Antimicrobial stewardship among Nigerian children: A pilot study of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of prescribers at two tertiary healthcare facilities in Bayelsa State.

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), the evidence-based use of antimicrobials, is an effective strategy in controlling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans by reducing the irrational use of antimicrobials. Stewardship in children is less studied. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of physicians prescribing antibiotics to children in Bayelsa State, Nigeria to identify gaps in AMS and possible solutions. Following ethical approval, a semi-structured questionnaire was distributed among 40 paediatricians and gynaecologists at the two public tertiary healthcare facilities in Bayelsa State - the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre - for self-completion. Responses were expressed as percentages and analyzed using Blooms cutoffs. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) model was employed to identify gaps for intervention in prescribing behavior with gaps in each component identified by aggregate scores <80%. Perceived approaches to improve prescribing among 14 selected options were assessed using 5-point Likert scales and options with scores >90% rated the most acceptable. Questionnaires were administered from August to September 2021. The response rate was 68% (27/40). Participants were paediatricians (81%, 22/27) and gynaecologists (19%, 5/27). Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) was not performed before antibiotic selection nine times out of 10 (89%, 24/27). In a third (37%, 10/27) of cases, 2-3 antibiotics were prescribed. The top three antibiotics, in rank order, were: cefuroxime or amoxicillin 41% (11/27); ciprofloxacin or amoxicillin 30% (8/27), and azithromycin (33%, 9/27). Aggregate COM-B scores were: capability, 74%; opportunity, 78%; and motivation, 87%. The most acceptable (100%, 27/27) options to improving antibiotic prescribing were: availability of resistance data, availability of guidelines, readily accessible microbiological data, and easy access to infectious disease physicians. There are gaps in knowledge of AMR and opportunity for rational prescribing. There is need for antimicrobial resistance data to promote pediatric AMS at the surveyed healthcare facilities.