Community-based interventions to address antimicrobial resistance in low-resource agricultural communities

Supervisors:

Dr Tiziana Lembo, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Dr Emma Laurie, School of Geographical & Earth Sciences
Dr Lisa Bradley, School of Education

Summary:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health challenge that affects people’s health and livelihoods. These impacts are especially high in low-resource settings (LRSs). Previous research in East Africa has identified gaps in public understandings of AMR and means to prevent it, especially in subsistence farming communities.
The successful PhD student will explore the best ways of creating awareness and understanding of AMR in communities in LRSs, focusing on well-studied populations of northern Tanzania. They will first establish appropriate theoretical framing underpinning community-based AMR interventions in this particular context. They will then identify health-seeking behaviours that perpetuate AMR risks, as well as common misperceptions and misunderstandings. Based on communities’ perceptions of previous health campaigns and direct dialogue with community members and their health providers, the student will co-design the framework of a community-specific AMR communication campaign and will develop campaign messages using creative, culture-centered methods with a focus on music-based performance.

Applicants will be exposed to a highly inter-disciplinary training programme. Through the project they will develop a strong social science skill set, although its success will depend on incorporating biomedical knowledge to clearly link people’s experiences and practices around treatment to good health outcomes through locally relevant communication.