Abstract
BackgroundHouse flies are of major public health concerns in areas with poor sanitation and hygienic conditions. Unfortunately, sanitation and hygiene have always been ignored in dairy farms particularly in the developing or low-income countries. Management of these flies mostly depends on the awareness regarding associated hazards and protective measures taken by the people to minimize risks associated with flies. The present study therefore explores the knowledge, attitude and practices taken by dairy farmers in Punjab, Pakistan against house flies.MethodsThe present study was based on a cross sectional self administered survey to a convenience sample of 173 small scale dairy farmers in four localities – Multan, Lahore, Shorkot and Faisalabad – of Pakistan. The relationships between socio-demographics, knowledge and preventive practices were investigated through logistic regression analysis and chi-square test of association.ResultsConsiderable number of dairy farmers 71/173 (41.04%) had no idea about the problems associated with house flies. Although 77/173 (44.51%) dairy farmers reported house flies as disease transmitters, only 23 (29.87%) farmers were familiar with diseases and 22 (28.57%) had somewhat idea of the mode of disease transmission. We found a positive association between dairy farmer’s education level and overall knowledge of house flies in multivariate analysis. Farmer’s education level and knowledge of the house flies breeding sites had a positive association with the adoption of house fly prevention practices by the respondents. However, knowledge of the problems associated with house flies and preventive measures had no association with house fly prevention practices.ConclusionThe present ethnoentomological survey provides information about knowledge, attitude and practices of dairy farmers related to house flies in Punjab, Pakistan. We conclude that the farmers’ education level and knowledge of the breeding sites had a positive association with the adoption of prevention practices against house flies. The study also highlights the need of targeting the lack of knowledge of dairy farmers for the successful management of house flies.
Highlights
House flies are of major public health concerns in areas with poor sanitation and hygienic conditions
The results revealed that the education level and knowledge of the breeding sites in our study had a positive and significant effect on the adoption of prevention practices; whereas knowledge of the problems associated with house flies and preventive measures had no effect on house flies prevention measures
Education level and knowledge of house flies breeding sites in our study have a positive and significant effect on the adoption of house flies prevention practices, whereas knowledge of the problems associated with house flies and preventive measures have no effect on house flies prevention practices
Summary
House flies are of major public health concerns in areas with poor sanitation and hygienic conditions. Sanitation and hygiene have always been ignored in dairy farms in the developing or low-income countries Management of these flies mostly depends on the awareness regarding associated hazards and protective measures taken by the people to minimize risks associated with flies. The practice of intensive animal farming coupled with high temperature, humidity, lack of sanitation and quantities of manure provides ideal environments for the development and rapid expansion of house fly populations [5]. This expansion of flies in animal units could cause future outbreaks of avian influenza and other diseases in the country. House flies have been reported as a major cause of childhood diarrhea in Pakistan and it was suggested that fly control measures could help to reduce the incidence of diarrhea [8]
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