Responsive Dialogues in Zambia to understand community experiences of UTI

ICARS is initiating a project with the Ministry of Health in Zambia aiming to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescription in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), through implementation of a stewardship programme in facilities such as tertiary hospitals, community hospitals, and community pharmacies. The interventions will target prescribers and consider health system factors.

However, a gap still exists in current AMR activities in Zambia for engagement with and involvement of the public to address perceptions and practices that impact AMR.

This gap is holding back public awareness of AMR issues, as well as building and understanding within the scientific community of the drivers and impact of AMR on communities.

This challenge can be tackled through a responsive dialogue process that can address patient perceptions, practices and community-driven solutions.

Linkages between the ICARS project and the responsive dialogue process will ensure connections and engagements to ministry officials and policy makers, who are already a part of the ICARS work. This project aims at piloting the Wellcome Responsive Dialogues on Drug Resistant Infections in Zambia.

It will be designed by ICARS with input and support from Wellcome, and commissioned to a Zambia-based research institute, with participatory and social research expertise, to design and implement it.