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dc.contributor.author | Madzingira, Oscar![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Byaruhanga, Charles![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Fasina, Folorunso Oludayo![]() |
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dc.contributor.author | Van Heerden, Henriette![]() |
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dc.date.accessioned | 2023-01-30T08:02:00Z | |
dc.date.available | 2023-01-30T08:02:00Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2023-01 | |
dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND : Brucellosis is a re-emerging zoonosis of significant socio-economic, animal and public health importance. It is principally a foodborne or occupation-associated infection of humans, whose effective control depends on maximum cooperation of high-risk populations. OBJECTIVES : The study assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to brucellosis among cattle farmers (communal and commercial), meat handlers (abattoir and butchery workers) and medical professionals (nurses and doctors) in Namibia. METHODS : Between June 2019 and September 2020, self-administered questionnaires and questionnaire interviews were carried out in cattle farmers (n = 264), meat handlers (n = 143) and medical professionals (n = 124) in Namibia. RESULTS : Overall, 43.50% (231/531) of respondents were aware of brucellosis, with the highest awareness among medical professionals (73.39%, 91/124) and the least in meat handlers (13.99%, 20/143). Awareness of brucellosis was associated with tertiary education (p < 0.001) and the medical profession (p < 0.001). However, most medical professionals (98.39%, 122/124) did not consider brucellosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of persistent febrile illness. A proportion of communal (85.60%) and commercial (71.00%) farmers; abattoir workers (44.40%); butchers (53.50%); nurses (55.60%); and medical doctors (28.00%) consumed raw milk. CONCLUSIONS : The study identified the purchase of animals of unknown health status; assisting cow delivery; handling of aborted fetuses with no protective wear; consumption of raw milk, homemade cheese, cattle testes and undercooked livers, as risk factors for Brucella infection in cattle and humans. Thus, intensified risk communication, including public health education, is recommended, in particular, among meat handlers and communal farmers, to promote awareness and discourage risky practices. | en_US |
dc.description.department | Veterinary Tropical Diseases | en_US |
dc.description.librarian | hj2023 | en_US |
dc.description.uri | https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/vms3 | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Madzingira, O., Byaruhanga, C., Fasina, F. O., & van Heerden, H. (2023). Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to brucellosis among cattle farmers, meat handlers and medical professionals in Namibia. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 9, 535–547. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.937. | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 2053-1095 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.1002/vms3.937 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89015 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Wiley | en_US |
dc.rights | © 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. | en_US |
dc.subject | Brucellosis | en_US |
dc.subject | Farmers | en_US |
dc.subject | Knowledge | en_US |
dc.subject | Meat handlers | en_US |
dc.subject | Medical professionals | en_US |
dc.subject | Practices | en_US |
dc.title | Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to brucellosis among cattle farmers, meat handlers and medical professionals in Namibia | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |