Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Fulani Women Vendors in Informal Dairy Markets of Sabon‑gari and Zaria, Nigeria: A One Health Perspective

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a defining global health challenge, yet informal food systems remain critically under-examined. This study assessed AMR-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among Fulani women milk vendors in Zaria, Nigeria—an underrepresented group whose daily decisions shape microbial risks along the dairy continuum. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 77 vendors was conducted using a WHO-aligned questionnaire administered in English, Hausa, and Fulfulde. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and composite KAP scores, with transparency ensured through supplementary datasets. Findings: Knowledge was fragmented: 55.8% had heard of AMR, 63.6% recognised incomplete courses as risky, and 67.5% understood dosing errors, yet only 24.7% were familiar with Nigeria’s AMR Action Plan, and fewer than half (49.4%) recognised residues in milk as resistance pathways. Attitudes were moderately favourable (mean 4.89/7; 69.9%), with 57.2% acknowledging AMR as a serious threat, 57.2% endorsing biosecurity, and 54.6% expressing willingness to modify practices. Misconceptions persisted, with 44.2% believing treatment should cease once animals appeared clinically healthy. Practices revealed stewardship gaps: 24.7% always administered antibiotics without consultation, 42.9% reused courses, and only 44.2% consistently observed withdrawal periods. Unsafe storage was reported by 18.2% (bedrooms), and informal transport was common (45.5% never used structured means). Composite domain means were 50.5% for knowledge, 69.9% for attitudes, and 45.5% for practices, yielding a calculated composite KAP score of 55.3%. Conclusion: Fulani women milk vendors occupy a strategically sensitive position in AMR ecology. Their partial understanding coexists with behaviours that may accelerate resistance, underscoring the urgency of culturally anchored, gender-responsive stewardship interventions. Embedding these women within One Health surveillance and training frameworks is essential to transform attitudinal readiness into sustained behavioural change.