Assessment of Antibiotic Stewardship Awareness and Practice Among Family Physicians in Plateau State

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health security threat exacerbated by inappropriate antibiotic prescribing at primary care level. This study assesses antibiotic stewardship awareness and practice among family physicians at primary care facilities in Plateau State, North Central geopolitical zone. Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 115 family physicians using a validated antibiotic stewardship knowledge and practice questionnaire. Clinical vignettes were used to assess real-world prescribing decision-making. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed in SPSS version 27. Results: Knowledge of antibiotic stewardship principles was moderate. However, clinical vignette responses revealed a high frequency of antibiotic overprescription for viral respiratory infections. Patient demand and fear of complications were cited as justifications for inappropriate prescribing. Facilities without antibiotic prescribing guidelines showed significantly poorer practice scores. Conclusion: Antibiotic stewardship practice among family physicians in Plateau State is suboptimal despite reasonable conceptual awareness. Institutional antibiotic prescribing guidelines, regular audit-and-feedback cycles, and patient communication training are essential to improving stewardship within primary care settings. Keywords: antibiotic stewardship, antimicrobial resistance, family physicians, Plateau State, prescribing