Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Anthrax among Community Members and Professionals in Dugda Dawa District of West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Authors

  • Kedir Yusuf Musa In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Melka Ballo Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, East Hararge Zone, Oromia Author
  • Salli Sabba Waraksa In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Dugda Dawa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia Author
  • Chernet Balcha Jima In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Kersa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agricul ture Epidemiology Directorate, Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/kjqjn757

Keywords:

Anthrax, Ethiopia, Guji zone, Knowledge-attitude practice

Abstract

Ethiopia is mainly vulnerable to zoonotic diseases (like anthrax) because its economy is primarily dependent on agriculture. There is a paucity of information on knowledge, attitude and practice among this community regarding anthrax. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2023 to August 2023 to assess the current knowledge, attitude, and practices towards human and animal anthrax infection among community members and professionals in Dugda Dawa district, southern Ethiopia using a structured questionnaire. A total of 384 (52 vet and medical professionals and 332 livestock owners) were interviewed for this study. About 70.5% of livestock owners heard about the disease anthrax. However, only 19.3% and 47.3% of livestock owners knew anthrax is zoonotic and preventable, respectively. All of professionals knew the disease anthrax and its preventable nature and 71.2% of experts declared that anthrax is zoonotic. The number of livestock owners’ who knew one or more right symptoms, transmission ways, or prevention methods of anthrax in animals was 58.1%, 53%, and 47.5%, respectively. From professionals who indicate transmission ways were 73.1%. Only 31.3% respondents were sure that animals’ vaccination could help prevent anthrax infection in humans. More than half (55.8%) human and animal health workers claimed that health 
care workers in their workplace might be exposed to anthrax. Most consumers (90.1%) had a culture of consuming raw or undercooked meat, which is not a good practice. About 80.2% participants believed that eating uninspected beef/mutton with hot pepper sauce locally called “Daxa” could prevent them from getting sick. Almost all animal owners practice a free grazing system (99.7%). Regarding animal vaccination majority (53.9%) of livestock owners didn’t know their animals vaccinate against anthrax. This study demonstrates the knowledge, attitude and practice of the participant’s regarding anthrax was low. Enhanced public health education and targeted interventions by relevant government agencies is recommended.

Author Biographies

  • Kedir Yusuf Musa, In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Melka Ballo Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, East Hararge Zone, Oromia

    In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Melka Ballo Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, East Hararge Zone, Oromia

  • Salli Sabba Waraksa, In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Dugda Dawa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia

    In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Dugda Dawa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, West Guji Zone, Ethiopia

  • Chernet Balcha Jima, In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Kersa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agricul ture Epidemiology Directorate, Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

    In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) Program, Kersa Woreda Agricultural Office, Department of Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture Epidemiology Directorate, Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

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Published

2024-07-26

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2024): Volume 6 Issue 4

Section

Articles