Knowledge and Acceptability of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Among Patients, Caregivers, and Health Care Providers in Ethiopia

Category	Detail
Condition	Malnutrition and antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis
Key Mechanisms	Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) transfers healthy donor microbial communities to restore gut microbiome balance
Target Population	Patients with bacterial infections treated with systemic antibiotics and children with acute malnutrition in low-income settings
Care Setting	Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including referral and specialized care facilities

Healthcare providers show willingness to prescribe FMT if evidence supports efficacy, safety, and patient adherence.
Patient acceptability ranges from unconvinced to accepting salvage treatment, indicating a continuum of acceptance.
Barriers to acceptance include limited knowledge and cultural factors; facilitators include endorsement by religious leaders and marketing as standard medication.

Identify patients with bacterial infections and acute malnutrition potentially treatable with microbiota therapeutics.

Consider FMT as a therapeutic option for antimicrobial-resistant infections and malnutrition unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Deliver FMT via capsules, nasogastric tube, enema, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy depending on clinical context.

Ensure patient adherence and monitor for efficacy and safety during and after FMT administration.

Address concerns about safety and efficacy through evidence-based communication to healthcare providers and patients.

Adults with bacterial infections on systemic antibiotics and children with acute malnutrition in Ethiopian hospitals

Acceptance of FMT varies; interventions such as health communication, multiple formulations, and cultural endorsements may improve uptake.

Engage healthcare providers with robust evidence on FMT efficacy and safety to build confidence in prescribing.
Use culturally sensitive health communication strategies to address patient and caregiver concerns.
Involve religious and community leaders to endorse FMT and enhance acceptability.
Offer multiple FMT formulations to accommodate patient preferences and improve adherence.