Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is influenced by antimicrobial use in human and animal health. This use exerts selection pressure on pathogen populations with the development of resistance and the exchange of resistance genes. While the exact scale of AMR in Vietnam remains uncertain, recent studies suggest that it is a major issue in both human and animal health. This study explored antimicrobial use behaviors in 36 pig farms in the Nam Dinh Province (North) and the Dong Nai Province (South) of Vietnam (with a median of 5.5 breeding sows and 41 fattening pigs). It also estimated the economic costs and benefits of use for the producer. Data were collected through a structured face-to-face interview with additional productivity data collected by farmers during a six-week period following the initial interview. Overall, antimicrobial use was high across the farms; however, in-feed antimicrobial use is likely to be under-reported due to misleading and imprecise labelling on premixed commercial feeds. An economic analysis found that the cost of antimicrobials was low relative to other farm inputs (~2% of total costs), and that farm profitability was precariously balanced, with high disease and poor prices leading to negative and low profits. Future policies for smallholder farms need to consider farm-level economics and livestock food supply issues when developing further antimicrobial use interventions in the region.

中文翻译：

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探索越南小规模养猪场使用抗菌药物的社会经济重要性。

抗菌素耐药性（AMR）受人类和动物健康中抗菌素使用的影响。随着抗性的发展和抗性基因的交换，这种用途对病原体种群施加选择压力。尽管越南的AMR确切规模尚不确定，但最近的研究表明，这是人类和动物健康的主要问题。这项研究探索了越南南定省（北部）和同奈省（南部）的36个猪场（中值为5.5个母猪和41头育肥猪）的抗菌使用行为。它还估算了生产者使用的经济成本和收益。数据是通过结构化的面对面访谈收集的，农民在初次访谈后六周内收集了其他生产率数据。总体，整个农场的抗菌药物使用率很高；但是，由于预混商业饲料上的误导性和不精确的标签，饲料中抗菌药物的使用可能被低估。一项经济分析发现，相对于其他农场投入物而言，抗菌剂的成本较低（约占总成本的2％），并且农场的盈利能力处于不稳定的平衡，高疾病和低廉的价格导致了负面和低利润。在该地区制定进一步的抗菌药物使用干预措施时，针对小农户的未来政策需要考虑农场一级的经济和牲畜食品供应问题。一项经济分析发现，相对于其他农场投入物而言，抗菌剂的成本较低（约占总成本的2％），并且农场的盈利能力处于不稳定的平衡，高疾病和低廉的价格导致了负面和低利润。在该地区制定进一步的抗菌药物使用干预措施时，针对小农户的未来政策需要考虑农场一级的经济和牲畜食品供应问题。一项经济分析发现，相对于其他农场投入物而言，抗菌剂的成本较低（约占总成本的2％），并且农场的盈利能力处于不稳定的平衡，高疾病和低廉的价格导致了负面和低利润。在该地区制定进一步的抗菌药物使用干预措施时，针对小农户的未来政策需要考虑农场一级的经济和牲畜食品供应问题。