Knowledge Attitude and Practices towards Cystic Echinococcosis among Pastoral Communities in Greater Kapoeta South Sudan
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Date
2017-05
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Journal of Veterinary Medicine Research
Abstract
Background:
Cystic Echinococcosis/Hydatidosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease of major public health importance globally. The disease is endemic in pastoral communities of developing countries because of poor hygienic conditions, illegal home and backyard slaughtering of animals coupled with the presence of stray dogs and poor veterinary services among others. In South Sudan, the magnitude and factors associated with persistence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) are not well documented. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge attitudes and practices of the pastoral community towards persistence and maintenance of cystic echinococcosis among domestic animals and humans in Kapoeta county Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan.
Methods:
A cross sectional study was conducted and a semi-structured questionnaires, observation, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informants interviews were used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAPs) of the pastoral community.
Results:
Out of the 353 respondents, only 6(1.7%) knew about CE, 41.9% and 78.5% had seen the disease in man and animals respectively, and a larger proportion (87%) of respondents were not aware that other animals also suffer from CE. Only 41.9.% perceived themselves at risk of acquiring CE from dogs. Practices identified as potential risk factors for CE included dogs left to move freely (96.7%), presence of stray dogs (79.9%), no deworming of dogs (95.1%), home slaughtering (58.9%), lack of meat inspection (95.5%), Dogs having free access to livestock slaughter facilities (83.3%), sometimes washing hands before eating food (62.9%), use of untreated water (84.4%), dogs left to feed on their own (93.5%) and do not dispose off dogs feces (95.1%). FGDs revealed that people do not perceived themselves at risk of infection from dogs, and that people think CE is caused by witchcraft.
Conclusions:
The study clearly showed that there is a knowledge gap about the disease, and the predisposing factors that are responsible for the persistence and maintenance of CE within Kapoeta pastoral community were present. These are wide range of modifiable factors, which should constitute targets for control. There is therefore a need for community education about CE through the One Health Approach.
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Citation
Wumbiya, S. D., Francis, M., Wilfred, E., Nasinyama, G. W., Eystein, S., Adrian, M., ... & Mwansinga, W. (2017). Knowledge, attitude and practices towards cystic echinococcosis among pastoral communities in Greater Kapoeta South Sudan. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Research, 4(5), 9050-1086.