scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Anthrax in Northern Ethiopia: a mixed approach study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebremedhin Romha ◽  
Weldemelak Girmay

Abstract Background: Anthrax is prioritized as the second diseases in Ethiopia based on its negative impacts at the household level by causing disease or production losses in livestock and sever disease in human. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) of anthrax in the communities of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was concurrently conducted with focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) from May 2019 to April 2020. A total of 862 respondents have participated in the questionnaire survey. Of which, 800 were local community members. While 62 were professionals working at animal and human health service institutions. Likewise, qualitative data were collected using six FGDs and 11 KIIs. Results: sixty two percent (496/800) of the respondents said that they knew the disease anthrax while 38% (304/800) of them did not it. Only 9.3% (74/800) of the respondents reported germ as the causative agent of anthrax. About 56.5% (35/62) of the professional respondents said that the causative agent of the disease was bacteria while 33.9% (21/62) of them did not know it. More than sixty percent (64.1%, 513/800) of the respondents did not know whether the disease was zoonotic or not. Among the listed clinical signs, 26.3% (210/800) and 36.8% (294/800) of the respondents knew at least one signs in animal and human, respectively while 21.3% (170/800) and 20.1% (161/800) knew one or more transmission routes in animal and human respectively. Moreover, 43.4% (347/800) and 45.6% (365/800) of the respondents mentioned one or more control/prevention method in animal and human, respectively. Regarding qualitative results, some of the participants knew the disease (in animals) in their own local names, Lalish and Tafia (splenomegaly), and Gulbus (abdominal cramp and shivering). Some had perceived the disease only as human disease while others recognized after they were told its clinical signs in animals and humans. Conclusion: The KAP of the participants towards anthrax was low. There was no similar understanding of the disease among the participants. The study also revealed that the participants did not get consistent, adequate and continuous health messages regarding the disease.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebremedhin Romha ◽  
Weldemelak Girmay

Abstract Background Anthrax is prioritized as the second diseases in Ethiopia based on its negative impacts at the household level by causing disease or production losses in livestock and sever disease in human. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) of anthrax in the communities of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was concurrently conducted with focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) from May 2019 to April 2020. A total of 862 respondents have participated in the questionnaire survey. Of which, 800 were local community members. While 62 were professionals working at animal and human health service institutions. Likewise, qualitative data were collected using six FGDs and 11 KIIs. Results sixty two percent (496/800) of the respondents said that they knew the disease anthrax while 38% (304/800) of them did not it. Only 9.3% (74/800) of the respondents reported germ as the causative agent of anthrax. About 56.5% (35/62) of the professional respondents said that the causative agent of the disease was bacteria while 33.9% (21/62) of them did not know it. More than sixty percent (64.1%, 513/800) did not know whether the disease was zoonotic or not. Among the listed clinical signs, 26.3% (210/800) and 36.8% (294/800) of the respondent knew at least one signs in animal and human, respectively while 21.3% (170/800) and 20.1% (161/800) knew one or more transmission routes in animal and human respectively. Moreover, 43.4% (347/800) and 45.6% (365/800) of the respondents mentioned one or more control/prevention method in animal and human, respectively. Fifty two (416/800) and 32.4% (259/800) of the questionnaire participants believed that vaccination of animals could prevent anthrax in animal and human, respectively. But although 4% (32/800) said that they had anthrax ( Megerem ) infected animals, more than 28% (9/32) of them used traditional medication for their animals. Regarding qualitative results, some of the participants knew the disease (in animals) in their own local names, Lalish and Tafia (splenomegaly), and Gulbus (abdominal cramp and shivering). Some had perceived the disease only as human disease while others recognized after they were told its clinical signs in animals and humans. Conclusion The KAP of the participants towards anthrax was low. Moreover, there was no similar understanding of the disease among the participants. The study also revealed that the participants did not get consistent, adequate and continuous health messages regarding the disease. Traditional belief and socio-economic factors impacted the KAP of the community towards the disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebremedhin Romha ◽  
Weldemelak Girmay

