Antibiotics
Volume 8, Issue 3, 2019

Investigating understandings of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in diverse ethnic communities in australia: Findings from a qualitative study (Article) (Open Access)

Whittaker A.* , Lohm D. , Lemoh C. , Cheng A.C. , Davis M.
  • a School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
  • b School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
  • c School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia, Monash Infectious Diseases, Melbourne, 3168, Australia
  • d School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia, Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, 3181, Australia
  • e School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia

Abstract

This paper explores the understandings of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among ethnically diverse informants in Melbourne, Australia. Atotal of 31 face-to-face semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of ethnic in-patients who were admitted with an acquired antimicrobial infection in a public hospital (n = 7); five hospital interpreters; and ethnic members of the general community (n = 19) as part of a broader study of lay understandings of AMR. Thematic analysis revealed there was poor understanding of AMR, even among informants being treated for AMR infections. Causes of the increasing incidence of AMR were attributed to: Weather fluctuations and climate change; a lack of environmental cleanliness; and the arrival of new migrant groups. Asian informants emphasized the need for humoral balance. Antibiotics were viewed as ‘strong’ medicines that could potentially disrupt this balance and weaken the body. Travel back to countries of origin sometimes involved the use of medical services and informants noted that some community members imported antibiotics from overseas. Most used the internet and social media to source health information. There is a lack of information in their own languages. More attention needs to be given to migrant communities who are vulnerable to the development, transmission and infection with resistant bacteria to inform future interventions. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance Antibiotic Lay understandings Ethnicity qualitative

Index Keywords

ecology hospital patient hospitalization Australia human travel antibiotic agent priority journal Aged length of stay qualitative research knowledge hygiene illiteracy migrant antimicrobial stewardship western medicine male semi structured interview female questionnaire Climate change medical information clinical article Article medical service thematic analysis awareness adult immune system antibiotic resistance infection ethnicity decision making weather
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073355204&doi=10.3390%2fantibiotics8030135&partnerID=40&md5=5791b58a88dac11ab1d83fac17af42e8
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics8030135
ISSN: 20796382
Original Language: English