Knowledge, attitude and practice associated with brucellosis in occupational risk groups in China

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of sheep and goat farmers and community animal health staff towards the prevention and control of brucellosis. A total of 1,067 sheep and goat farmers and 401 community animal health staff from seven provinces in China were participated in this study from 2017 to 2018. Two structured questionnaire were used to examine demographic characteristics and KAP related to brucellosis. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic characteristics and KAP. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the potential risk factors associated with KAP among participants. The overall awareness of brucellosis prevention and control of the farmers and animal health staff was 64.2% and 80.1%, respectively. Approximately, 17.2% of the farmers and 12.2% of the animal health staff had never heard of brucellosis. Farmers (75.8%) and animal health staff (83.8%) had positive attitude to brucellosis prevention and control, but the good attitude did not correspond to proper practices. Only half of the farmers had good practice. The farmers, who resided in northern areas had age less than 45 years, education higher than junior high school, experienced of livestock farming less than 5 years and their sheep or goat ever infected with brucellosis, had higher KAP scores than others (p < 0.05). Animal health staffs, who had lower education, had lower KAP scores than those had higher education (p < 0.01). This study addressed that the previous prevention and control of brucellosis was unsatisfactory. Most of participants obtained information of brucellosis from experts and traditional publicity materials leading to low precision and low efficiency. Our results highlighted the need for the development of suitable educational materials to ensure herders were aware of the disease and ways to minimize its impact on their livestock and their families. Appropriate and accessibility of publicity knowledge could help to improve KAP for f prevention and control of brucellosis.