Assessing antibiotic use practices on central Burkina Faso cattle farms and the associated risks to environmental and human health contamination: A pilot study

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, driven largely by antibiotic misuse in livestock farming. This pilot study explores cattle farmers' antibiotic use practices and their implications for environmental and human health in peri-urban area of Ouagadougou. This study aimed to identify risky antibiotic use behaviors among cattle farmers and evaluate their contribution to environmental contamination and AMR dissemination. Materials and Methods: In April 2023, a survey was conducted among 50 cattle farm owners and managers across four peri-urban area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Data were collected using structured questionnaires through Kobo Toolbox. Farmers' practices were categorized as “good” or “poor” based on cumulative scores derived from binary-coded responses. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between practices and AMR risk factors. Results: Among participants, 98% (n = 49) were male, 76% (n = 38) had no formal animal health training, and 96% (n = 48) used antibiotics, primarily tetracyclines. Practices associated with increased AMR risk included reliance on non-veterinary personnel for antibiotic administration and inadequate waste management. Multivariate analysis revealed that traditional farming methods significantly reduced contamination risks (p < 0.05). However, ownership of farms and using antibiotics solely for treatment were linked to higher odds of environmental contamination. Awareness of the implications of antibiotic residues in manure was low, with 82% of farmers uninformed about potential health risks. Conclusion: The study highlights prevalent antibiotic misuse and inadequate biosecurity measures among cattle farmers in Burkina Faso. These practices exacerbate AMR risks, necessitating urgent interventions. Strategies should include farmer education on biosecurity, stricter regulation of antibiotic use, and the promotion of sustainable farming practices. A One Health approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health is critical to addressing AMR challenges.