Brucellosis: Community, medical and veterinary workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Northern Uganda

Research (Published online: 05-05-2017)

3. Brucellosis: Community, medical and veterinary workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Northern Uganda

Harriet Muloki Nabirye, Joseph Erume, George William Nasinyama, Joseph Morison Kungu, Jesca Nakavuma, Duncan Ongeng and David Okello Owiny

International Journal of One Health, 3: 12-18

Harriet Muloki Nabirye: Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda; Department of Animal Production and Range Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Gulu University. P. O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda.

Joseph Erume: Department of Biomolecular Resources and Biolab Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

George William Nasinyama: Department of Biosecurity, Ecosystems and Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

Joseph Morison Kungu: Department of Livestock Health, National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P. O. Box 96, Tororo, Uganda.

Jesca Nakavuma: Department of Biomolecular Resources and Biolab Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

Duncan Ongeng: Department of Animal Production and Range Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Gulu University. P. O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda.

David Okello Owiny: Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

doi: 10.14202/IJOH.2017.12-18

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Article history: Received: 15-02-2017, Accepted: 12-04-2017, Published online: 05-05-2017

Corresponding author: David Okello Owiny

E-mail: owinyd@gmail.com

Citation: Nabirye HM, Erume J, Nasinyama GW, Kungu JM, Nakavuma J, Ongeng D, Owiny DO (2017) Brucellosis: Community, medical and veterinary workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Northern Uganda, Int J One Health 2017;3:12-18.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed at determining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community, medical and veterinary workers regarding brucellosis.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at selected health facilities in Apac, Gulu, Lira, and Pader districts of Northern Uganda using a standardized questionnaire. A total of 251 patients testing positive for brucellosis using the Brucella plate agglutination test, 59 medical and 29 veterinary workers were studied. Chi-square test at 95% confidence level was used to analyze data.

Results: Only 8% patients, 15.3% medical, and 21.4% veterinary workers were knowledgeable on transmission methods and symptoms for brucellosis and knowledge differed according to the level of education among patients (p=0.001), medical (p=0.001), and veterinary workers (p=0.012). Over 80% patients, medical and veterinary workers had a positive attitude. Only 8% patients, 13.6% medical, and 7.1% veterinary workers had good practices regarding brucellosis control.

Conclusion: Poor knowledge, poor practices, and positive attitude provide an opportunity for health education and policy formulation for the control of brucellosis. The prevalence studies of human and animal brucellosis are recommended to determine the magnitude of the problem.

Keywords: awareness, Brucellosis, patients, practitioners, Uganda.

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