Prescription in peril: the sociology of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in low resource settings

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health issue, especially in low-resource settings with limited healthcare access. Sociological factors, including sociocultural, political, and economic factors, contribute to suboptimal antibiotic use. Patient health beliefs, provider prescribing practices, and health system weaknesses drive inappropriate antibiotic consumption. Social disparities, poverty, limited health literacy, and unregulated drug markets undermine responsible antibiotic use. Community-based interventions targeting individual behaviors, healthcare system capacities, and sociopolitical determinants are crucial.