An educational initiative aimed at increasing antimicrobial resistance awareness among school-going Jordanian youth

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended strategies and actions to enhance awareness and understanding of AMR. Gaps in AMR awareness remain in Jordan, particularly among the youth.

Aim: To describe our programmatic approach to AMR education across Jordanian governorates among school-aged children.

Methods: Our approach depicts the development of comprehensive health messages, pilot and expansion phases in schools, and pre- and post-session knowledge assessments.

Results: 2,700 students across 30 schools reached with AMR health messages. Gained knowledge was assessed in 932 students, revealing significant improvements in understanding the importance of consulting a doctor before taking antibiotics, the relationship between nutrition and immunity, the dangers of sharing medicines, and proper handwashing techniques. The average expenditure was approximately $8.55 per student.

Conclusion: The intervention underscores the critical role of targeted educational initiatives in improving AMR awareness among youth, emphasizing the need for sustained and scalable approaches to combat AMR effectively.