Knowledge, attitudes and practices analysis of farmers on the risk of introducing peste des petits ruminants from Angola into northern communal areas of Namibia

Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease primarily affecting goats, sheep, and some wild small ruminants. It is characterized by fever, necrotic stomatitis, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, and mortality. Namibia is officially free of PPR in one zone, not the entire country. The national herd has not been exposed to PPR and is naïve. Thus, an outbreak of the disease is potentially devastating on a socioeconomic level. The closest PPR outbreak was in Cabinda province in Angola. To better understand the risk factors for introducing PPR from Angola, a study was conducted using a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey. The research employed a qualitative descriptive survey design consisting of questionnaires and interviews with 376 communal farmers residing within 10-20 km of the Namibia/Angola border in Namibia's Omusati and Ohangwena regions. The results showed that 84% of the farmers surveyed had insufficient knowledge regarding PPR, while 89% were unaware of its clinical symptoms. Nevertheless, the farmers showed good comprehension of general disease prevention techniques, including vaccination (99%), livestock isolation (85%), quarantine (72%), and regulated animal movements (94%). Additionally, the farmers exhibited awareness of the detrimental effects of disease outbreaks (90%). It was concluded that farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in Namibia's surveyed northern communal areas present a moderate risk of PPR incursion. The current surveillance strategies the competent authority implements are deemed sufficient and can be sustained. However, the study recommends enhancing PPR awareness among northern communal farmers, particularly those living near the Namibia/Angola border.