Zeitschrift für Forschung und Entwicklung im Bereich Gesundheitserziehung

Community Knowledge towards Zoonotic Diseases and Attitude to One Health Approach in selected City of Ethiopia

Abstract

Adem Hiko, Bezaneh Yilkale and Biressaw Serda

Background: Zoonotic diseases are substantial global public health burden from the risk linked among humans, animal populations and the surrounding environment as “One Health” issue.
Objective: This study was aimed to assess community knowledge on selected zoonotic diseases and attitude towards One Health approach in and around Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia.
Methodology: simple random sampling technique. Interview was used to collect community knowledge on selected zoonosis and attitude towards One Health approach. For responses given, a score of 1 was given for each knowledgeable and positive attitude response and 0 for unsure responses.
Results: The majority (84.2%) were knowledgeable on rabies as viral zoonosis. Almost similar, 30.2%, 29.9% and 12.6% of participants were knowledgeable about bovine tuberculosis, anthrax and brucellosis from bacterial zoonosis in descending order. Again 36.1%, 18.3% and 17.7% of participants were knowledgeable about taeniasis, manage and echinococcosis from parasitic zononosis respectively. Only 26.0% were awarded ring worm from fungal zoonosis. Very few (8.7%) awarded bovine mastitis from multifactorial zoonosis. Significantly higher (84.2%; OR=56.0; 95% OR CI=36.2-86.9) are knowledgeable about zoonotic risk of rabies compared to other assessed disease. However, the majorities (78.47%) of the respondents had positive attitude towards One Health approach for collaboration activities of health sectors but the remaining 21.53% were not. Similarity in community attitudes towards One Health approach were observed within age categories (p=0.454) but significant differences were observed between gender (p=0.023), among education status (p=0.001) and among the professional profiles (p=0.001) of studies population.
Conclusion: The result calls for organized outreach One Health approach based community education and awareness creation on the knowledge, associated risk factors of zoonotic disease.