Effectiveness of a structured educational training program on antimicrobial resistance among community health workers in Karnataka, India

This study in India assessed the impact of a structured antimicrobial resistance (AMR) training program for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). A three-day educational intervention among 103 ASHAs from selected Primary Health Centres significantly improved their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and AMR. Misconceptions—such as using antibiotics for viral infections—dropped sharply (from 67.9% to 14.6%), while confidence in giving AMR-related guidance rose to 61.1%. Practice scores also improved markedly, and post-training knowledge correlated positively with attitude and practice. Community surveys showed high acceptance, with 92% of respondents willing to follow ASHAs’ advice. Overall, the program effectively enhanced ASHAs’ capacity to promote AMR awareness and rational antibiotic use, underscoring their key role in community-level antimicrobial stewardship.