Abstract Background Anthrax is the second most highly prioritized zoonotic disease in Ethiopia due to its negative impact at the household level, causing disease and production losses in livestock and severe disease in humans. This study seeks to assess the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices addressing (KAPs) anthrax in the communities of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted concurrently with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) between May 2019 and April 2020. A total of 862 respondents participated in the questionnaire survey. Of these, 800 were local community members while 62 were professionals working at health service institutions. In addition, qualitative data were collected using six FGDs and 11 KIIs. Results Sixty-two percent (496/800) of the community respondents said that they were aware of anthrax while 38% (304/800) of them did not. Only 9.3% (74/800) of the respondents reported that the causative agent of anthrax is germs/microbial. About 56.5% (35/62) of professional respondents said that it is bacterial. More than 60% (64.1%, 513/800) of the respondents did not know that whether the disease was zoonotic or not. Regarding clinical signs, 26.3 (210/800) and 36.8% (294/800) of the respondents could identify at least one in animals and humans, respectively, while 21.3 (170/800) and 20.1% (161/800) knew one or more transmission routes in animals and humans, respectively. Moreover, 43.4% (347/800) and 45.6% (365/800) of the respondents mentioned one or more control/prevention method(s) in animals and humans, respectively. Regarding qualitative results, some of the participants knew the disease (in animals) by their local names: Lalish and Tafia (splenomegaly), and Gulbus (abdominal cramps and shivering). Some reported that anthrax was exclusively a human disease while others recognized its zoonotic potential after the clinical signs in both animals and humans were listed. Conclusion The KAP of the participants regarding anthrax was low. There was no consistent understanding of the disease among the participants. The study also revealed that the participants did not receive consistent, adequate, and continuous education regarding the disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebremedhin Romha ◽  
Weldemelak Girmay

Abstract Background: Anthrax is the second most highly prioritized zoonotic disease in Ethiopia due to its negative impact at the household level, causing disease and production losses in livestock and severe disease in humans. This study seeks to assess the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices addressing (KAPs) anthrax in the communities of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted concurrently with focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) between May 2019 and April 2020. A total of 862 respondents participated in the questionnaire survey. Of these, 800 were local community members, while 62 were professionals working at health service institutions. In addition, qualitative data were collected using six FGDs and 11 KIIs. Results : Sixty-two percent (496/800) of the community respondents said that they were aware of anthrax while 38% (304/800) of them did not. Only 9.3% (74/800) of the respondents reported that the causative agent of anthrax is germs/microbial. About 56.5% (35/62) of professional respondents said that it is bacterial. More than sixty percent (64.1%, 513/800) of the respondents did not know that whether the disease was zoonotic or not. Regarding clinical signs, 26.3 (210/800) and 36.8% (294/800) of the respondents could identify at least one in animals and humans, respectively, while 21.3 (170/800) and 20.1% (161/800) knew one or more transmission routes in animals and humans, respectively. Moreover, 43.4% (347/800) and 45.6% (365/800) of the respondents mentioned one or more control/prevention method(s) in animals and humans, respectively. Regarding qualitative results, some of the participants knew the disease (in animals) by their local names: Lalish and Tafia (splenomegaly), and Gulbus (abdominal cramps and shivering). Some reported that anthrax was exclusively a human disease while others recognized its zoonotic potential after the clinical signs in both animals and humans were listed. Conclusion : The KAP of the participants regarding anthrax was low. There was no consistent understanding of the disease among the participants. The study also revealed that the participants did not receive consistent, adequate, and continuous education regarding the disease.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gebremedhin Romha ◽  
Weldemelak Girmay

Abstract Background: Anthrax is the second most highly prioritized zoonotic disease in Ethiopia due to its negative impact at the household level, causing disease and production losses in livestock and severe disease in humans. This study seeks to assess the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices addressing (KAPs) anthrax in the communities of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods : A cross-sectional survey was conducted concurrently with focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) between May 2019 and April 2020. A total of 862 respondents participated in the questionnaire survey. Of these, 800 were local community members, while 62 were professionals working at health service institutions. In addition, qualitative data were collected using six FGDs and 11 KIIs. Results : Sixty-two percent (496/800) of the community respondents said that they were aware of anthrax while 38% (304/800) of them did not. Only 9.3% (74/800) of the respondents reported that the causative agent of anthrax is germs/microbial. About 56.5% (35/62) of professional respondents said that it is bacterial. More than sixty percent (64.1%, 513/800) of the respondents did not know that whether the disease was zoonotic or not. Regarding clinical signs, 26.3 (210/800) and 36.8% (294/800) of the respondents could identify at least one in animals and humans, respectively, while 21.3 (170/800) and 20.1% (161/800) knew one or more transmission routes in animals and humans, respectively. Moreover, 43.4% (347/800) and 45.6% (365/800) of the respondents mentioned one or more control/prevention method(s) in animals and humans, respectively. Regarding qualitative results, some of the participants knew the disease (in animals) by their local names: Lalish and Tafia (splenomegaly), and Gulbus (abdominal cramps and shivering). Some reported that anthrax was exclusively a human disease while others recognized its zoonotic potential after the clinical signs in both animals and humans were listed. Conclusion : The KAP of the participants regarding anthrax was low. There was no consistent understanding of the disease among the participants. The study also revealed that the participants did not receive consistent, adequate, and continuous education regarding the disease.


