The Impact of Experiences and Perceptions of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on Water‐Related Biosecurity Behaviour in Rural Vietnam

Abstract

BACKGROUND:In Southeast Asia from 2004 to 2006, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) resulted in culling 45 million birds and jeopardizing sustainable agricultural production. HPAI is highly virulent; small-scale farms present a high-risk environment for disease transmission between animals and humans. We investigated how attitudes toward HPAI influence water-related biosecurity mitigation behaviors on small-scale farms in Vietnam using the conceptual framework Social Cognitive Theory. METHOD: We analyzed a secondary cross-sectional data set from northern (Thai Binh) and southern (An Giang) provinces in Vietnam, describing a stratified randomized selection of 600 small-scale farmers who were interviewed using questionnaires and in-person interviews. Logistic regression analysis and odds ratios were used to examine relationships between factors influencing HPAI attitudes, social norms, perceived importance, and behaviors (α = 0.10) RESULTS: Concern about the severity of HPAI was significantly associated with increased perceived importance for all water management biosecurity methods (p < 0.01). Media and/or peer influence had negative effects on perceived importance to practice water-related biosecurity (p < 0.10). High importance of practice water-related biosecurity resulted in high uptake (p < 0.05). Past experiences with HPAI were significant in predicting perceived importance; none were significant in describing behavior uptake. DISCUSSION: Biosecurity guidelines may not be consistent with management styles of Vietnamese small-scale farms; perceived importance of a behavior may be an important mediating variable. Gaps exist in uptake of water management practices as biosecurity for HPAI, potentially negatively affected by peer and media influence. Our results should be of interest to public health and policy authorities addressing HPAI mitigation.

Risk communication in multistakeholder engagement: A novel spatial econometric model

“…Studies consider the influence of individual cognitive ability and sociocultural environment on risk perception from the perspective of social psychology and cultural theory (Xie et al., 2019). Individual cognitive ability is related to individuals’ gender, age, education level, income level, and personal experience (Chauvin & Chassang, 2021; Whelan et al., 2021), while the sociocultural environment is more abstract, as shown in differentiated studies of egalitarian and hierarchical worldviews and individualistic and collectivistic worldviews (Xue et al., 2014). Studies have distinguished the differences in risk perceptions of different interest groups; for example, some studies have pointed out that field experts assess risk more on the basis of objective data and focus on the probability and consequences of risks, while the general public assesses risk with both rational and emotional systems simultaneously at work (C. MacPherson‐Krutsky et al., 2022).…”

The awareness and behaviour’s farmer towards highly pathogenic avian influenza prevention in Tra Vinh, Vietnam

“…The production, trade, and consumption of poultry in the nation have been seriously threatened by HPAI (Figué and Desvaux, 2015). Owing to the high virulence of HPAI, small-scale farms carry a significant risk of disease transmission from animals to humans (Whelan et al, 2021). Coughing, decreased appetite, vague neurological symptoms, and unexpected mortality are only a few clinical indicators of HPAI in birds (Whelan et al, 2021).…”

“…Owing to the high virulence of HPAI, small-scale farms carry a significant risk of disease transmission from animals to humans (Whelan et al, 2021). Coughing, decreased appetite, vague neurological symptoms, and unexpected mortality are only a few clinical indicators of HPAI in birds (Whelan et al, 2021). According to a recent study by Carrique-Mas et al (2019), the average weekly mortality rate of small-scale poultry flocks in the area was 2.5%.…”

“…It is unclear how the beginning of an outbreak could cause a change in behaviour among farmers (Delabouglise et al, 2020). It is possible that the guidelines for biosecurity will not be compatible with the management approaches that are utilized by small-scale Vietnamese farms; the perceived relevance of a behaviour may be a major mediating factor (Whelan et al, 2021). Recent studies have shown that there are barriers preventing the adoption of biotechnology and innovative methods for controlling animal diseases.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that there are barriers preventing the adoption of biotechnology and innovative methods for controlling animal diseases. These barriers include a lack of confidence in biotechnology or the entities promoting it, a perception of insufficient long-term benefits, unintentional encouragement of inappropriate market activity, a lack of belief in one's own ability to implement these innovations, a lack of social norms supporting their adoption, and farmers' reluctance to share disease information due to concerns about their reputation (Naylor et al, 2018;Whelan et al, 2021). Guntoro et al (2023) also showed that to determine prevention practices against a disease, social profiles should be taken into account.…”