Antibiotic Use and Policy in Uganda: Protocol for a Scoping Review of Regulations, Common Antibiotics, and Introduction Timeline

This protocol looks at how antibiotics have been introduced, used, and regulated in Uganda from 1960 to 2020. Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating infections, but when they are used too much or in the wrong way, bacteria can become resistant to them, a problem known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR makes infections harder to treat and puts people, animals, and the environment at risk. We will review published research, government policies, and other official documents to answer three main questions: When and how were the most common antibiotics introduced in Uganda? How have antibiotics been used in humans and animals over time? What policies and regulations exist to control their use, and how well do they align with a One Health approach that considers human, animal, and environmental health together? By pulling this information together, the project will give health workers, policymakers, and researchers a clearer picture of Uganda’s antibiotic history. It will also highlight where action is needed to improve antibiotic use and reduce the threat of AMR.