Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) on Rift Valley Fever among Pastoralist Communities of Ijara District, North Eastern Kenya

Abstract

Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF), a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis, have previously been associated with unusually heavy rainfall and extensive flooding. The disease is a serious public health problem in Africa and the Middle East, and is a potential global health threat. In Kenya, outbreaks of the disease have disproportionately affected impoverished pastoralist communities. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding RVF among the pastoralists of North Eastern Kenya, and to establish the determinants of KAP on RVF. A cross-sectional study involving 392 pastoralists living in Ijara district (Masalani and Ijara wards) was carried out using an interview questionnaire. All respondents interviewed (100%) had heard about RVF disease. They recognized that the disease is dangerous (99%), and had a positive attitude towards vaccination of animals (77%). However, few respondents knew that abortion (11%) and high mortality of young animals (10%) were key signs of RVF in animals. Very few (4%) use any form of protection when handling sick animals to avoid infection. Significant factors associated with knowledge were being in a household with a history of RVF infection (OR = 1.262, 95% CI = 1.099–1.447), having more livestock (OR = 1.285, 95% CI = 1.175–1.404) and the place of residence, Masalani (OR = 0.526, 95% CI = 0.480–0.576). Overall knowledge score on RVF was found to be a significant predictor of good preventive practice of the disease (OR = 1.073, 95% CI = 1.047–1.101). Despite the positive attitude that pastoralist communities have towards the prevention of RVF, there exist gaps in knowledge and good practices on the disease. Therefore there is need for public health education to address these gaps, and to identify and facilitate the removal of barriers to behavioural change related to the prevention of RVF.

“We do not bury dead livestock like human beings”: Community behaviors and risk of Rift Valley Fever virus infection in Baringo County, Kenya

“…This finding concurs with another study on RVF knowledge, attitudes and practices in Ijara-North Eastern Kenya, where high knowledge of preventive measures was associated with high knowledge of RVF [26]. The study further showed that high knowledge of the disease was not associated with age, sex, education, marital status, household size [26]. Another study in Kilombero and Kongwa regions in Tanzania found that besides being male or coming from Kongwa, other socio-demographic characteristics had no effect on knowledge on RVF transmission, symptoms and prevention [34].…”

Assessment of Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Milk Born Zoonoses Disease in Debre-Birhan Town, North Shewa, Ethiopia

“…Brucellosis was the least known diseases, only 2.2% know it. Addo et al from Ghana reported that TB was known by 88% of the respondents and brucellosis by 76% which is far from the findings of this study [20]. This might be due to the educational status and life experience of the respondents in Ghana.…”

“…This is due to the lack of awareness about the health risks of milk borne diseases. A similar result was recorded in the coastal savannah zone, one of the six agro-ecological zones in Ghana by Addo et al 83.9% of the respondent did not took formal training [20].…”

Impact of an intervention programme on knowledge, attitudes and practices of population regarding severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in endemic areas of Lu'an, China

“…We assessed KAP of respondents regarding SFTS based on their responses to the questionnaire provided. Table 2 shows the median (IQR) of KAP and total KAP score was 3 (1-5), 8 (6·5-9), 3 (2-3) and 13 (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) in the pre-invention phase and 5 (3-7), 10 (7-10), 3 (3-3) and 17 (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) in the post-invention phase, respectively. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in the four type scores (Ps < 0·001).…”