Research Article | 13 Jun 2026

Knowledge–attitude–practice gap in zoonotic disease prevention among livestock farmers in Jember, Indonesia: A One Health cross-sectional study

Diana Chusna Mufida, Muhammad Ali Shodikin, Dini Agustina, Yunita Armiyanti, Bagus Hermansyah, Wiwien Sugih Utami, and Enny Suswati Show more

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jember, Indonesia.

Corresponding author: Diana Chusna Mufida (chusna.fk@unej.ac.id)

Received: 2026-01-29, , Accepted: 08-04-2026 Published: 2026-06-13

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONE HEALTH | pg no. 160-174 | Vol. 12, Issue 1 | DOI: 10.14202/IJOH.2026.160-174
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: Zoonotic diseases remain a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries where close interaction between humans and livestock increases the risk of disease transmission. In Indonesia, zoonoses such as anthrax, leptospirosis, avian influenza, and rabies continue to be reported, highlighting the importance of strengthening prevention strategies through the One Health approach. Livestock farmers represent a high-risk population because of their frequent exposure to animals and contaminated environments. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to zoonotic disease prevention among livestock farmers in Jember Regency, East Java, Indonesia, and to examine the relationships among these components to support the development of context-specific prevention strategies. 
Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from March to November 2025 among 683 livestock farmers from 14 subdistricts in Jember Regency, Indonesia. Respondents were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed face-to-face using a structured and validated questionnaire consisting of 19 knowledge items, 9 attitude items, and 15 practice items related to zoonotic disease prevention. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondents’ characteristics and KAP levels, while Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were applied to assess associations among knowledge, attitudes, and practices. 
Results: Most respondents were male (81.3%), aged >45 years (41.6%), and had elementary-level education. Beef cattle and local chickens were the predominant livestock raised. Overall, 62.2% of farmers demonstrated poor knowledge and 92.8% showed poor preventive practices regarding zoonotic diseases, whereas attitudes were generally moderate to good. Higher educational level was associated with improved knowledge and attitudes, although preventive practices remained inadequate across all educational groups. Significant associations were observed between knowledge and attitudes (p < 0.001) and between attitudes and practices (p < 0.001). However, no direct association was found between knowledge and practices, indicating a persistent knowledge–practice gap among livestock farmers. 
Conclusion: Livestock farmers in Jember Regency generally possessed limited knowledge and poor biosecurity practices regarding zoonotic disease prevention despite having relatively positive attitudes. The findings demonstrate that attitudes play a crucial role in translating knowledge into preventive behavior. Strengthening practice-oriented biosecurity training, improving farmer access to hygiene facilities, and enhancing collaboration between veterinary and public health sectors through the One Health framework are essential to improve zoonotic disease prevention among smallholder livestock farmers in Indonesia. 

         
Keywords: attitude, biosecurity, cross-sectional study, Indonesia, knowledge, livestock farmers, One Health, zoonotic diseases.