Publications by authors named "P Skosana"
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in which microbes adapt to and resist current therapies, is a well-recognised global problem that threatens to reverse gains made by modern medicine in the last decades. AMR is a complex issue; however, at its core, it is driven by the overuse and inappropriate use of antimicrobials. Socioeconomic factors have been identified as significant contributors to the emergence and exacerbation of AMR, especially in populations facing inadequate access to healthcare, poor sanitation services and high morbidity and mortality rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibiotic resistance is a global threat, with a disproportionate burden of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. It is increasing in both the public and private healthcare sectors within South Africa, especially in Gram-negative organisms, and is associated with increased use of World Health Organization watch and reserve antibiotics. There is a need for improved access to new antibiotics to treat infections caused by drug-resistant organisms in order to limit side-effects and improve patient outcomes of currently available antibiotics.
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- The study aimed to gather information on university students' perspectives on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on human health students at the University of Zambia.
- Conducted between October 2022 and April 2023, the research surveyed 737 students, revealing that while over half supported the continuation of blended learning, a significant majority preferred traditional classroom settings for group discussions and overall satisfaction.
- The findings highlight the necessity for educational stakeholders to consider blended learning strategies in the future while ensuring students have access to appropriate resources and tools.
Article Synopsis
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global threat, and a study at the University of Zambia evaluated non-healthcare students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR.
- The study, conducted with 443 students using a structured questionnaire, found that participants had moderate KAP scores and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics (76.7%).
- Male students generally had poorer knowledge and attitudes towards AMR compared to females, while engineering and mining students showed better understanding than those in social sciences; fourth and fifth-year students had more positive attitudes compared to younger students.
There are concerns with the current prescribing of antibiotics in both the private and public primary care settings in South Africa. These concerns need to be addressed going forward to reduce rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates in South Africa. Concerns include adherence to current prescribing guidelines.
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