Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Government Workers on Zoonotic Parasites in Pet Animals: a Study in Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Aug 21

PMID 39169356

Authors

Adanie Delie

Gashaw Getaneh Dagnaw

Abebe Tesfaye Gessese

Haileyesus Dejene

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Parasitic zoonoses are infections transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans, posing serious public health risks and significant economic consequences. The study aimed at assessing government workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding zoonotic parasites of pet animals in Ethiopia's central Gondar zone.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in selected towns of Central Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia from January 2022 to August 2022. Four hundred randomly selected government employees participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire administered by face-to-face interview. The chi-squared (χ2) was calculated for association and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: A 57.25% of respondents were males and 42.75% were females. Most of the respondents, 67.5%, had completed college/university education. About 60% of the respondents had 'high knowledge', 57.25% had 'positive attitude', and 73% had 'good practice' regarding pet animals as a source of zoonotic parasites. The chi-square analysis revealed a significant discrepancy (p < 0.05) between knowledge with sex, educational level, and position in the house. The attitude level was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with educational level, religious view, and service year. Significant association was also observed (p < 0.05) between practice level of the respondents and educational level and marital status. The study also showed a significant association between knowledge and attitude (χ2 = 40.4, p ≤ 0.001), knowledge and practice (χ2 = 34.9, p ≤ 0.001), and attitude and practice (χ2 = 12.76, p = 0.013) of the respondents.

Conclusion: Although our results revealed that more than half of the participants had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding zoonotic parasites of pet animals, enhanced routine hygienic practices and regular awareness creation programs are recommended to bridge existing gaps.

References

Taylor L, Latham S, Woolhouse M . Risk factors for human disease emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2001; 356(1411):983-9. PMC: 1088493. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2001.0888. View

Kebede N, Mitiku A, Tilahun G . Retrospective survey of human hydatidosis in Bahir Dar, north-western Ethiopia. East Mediterr Health J. 2011; 16(9):937-41. View

Owen I . Parasitic zoonoses in Papua New Guinea. J Helminthol. 2005; 79(1):1-14. DOI: 10.1079/joh2004266. View

Hosseini Z, Shahriarirad R, Sarkari B . Cystic Echinococcosis: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) among Surgically Operated Cases in Fars Province, Southern Iran. J Parasitol Res. 2021; 2021:9976548. PMC: 8049810. DOI: 10.1155/2021/9976548. View

Katagiri S, Oliveira-Sequeira T . Prevalence of dog intestinal parasites and risk perception of zoonotic infection by dog owners in São Paulo State, Brazil. Zoonoses Public Health. 2008; 55(8-10):406-13. DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2008.01163.x. View

Steele S, Mor S . Client knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding zoonoses: a metropolitan experience. Aust Vet J. 2016; 93(12):439-44. DOI: 10.1111/avj.12380. View

Assefa A . Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence in animals and humans. Heliyon. 2018; 4(8):e00723. PMC: 6082994. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00723. View

Baneth G, Thamsborg S, Otranto D, Guillot J, Blaga R, Deplazes P . Major Parasitic Zoonoses Associated with Dogs and Cats in Europe. J Comp Pathol. 2015; 155(1 Suppl 1):S54-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2015.10.179. View

Ahmed M, Hassan O, Khalifa A, Elobied E, Osman A, Brair S . Echinococcosis in Tambool, Central Sudan: a knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study. Int Health. 2018; 10(6):490-494. DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihy055. View

10.

Elelu N, Aiyedun J, Mohammed I, Oludairo O, Odetokun I, Mohammed K . Neglected zoonotic diseases in Nigeria: role of the public health veterinarian. Pan Afr Med J. 2019; 32:36. PMC: 6522207. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2019.32.36.15659. View

11.

Khan A, Naz K, Ahmed H, Simsek S, Afzal M, Haider W . Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to cystic echinococcosis endemicity in Pakistan. Infect Dis Poverty. 2018; 7(1):4. PMC: 5776779. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0383-2. View

12.

Abunna F, Gebresenbet G, Megersa B . Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of farmers about transmission of zoonotic diseases in Ada'a district, Oromia, Ethiopia. Heliyon. 2024; 10(4):e25713. PMC: 10878875. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25713. View

13.

Leta S, Dao T, Mesele F, Alemayehu G . Visceral leishmaniasis in Ethiopia: an evolving disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014; 8(9):e3131. PMC: 4154678. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003131. View

14.

El Berbri I, Ducrotoy M, Petavy A, Fassifihri O, Shaw A, Bouslikhane M . Knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to the presence, transmission, impact, and control of cystic echinococcosis in Sidi Kacem Province, Morocco. Infect Dis Poverty. 2015; 4:48. PMC: 4638086. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-015-0082-9. View

15.

Chen J, Xu M, Zhou D, Song H, Wang C, Zhu X . Canine and feline parasitic zoonoses in China. Parasit Vectors. 2012; 5:152. PMC: 3431282. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-152. View

16.

Stull J, Peregrine A, Sargeant J, Weese J . Household knowledge, attitudes and practices related to pet contact and associated zoonoses in Ontario, Canada. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12:553. PMC: 3489606. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-553. View

17.

Pickering L, Marano N, Bocchini J, Angulo F . Exposure to nontraditional pets at home and to animals in public settings: risks to children. Pediatrics. 2008; 122(4):876-86. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-1942. View

18.

Altintas N . Parasitic zoonotic diseases in Turkey. Vet Ital. 2010; 44(4):633-46. View

19.

Mekonnen S, Gezehagn A, Berju A, Haile B, Dejene H, Nigatu S . Health and economic burden of foodborne zoonotic diseases in Amhara region, Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2021; 16(12):e0262032. PMC: 8719781. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262032. View

20.

Tamiru Y, Abdeta D, Amante M . Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Pet Contact Associated Zoonosis in Western Ethiopia. Vet Med (Auckl). 2022; 13:47-58. PMC: 8819162. DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S346806. View