Knowledge, attitudes, and behavioural risk factors regarding zoonotic infections among bushmeat hunters and traders in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria.
- Author:
Kingsley Uchenna OZIOKO
1
;
Chris IKEM OKOYE
;
Rose NDUKA OBIEZUE
;
Raymond AWUDU AGBU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Risk; Zoonotic; Wildlife; Pathogen
- MeSH: Africa; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ebolavirus; Humans; Nigeria*; Public Health; Risk Factors*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Veterinarians; Zoonoses*
- From:Epidemiology and Health 2018;40(1):e2018025-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: In light of the dramatic spread of Ebola virus in some parts of Africa and the 2014 outbreak in Nigeria, a study was conducted to evaluate bushmeat dealers' knowledge and attitudes about zoonotic infections and the risk of transmission to humans. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a community in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria. Hunters (n=34) and bushmeat traders (n=42) were interviewed. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate the data. The Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the significance of differences between these groups. RESULTS: Only 11.8% of the hunters, as compared to 35.7% of the traders, had no knowledge of possible causes of zoonotic infections (p < 0.05). However, 64.7% of the hunters, compared to 38.1% of the traders, were ignorant regarding the responsibility of public health personnel and veterinarians (p < 0.05), and 76.5% of the hunters compared to 42.9% of the traders were ignorant regarding the existence of zoonoses in Nigeria (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was also found between these groups regarding the risk of contracting an infection from ectoparasites (p < 0.05). The attitudes of respondents towards zoonotic diseases did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: The level of awareness about zoonotic diseases was low in this area, underscoring the need for interventions.