2005 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 761-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH KEATING ◽  
KATE MACINTYRE ◽  
CHARLES M. MBOGO ◽  
JOHN I. GITHURE ◽  
JOHN C. BEIER

A geographically stratified cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2002 to investigate household-level factors associated with use of mosquito control measures and self-reported malaria in Malindi, Kenya. A total of 629 households were surveyed. Logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. Half of all households (51%) reported all occupants using an insecticide-treated bed net and at least one additional mosquito control measure such as insecticides or removal of standing water. Forty-nine per cent reported a history of malaria in the household. Of the thirteen household factors analysed, low (OR=0·23, CI 0·11, 0·48) and medium (OR=0·50, CI 0·29, 0·86) education, mud–wood–coral (OR=0·0·39, CI 0·24, 0·66) and mud block–plaster (OR=0·47, CI 0·25, 0·87) wall types, farming (OR=1·38, CI 1·01, 1·90) and travel to rural areas (OR=0·48, CI 0·26, 0·91) were significantly associated with the use of mosquito control, while controlling for other covariates in the model. History of reported malaria was not associated with the use of mosquito control (OR=1·22, CI 0·79, 1·88). Of the thirteen covariates analysed in the second model, only two household factors were associated with history of malaria: being located in the well-drained stratum (OR=0·49, CI 0·26, 0·96) and being bitten while in the house (OR=1·22, CI 0·19, 0·49). These results suggest that high socioeconomic status is associated with increased household-level mosquito control use, although household-level control may not be enough, as many people are exposed to biting mosquitoes while away from the house and in areas that are more likely to harbour mosquitoes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabir Hossen ◽  
Fazlur Rahman ◽  
Saidur Rahman Mashreky

Poverty, large population, socio- economic inequalities and inadequate access to proper health care facilities are the key causes of under nutrition in Bangladesh. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group for under nutrition and having great consequence as they will be parent in future. Studies on nutritional status of adolescent girls are fewer in number and have great effect for intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and predisposing factors of under nutrition among the adolescent girls in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from July to December 2013. Adolescent girls were the study population. Data was collected by face to face interview at household level. According to BMI category (kg/m2) the prevalence of under-weight (BMI<18.5) was found 65.9% and as per Gomez Classification (Weight for age), the prevalence of malnutrition was 48.2% (mild), 23.5% (moderate) and 2.8% (severe) categories and finally, as per Water Low Classification wasting found 16.6% (mild), 3.5%(moderate) and 0.2% severe categories. On the other hand, stunting found 39.6 % (mild), 9.2% (moderate) and 2.3% (severe) categories. Prevalence of under nutrition was found much higher (82.3%) among younger age group (?12 years). Higher prevalence of under-nutrition also found among the functionally illiterate adolescent girls, it was 75.8% and 51.3% among illiterate and literate group respectively. In both of the cases difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The prevalence of illness found higher among under-weight adolescent girls in last two weeks compare to healthy adolescent girls both in rural and urban settings. This difference also found statistically significant (p<0.001). Under nourishment found higher among younger and low literate girls. Prevalence of other symptoms is also found higher among them.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.6(1) 2016: 3-7


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalkidan Hassen Abate ◽  
Tefera Belachew

Background: The generation of cash from agricultural products is the mainstay of the livelihood of many households in developing countries. However, critics of cash cropping have highlighted its influence on dietary diversity and availability of food at the household level, eroding the potential for optimal child caring practices. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in three randomly selected coffee-producing districts of Jimma Zone in southwest Ethiopia. The underlying causes of malnutrition, food access, hygiene and care were assessed using the household food insecurity access scale, morbidity reports and infant and young child feeding practice core indicators of the World Health Organization. Anthropometric data were converted into weight for age, height for age, body mass index for age and weight for height Z-scores to determine child nutritional outcomes. Results: Prevalence of underweight, wasting, stunting and thinness were 14.2%, 9.1%, 24.1% and 9.9%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression showed that children with suboptimal meal frequency were more than three times more likely to develop wasting (AOR = 3.3, p < 0.0001). Female children were twice as likely to develop wasting compared with males (AOR = 2.00, 4.1, p = 0.05). Children with suboptimal dietary diversity were almost four times as likely to develop stunting (AOR = 3.95, p < 0.0001). Those who were not exclusively breastfed during their first 6 months were almost five times as likely to develop stunting (AOR = 4.66, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The findings imply that in coffee-producing areas, child caring practices are stronger independent predictors of nutritional status than wealth or economic indicators alone.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Green ◽  
Linsay Gray ◽  
Helen Sweeting

