The Social Dimensions of Antimicrobial Resistance

Overview

Sonar-Global is a collaborative work to mobilize social sciences against infectious threats. It is a sustainable international network to strengthen the active participation of the social sciences in the prevention and response to infectious threats, including those posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and vaccine hesitancy. The Sonar-Global's Social Dimensions of Antimicrobial Resistance MOOC is an independent course for non-social scientists who want to know more about the social dimensions of AMR. Furthermore, the course is also the basis for the OPERATE-SOC AMR curriculum, which is a curriculum developed for trainers who need to provide interdisciplinary training about the social dimensions of antimicrobial resistance to non-social scientists. This MOOC includes lectures on important social science dimensions by 19 social science experts in the field of AMR, and it has been fully developed by social scientists. The training objectives of this MOOC are: • To provide a guided introduction to the social dimensions of AMR • To learn about the relevance of social science perspectives and approaches in the study of AMR • To get introduced to the need for interdisciplinary collaboration with social scientists when working on AMR • To serve as a basis for the Sonar-Global OPERATE-SOC curriculum For more information, please visit the website: www.sonar-global.eu

Syllabus

Social Sciences & AMR basics

This module introduces the course, presents the definitions of AMR and social sciences, and explore the complexity of AMR. Also, introduces AMR from a biomedical and social science perspective and shows the role that social science/social scientists play(s) in this field.

People and Publics

This module aims to portray the social science dimensions of AMR from a micro (individual) to a macro (governance) level. The level of people and the public, people’s experiences with and knowledge of antimicrobials and the relation with its provision, consumption and the wider infrastructures will be explored.

Systems and Governance

This module aims to portray the social science dimensions of AMR from a micro (individual) to a macro (governance) level. In terms of systems and environments, insights will be provided on the dynamics and interactions related to the relevant systems surrounding AMR and the internal and external influences. The development and implementation of AMR policies from a local to a global level and the matter of AMR framing will be covered, related to AMR institutions and policies.

Interdisciplinary Transformations

This module aims to portray interdisciplinary, collaborative ways of bringing about change in the field of AMR. It will reflect upon how to work on AMR collaboratively while also zooming into the synergies and tensions of working together between different disciplines. Moreover, it will present social science methods - social survey, participant observations, interviewing and implementation science - to achieve AMR transformations in terms of behaviour change and community engagement and awareness.