Risk Factors Associated with the Emergence and Dissemination of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria Among Poultry Farmers in South Togo

<i>Background</i>: Antimicrobial resistance is growing at an alarming rate to the point of outpacing the development of new means of infection control, thus threatening public health and the economics of agriculture. This study aims to explore poultry farmers’ level of knowledge about the dangers of antibiotic resistance, and their attitude and behavior during the use of antibiotics in poultry. Methods: In November 2022, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 153 poultry farms in the “Maritime Region’’ and “Grand-Lome District’’. The collected data concerned awareness of the behavioral gestures and dangers of antibiotic resistance that put poultry farmers in contact with resistant bacteria. <i>Results</i>: The findings revealed that 56.1% of poultry farmers (82 out of 146) were aware of antibiotic resistance, while 63% (70 out of 119) understood the risk of human contamination through poultry products. Despite this awareness, 55.6% (74 out of 133) of farms lacked protective measures during tasks such as handling droppings or administering antibiotics. A significant association was observed between animal health training and both awareness of antibiotic resistance and biosecurity practices (p < 0.05). However, no association was found between the training received and the poultry farmers' behavior regarding the use of antibiotics (p-value > 0.05). <i>Conclusion</i>: Poultry farmers’ attitudes and behavior are favorable to the dissemination of resistant bacteria. It is necessary to continue sensitization by focusing on the risk factors that can put poultry farmers in contact with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.