Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health challenge. In 2015, World Health Organization urged all its member states to develop respective national action plans to curb this crisis. In response to this, the Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar, published the National Action Plan for Containment of AMR in Myanmar 2017– 2022.  One of these strategic objectives is enhancing public understanding of AMR through effective communication, instruction, and training.

Many countries gathered population-based survey data and conducted a nationwide survey which highlighted there was a lack of knowledge on antibiotics, handling them, and awareness of the problem of antibiotic resistance (ABR). Mobile phones have drawn a lot of attention as a new instrument for gathering high-frequency survey data with fewer resources and lower prices due to the availability of affordable phone handsets and the quickly expanding network coverage in many countries. Mobile phone ownership has drastically expanded in Myanmar. This study used the Mobile Phone Panel Survey (MPPS) method to assess public knowledge and practices regarding antibiotics as well as awareness of antibiotic resistance.

To learn more about baseline evidence and identified gaps linked to the deployment of strategic awareness-raising activities in Myanmar, please visit the website of National Library of Medicine (Link).