Antibiotic use practices in poultry farming and public health implications: evidence from Oubritenga Province, Burkina Faso, within a One Health perspective

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Résumé

Background
The widespread and often uncontrolled use of antibiotics in poultry
farming is a major public health concern, contributing to therapeutic
failures and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This
study assessed antibiotic use practices among poultry farmers in
Oubritenga Province, Burkina Faso, and evaluated their potential
impacts on public health.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 102 poultry farmers in
the communes of Ziniaré, Loumbila, Zitenga, and Nagreongo. Data
were collected in poultry using structured questionnaires, with
participants recruited through snowball sampling.
Results
Descriptive analysis showed that 97% of farmers reported antibiotic
use, with tetracyclines being the predominant class (≈70%), mainly
for preventive purposes (70%). Knowledge gaps were evident: 64% of respondents were unfamiliar with the concept of AMR, and 15%
admitted not respecting withdrawal periods before marketing or
consuming poultry products. Bivariate analysis showed that farming
experience was significantly associated with antibiotic use, suggesting
that longer involvement in poultry production increases reliance on
antibiotics.
Multivariate analysis, however, did not confirm independent
associations, indicating that antibiotic use is widespread across socio
demographic categories and farming systems.
Conclusion
These findings highlight significant risks for food safety,
environmental contamination, and the spread of resistant pathogens.
They underscore the urgent need for stricter regulation, farmer
education, and integration of poultry farming into the national AMR
surveillance strategy, with expanded coverage across Burkina Faso.

Mots-clés

Antibiotics use - public health risks - poultry farming - Oubritenga Province - Burkina Faso