Co-designing community-based interventions to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR): what to include and why

This commentary presents seven key concepts that are integral to tackling behavioural drivers to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through community engagement.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a social and biological problem. Although resistance to antimicrobials is a natural phenomenon, many human behaviours are increasing the pressure on microbes to develop resistance, which is resulting in many commonly used treatments becoming ineffective. These behaviours include unregulated use of antimicrobial medicines, pesticides and agricultural chemicals, the disposal of heavy metals and other pollutants into the environment, and human-induced climatic change. Addressing AMR thus calls for changes in the behaviours which drive resistance. Community engagement for antimicrobial resistance (CE4AMR) is an international and interdisciplinary network focused on tackling behavioural drivers of AMR at community level. Since 2019, this network has worked within low-middle income countries (LMICs), predominantly within Southeast Asia, to tackle behavioural drivers of AMR which can be mitigated through bottom-up solutions championed by local people. This commentary presents seven key concepts identified from across the CE4AMR portfolio as integral to tackling AMR. We suggest it be used to guide future interventions aimed at addressing AMR via social, participatory and behaviour change approaches.

Published in BMC Research Notes

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Citation: BMC Research Notes 2023; 16: 290.

Country: Bangladesh | Nepal

Keywords: AMR | Community delivery | Resistance management