Awareness of Antibiotic Use in Aquaculture Products among Bangladeshi Students in Malaysia

Authors

  • Asita Elengoe Department of Biotechnology, School of Health &Applied Science, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Farjana Khanom Department of Biotechnology, School of Health &Applied Science, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31674/ijbb.2025.v03i02.004

Abstract

The unnecessary or excessive use of antibiotics in fish farming gradually makes bacteria resistant, a phenomenon known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This cross-sectional descriptive study examined Bangladeshi students living in Malaysia regarding the use of antibiotics in fish farming products by collecting data on their awareness, perceptions, and attitudes. A structured online questionnaire was used, consisting of 25 questions organized into five sections, which was delivered to participants using Google Forms, and their responses were collected. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test of independence (α = 0.05) were used to analyze the data of 120 respondents. Descriptive statistics summarized the participants' data, and a Chi-square test was used to determine if the p-value was statistically significant, with a p-value below 0.05. 76.7% of all respondents who participated in the study knew or had heard before that antibiotics are used in fish farming. Among the 5 Chi-square tests, only one has a significant association between fish consumption frequency and concern about antibiotic residues (χ²= 41.365, df =9,p = <0.001). The results of this study indicate that there is a lack of food safety knowledge among expatriate Bangladeshi students; therefore, it is important to introduce planned food safety education programs for them.

Keywords:

Antibiotic, Antimicrobial resistance, Aquaculture, Awareness, Bangladeshi students, Fish consumption, Food safety

References

Aspian, N. A., Tunung, R., Jamaluddin, F., Ismail, Z., Sharkawi, I., Alan, R., Lepun, P., Rosli, A., Nillian, E., & Anyi, U. (2024). Food safety knowledge, attitude, and practice of consumers in Malaysia: A review. Food Research, 8(3), 417–423. https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.8(3).243

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Dandi, S. O., Abarike, E. D., Abobi, S. M., Doke, D. A., Lyche, J. L., Addo, S., Edziyie, R. E., Obiakara-Amaechi, A. I., Øystein, E., Mutoloki, S., & Cudjoe, K. S. (2024). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of antibiotic use among small-, medium-, and large-scale fish farmers of the Stratum II of the Volta Lake of Ghana. Antibiotics, 13(7), 582. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070582

Dang, L. T., Nguyen, L. H. T., Pham, V. T., & Bui, H. T. T. (2021). Usage and knowledge of antibiotics of fish farmers in small-scale freshwater aquaculture in the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Aquaculture Research, 52(8), 3580–3590. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15201

Devadas, S., Zakaria, Z., Mohamed Din, M. S., Bhassu, S., Abd Karim, M. M., Ikhsan, N., & Rahman, A. B. (2025). Knowledge, attitudes and practices on antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance among shrimp aquaculturists in Peninsular Malaysia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 239, 106513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106513

Fatokun, O., Magunga, B. T., Oranye, N., & Selvaraja, M. (2024). Public awareness, risk perceptions and behaviour towards antibiotic use in food-producing animals and antimicrobial resistance in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 228, 106224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106224

Goh, E. V., Azam-Ali, S., & McCullough, F. (2023). Fish purchasing behavior and implications for promoting sustainable consumption: A Malaysian case. Asian Journal of Business and Environment, 13(2), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.13106/ajbe.2023.vol13.no2.29

Haidari, R. E., Fahes, F., Makke, F., Nouredine, F., Baydoun, K., Mansour, S., & Hoballah, A. (2022). Socio-demographic determinants of knowledge, attitude and practices towards food safety among Lebanese population during the economic crisis: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22, 2329. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14808-z

Lulijwa, R., Rupia, E. J., & Alfaro, A. C. (2020). Antibiotic use in aquaculture, policies and regulation, health and environmental risks: A review of the top 15 major producers. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12(2), 640–663. https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12344

Mao, W., Vu, H., Xie, Z., Chen, W., & Tang, S. (2015). Systematic review on irrational use of medicines in China and Vietnam. PLOS ONE, 10(3), e0117710. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117710

Mazuki, M. N. H., Lin, M. H., Tan, Y. S., & Chai, L. C. (2025). Unveiling food safety perceptions: A study on consumer behavior and trust in Malaysia. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, 17(3), 359–372. https://doi.org/10.15586/qas.v17i3.1569

Mongi, R. J., Meshi, E. B., & Ntwenya, J. E. (2022). Consumer awareness and production practices of farmers on antimicrobial residues in chicken eggs and Chinese cabbage in Dodoma, Central Tanzania. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272763. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272763

Osaili, T. M., Al-Nabulsi, A. A., & Taybeh, A. O. (2021). Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Jordan university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 729816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.729816

Pham, D. K., Chu, J., Do, N. T., Brose, F., Degand, G., & Delahaut, P. (2015). Monitoring antibiotic use and residue in freshwater aquaculture for domestic use in Vietnam. EcoHealth, 12(3), 480–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-014-1006-z

Redding, L. E., Parsons, B., & Bender, J. S. (2021). Educational interventions to address misconceptions about antibiotic residues in milk can alter consumer perceptions and may affect purchasing habits. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(11), 11474–11485. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20595

Shi, Y., Hayba, N., & Allman-Farinelli, M. (2024). International tertiary education students experienced difficulties in dietary transitions in Australia: A qualitative study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(1), 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.728

Soon, J. M. (2020). Consumers' awareness and trust toward food safety news on social media in Malaysia. Journal of Food Protection, 83(3), 452–459. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-19-415

Van Boeckel, T. P., Brower, C., Gilbert, M., Grenfell, B. T., Levin, S. A., Robinson, T. P., Teillant, A., & Laxminarayan, R. (2015). Global trends in antimicrobial use in food animals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(18), 5649–5654. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1503141112

Verbeke, W., & Vackier, I. (2005). Individual determinants of fish consumption: Application of the theory of planned behaviour. Appetite, 44(1), 67–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2004.08.006

Wang, X., Zheng, J., & Jiang, Q. (2026). Food safety beliefs, risk perception and consumers' sustainable purchasing behavior: A case study of specialty freshwater fish. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 10, 1678684.https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2026.1678684

World Health Organization. (2021). Antimicrobial resistance: Fact sheet. WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

Published

22-07-2026

How to Cite

Elengoe, A., & Khanom, F. (2026). Awareness of Antibiotic Use in Aquaculture Products among Bangladeshi Students in Malaysia. International Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IJBB), 3(2), 48-63. https://doi.org/10.31674/ijbb.2025.v03i02.004

Metrics