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Farmer's Awareness and Practices on Rabies, Bovine Tuberculosis, Taeniasis, Hydatidosis and Brucellosis in Mana and Limmukosa Districts of Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia
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2013
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Unknown Venue
Animal ProtectionDisease OutbreakClinical EpidemiologyInfection ControlPublic HealthJimma ZoneParasitologyLimmukosa DistrictsBovine TbCross-sectional Questionnaire SurveyVeterinary EpidemiologyEpidemiologyVaccinationZoonotic DiseasesEmerging Infectious DiseasesZoonotic DiseaseVeterinary ScienceSouth West EthiopiaDisease TransmissionAnimal Disease PreventionMedicine
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from October 2011 to March 2012 on 294 purposively selected farmers of Mana and Limmukosa districts of Jimma zone to assess their awareness and practices on the five major zoonotic diseases. Only 5.8% of the respondents had ever heard of all the five selected diseases. Rabies, taeniasis, bovine TB, hydatidosis and brucellosis were heard by 83.3, 64.3, 45.6, 17.3 and 22.1% respondents, respectively. From those who had heard of the diseases, respectively, 94.7, 93.1, 83.6, 68.6 and 29.2 % knew that they are zoonotic. From these, 92.2, 59.7, 77.7, 2.9 and 0.0% listed at least one means of transmission of rabies, C. bovis, bovine TB, hydatidosis and brucellosis to humans, respectively. The majority of the farmers' awareness levels were not significantly (P>0.05) different across the age group, sex and educational status. Sixty three (21.4%), 59 (20.1%), 95 (32.3%) and 10 (3.4%) were treated for cases suspected and/or confirmed to be rabies, TB, taeniasis and hydatidosis, respectively. We found that most of the farmers were performing incorrect practices that favour the transmission of the diseases. Fifty five (55 %) and 68.9% of the farmers were keeping free roaming dogs and deliberately fed offals to their dogs, while only 4.8% reported to treat or vaccinate their dogs either occasionally or periodically. Co-residing in the same house with animals, mixing different species of animals, consumption of raw animal products, backyard slaughtering, improper management of condemned organs, slaughter wastes and body of dead animals were frequent. In conclusion, the awareness of the farmers especially on hydatidosis and brucellosis is poor. Our results and the existing epidemiological situation of these diseases show their public health and economic importance in the area and warrant intervention via One Health approach.