Brucellosis knowledge, attitudes and practices of a South African communal cattle keeper group

Abstract

Brucellosis remains an animal and public health concern in South Africa, given the intensity and widespread distribution of outbreaks in cattle. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among cattle keepers in the Whittlesea community of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, which utilises communal grazing. Individual cattle keepers ( N = 227) who attended prearranged meetings in selected villages were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding bovine brucellosis. We compared KAP scores between previous brucellosis-affected villages and unaffected villages. We compared attitude and practices scores between those who had heard of brucellosis and those who had not and between those above the 75th percentile knowledge score and those below. The KAP for the study population were described using frequency tables. Scores of different groups were compared using the Welch t -test or the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Knowledge scores of those who had heard of brucellosis (60%) showed a bimodal distribution with a 0/18 primary peak and 5–6/18 secondary peak. Attitude scores showed a median of 7/14 (interquartile range [IQR] 6–9), with 98% requesting more information on brucellosis. Practices scores showed a median of 6/18 (IQR 3–8), with high-risk practices identified that could facilitate brucellosis transmission. There were significant differences in attitude and practices scores between the groups above and below the 75th percentile knowledge score. The community showed poor knowledge, poor to average practices and average to good attitude. Identified high-risk practices highlight the risk of potential introduction and transmission of brucellosis between cattle and zoonotic transmission to humans.

Factors Associated with the Level of Knowledge of Dairy Cattle Farmers Towards Brucellosis in Kawasan Usaha Peternakan (Kunak), Bogor District

“…The situation in KUNAK had a similarity to a study done by Cloete et al (2019) regarding the knowledge of South African cattle keeper group on brucellosis stated that even when the participants (respondents) knew about brucellosis and their government stand on vaccination and controlling it, but they lacked more in-depth knowledge with particular reference to zoonotic implications and disease prevention.…”

Behavioral determinants of brucellosis incidence among stockbreeders and their family members in rural area based on PRECEDE model

“…Studies have revealed that men were more likely to have the disease in comparison to women, suggesting that it was due to the type of work, more contact with livestock, and their products. [ 31 32 ] Contrary to these studies, a study in Saudi Arabia showed that the prevalence of brucellosis was higher in women than in men. [ 33 ]…”

Quantitative Understanding of the Decision-Making Process for Farm Biosecurity Among Japanese Livestock Farmers Using the KAP-Capacity Framework

“…However, our model assured the significant flow from knowledge via attitudes to practice. The KAP model has been applied in many countries for a wide variety of health and animal health problems ( 32 , 45 ); however, during our FGDs, several farmers in different sectors described that even though they wanted to, they could not tighten biosecurity because farm labor and facilities are limited. We conceptualized that capacity, which is equivalent to self-efficacy in PMT ( 23 ) and PBC in the TPB ( 28 ), can be a prerequisite to high biosecurity performance.…”