Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Resistance Among Medical Students in Southern Iraq

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global public health threat, largely driven by inappropriate antibiotic use. Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected, yet data on AMR-related knowledge and practices among medical students in Iraq remain limited. Evaluating medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use is essential for informing effective educational and stewardship interventions. Methodology This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at the University of Basrah during the 2024-2025 academic year using a questionnaire developed after a literature review of previously published KAP studies. A stratified sampling method was applied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2018; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results A total of 600 students completed the survey, of which 51.7% were female. Knowledge scores improved significantly with each academic year (p