabuleta Mike Kesby Russell Dacombe Shona Hilton Delia Grace Nicholas Feasey Clare I.R. Chandler |
| author_facet | Susan Nayiga Eleanor E MacPherson John Mankhomwa Fortunata Nasuwa Raymond Pongolani Rita Kabuleta Mike Kesby Russell Dacombe Shona Hilton Delia Grace Nicholas Feasey Clare I.R. Chandler |
| author_sort | Susan Nayiga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The overuse of antimicrobial medicines is a global health concern, including as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. In many low- and middle-income countries, a substantial proportion of antibiotics are purchased over-the-counter without a prescription. But while antibiotics are widely available, information on when and how to use them is not. Objective We aimed to understand the acceptability among experts and professionals of sharing information on antibiotic use with end users – patients, carers and farmers – in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. Methods Building on extended periods of fieldwork amongst end-users and antibiotic providers in the three countries, we conducted two workshops in each, with a total of 44 medical and veterinary professionals, policy makers and drug regulators, in December 2021. We carried out extensive documentary and literature reviews to characterise antibiotic information systems in each setting. Results Participants reported that the general public had been provided information on medicine use in all three countries by national drug authorities, health care providers and in package inserts. Participants expressed concern over the danger of sharing detailed information on antibiotic use, particularly that end-users are not equipped to determine appropriate use of medicines. Sharing of general instructions to encourage professionally-prescribed practices was preferred. Conclusions Without good access to prescribers, the tension between enclaving and sharing of knowledge presents an equity issue. Transitioning to a client care-centred model that begins with the needs of the patient, carer or farmer will require sharing unbiased antibiotic information at the point of care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d657716aa04447da57e48622f34c820 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d657716aa04447da57e48622f34c8202025-02-05T12:46:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802024-12-0117110.1080/16549716.2024.23228392322839“Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and MalawiSusan Nayiga0Eleanor E MacPherson1John Mankhomwa2Fortunata Nasuwa3Raymond Pongolani4Rita Kabuleta5Mike Kesby6Russell Dacombe7Shona Hilton8Delia Grace9Nicholas Feasey10Clare I.R. Chandler11Infectious Diseases Research CollaborationUniversity of GlasgowMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research ProgrammeKilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI)Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research ProgrammeInfectious Diseases Research CollaborationUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of GreenwichMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research ProgrammeLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineBackground The overuse of antimicrobial medicines is a global health concern, including as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance. In many low- and middle-income countries, a substantial proportion of antibiotics are purchased over-the-counter without a prescription. But while antibiotics are widely available, information on when and how to use them is not. Objective We aimed to understand the acceptability among experts and professionals of sharing information on antibiotic use with end users – patients, carers and farmers – in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. Methods Building on extended periods of fieldwork amongst end-users and antibiotic providers in the three countries, we conducted two workshops in each, with a total of 44 medical and veterinary professionals, policy makers and drug regulators, in December 2021. We carried out extensive documentary and literature reviews to characterise antibiotic information systems in each setting. Results Participants reported that the general public had been provided information on medicine use in all three countries by national drug authorities, health care providers and in package inserts. Participants expressed concern over the danger of sharing detailed information on antibiotic use, particularly that end-users are not equipped to determine appropriate use of medicines. Sharing of general instructions to encourage professionally-prescribed practices was preferred. Conclusions Without good access to prescribers, the tension between enclaving and sharing of knowledge presents an equity issue. Transitioning to a client care-centred model that begins with the needs of the patient, carer or farmer will require sharing unbiased antibiotic information at the point of care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2322839antimicrobial resistancepatientsfarmersmedical professionalsveterinary professionalspolicy makersdrug regulatorsmedical knowledgeenclaving of knowledge |
| spellingShingle | Susan Nayiga Eleanor E MacPherson John Mankhomwa Fortunata Nasuwa Raymond Pongolani Rita Kabuleta Mike Kesby Russell Dacombe Shona Hilton Delia Grace Nicholas Feasey Clare I.R. Chandler “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi Global Health Action antimicrobial resistance patients farmers medical professionals veterinary professionals policy makers drug regulators medical knowledge enclaving of knowledge |
| title | “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi |
| title_full | “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi |
| title_fullStr | “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi |
| title_short | “Arming half-baked people with weapons!” Information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care-centred model for antibiotic use information in Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi |
| title_sort | arming half baked people with weapons information enclaving among professionals and the need for a care centred model for antibiotic use information in uganda tanzania and malawi |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance patients farmers medical professionals veterinary professionals policy makers drug regulators medical knowledge enclaving of knowledge |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2322839 |
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