Mekonen Abibo Wondie, Senbato Natinael, Feleke Melaku Getahun, Birhanie Merawi Kindu, Mekasha Yesuneh Tefera
Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Vet Med Int. 2025 Sep 3;2025:7813053. doi: 10.1155/vmi/7813053. eCollection 2025.
Animal diseases pose a significant threat to both animal welfare and productivity, making veterinary drugs essential for their prevention, treatment, and control. In developing countries including Ethiopia, several challenges such as limited drug availability, inadequate storage facilities, improper handling, and insufficient knowledge among veterinary professionals impede the delivery of effective veterinary health services. This study aimed to assess the availability of veterinary drugs, storage conditions, and the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of veterinary professionals regarding the safe management of these drugs. A cross-sectional study was conducted across 46 veterinary facilities (34 government clinics and 12 private pharmacies), involving 170 veterinary professionals who participated through structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The study revealed suboptimal drug availability, with multivitamins being the most commonly available (84.8%), followed by anthelmintic (72.8%) and antibacterial (69.6%), while antifungals were the least available (18.3%). Storage conditions were inadequate in both government clinics (64.5%) and private retailers (65.6%), falling below the acceptable threshold of over 80% for good storage practice. In terms of KAP, 52.4% of professionals demonstrated low knowledge, 77.6% held negative attitudes, and 50.6% exhibited poor practices related to the safe handling and storage of veterinary drugs. These results indicate critical gaps in drug availability, storage standards, and professional competence. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action from the Regional Livestock and Agricultural Bureau and the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA), with emphasis on strengthening supply chains, upgrading storage infrastructure, and implementing targeted training programs for veterinary professionals.
动物疾病对动物福利和生产力都构成了重大威胁，这使得兽药对于疾病的预防、治疗和控制至关重要。在包括埃塞俄比亚在内的发展中国家，兽药供应有限、储存设施不足、处理不当以及兽医专业人员知识不足等诸多挑战阻碍了有效的兽医卫生服务的提供。本研究旨在评估兽药的可获得性、储存条件以及兽医专业人员在这些药物安全管理方面的知识、态度和实践（KAP）。在46个兽医机构（34个政府诊所和12个私人药房）开展了一项横断面研究，170名兽医专业人员通过结构化问卷和观察清单参与了研究。使用SPSS和Microsoft Excel对数据进行了分析。研究发现兽药可获得性欠佳，其中多维维生素最为常见（84.8%），其次是驱虫药（72.8%）和抗菌药（69.6%），而抗真菌药的可获得性最低（18.3%）。政府诊所（64.5%）和私人零售商（65.6%）的储存条件均不达标，低于良好储存规范80%以上的可接受阈值。在知识、态度和实践方面，52.4%的专业人员知识水平较低，77.6%的人态度消极，50.6%的人在兽药安全处理和储存方面做法欠佳。这些结果表明在药物可获得性、储存标准和专业能力方面存在严重差距。应对这些挑战需要区域畜牧和农业局以及埃塞俄比亚农业管理局（EAA）采取协调行动，重点是加强供应链、升级储存基础设施以及为兽医专业人员实施有针对性的培训项目。