Abstract Background: Concerns remain about potential negative impacts of e-cigarettes including possibilities that: youth e-cigarette use (vaping) increases risk of youth smoking; and vaping by parents may have impacts on their children’s vaping and smoking behaviour. Methods: With cross-sectional data from 3291 youth aged 10-15 years from the Understanding Society Survey, we estimated effects of youth vaping on youth smoking (ever, current and initiation in the past year), and of parental vaping on youth smoking and vaping, and examined whether the latter differed by parental smoking status. Propensity weighting was used to adjust for measured confounders and estimate effects of vaping under alternative scenarios of no vaping vs universal adoption, and vs observed vaping levels. E-values were calculated to assess the strength of unmeasured confounding influences needed to negate our estimates. Results: Associations between youth vaping and youth smoking were attenuated considerably by adjustment for measured confounders. Estimated effects of youth vaping on youth smoking were stronger comparing no use to universal adoption (e.g. OR for smoking initiation: 32.5; 95% CI: 9.8-107.1) than to observed levels of youth vaping (OR: 4.4; 0.6-30.9). Relatively strong unmeasured confounding would be needed to explain these effects. Associations between parental vaping and youth vaping were explained by measured confounders. However, estimates for parental vaping on youth smoking indicated effects, especially for youth with ex-smoking parents (e.g. OR for smoking initiation: 11.3; 2.7-46.4) rather than youth with currently smoking parents (OR: 1.0; 0.2-6.4). Relatively weak unmeasured confounding could explain these parental vaping effects. Conclusions: While results for youth vaping and youth smoking associations indicated support for underlying propensities, estimated effects still required considerable unmeasured confounding to be explained fully. However, these estimates from cross-sectional data could also be explained by smoking leading to vaping. Stronger estimates for universal vaping adoption vs observed usage, indicated that if youth vaping does increase risk of youth smoking, this effect may be stronger in the general population of youth, than among those youth who typically vape. Associations of parental vaping with youth smoking and vaping were either explained by measured confounding or could be relatively easily explained by unmeasured confounding.


Author(s):  
M. M. Rahman ◽  
M. S. Hossain ◽  
M. S. Haque ◽  
M. R. Nabi ◽  
M. G. Morshed ◽  
...  

Background: Anthrax is one of the most important endemic zoonotic diseases due to its negative impact on the smallholder farmers associated with mortality in livestock and disease in humans in Bangladesh. Objective: The main objective of this investigation was to assess the extent of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practices addressing anthrax in animals and humans in the communities of Bangladesh Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in the ‘anthrax belt’ Sirajgonj district where several anthrax outbreaks have been reported in both the livestock and humans. A total of 26 household were selected randomly for sampling from each of four villages during the period from August to December 2013. A total of 104 adult respondents participated in the questionnaire survey and the data were calculated by using the formula 4 pq/d2 and Chi-square test using software. Results: Result shows that 55.8% of the community respondents had knowledge of anthrax, while 44.2% of them did not. Analysis of anthrax cases record obtained from respondents showed 49.8% animals, 44.0% humans and 6.2% birds affected with this disease. Only 18.3 to 28.2% respondents knew the clinical signs cutaneous, gastro-intestinal and pulmonary forms, whereas 13.3 to 25.5% respondents knew more than one transmission routes in animals and humans. A certain percentage (2.9 to 16.8% & 8.9 to 20.9%) of community people obtained information on the outbreaks of anthrax in animals and humans from communication media, NGO workers and community health workers. Conclusions: The knowledge on anthrax of the participants was low with no consistent understanding of the disease. The educated family members in farming practices could improve the awareness and knowledge towards zoonotic diseases including anthrax. These findings could be useful for the decision makers to build technical capacity of veterinary medical services and to foster a ‘One Health’ approach especially a continued infection prevention and control training program for animal owners and local residents with close surveillance and reporting, burying or cremation of dead animal carcasses and decontamination and disinfection procedures as well as immunization of animals against anthrax to prevent the infection in endemic areas. Keywords: Anthrax, Bangladesh, Questionnaire survey, Knowledge, Attitude, Anthrax belt district


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Nidhi Chauhan ◽  
Anmol Gupta ◽  
Priyanka Priyanka ◽  
Resham Singh ◽  
Saurabh Rattan

Background & Aim: Iodine deciency is prevalent but preventable cause of mental retardation, globally. In India, an estimated 167 million people are at risk of developing IDDs. Despite of the universal salt iodization in India, only 71 % of the households were consuming this by 2009.The present survey was conducted to estimate the uptake of adequately iodized salt in the tribal district of Himachal Pradesh. Material and Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in tribal Distt. Kinaaur of H.P. A total of 10 clusters were taken for survey and 18 -20 households per cluster were chosen randomly. The unit of study taken was a household. Results: A total of 196 households in Kinnaur were surveyed for iodized salt coverage, using MBI salt Iodine detection kit. The household coverage of adequately iodized salt in current survey was found to be 75%.. Conclusion: The district Kinnaur had transformed its phase from iodine decient to iodine sufcient. Majority of the respondents followed faulty storage practices and were not aware of right storage and cooking practices. More than half of respondents were unaware of importance of iodine / iodized salt and its role in normal growth and prevention of diseases.


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