Awareness of one health by veterinary medicine and human medicine clinical undergraduate students, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2017/2018 Session)

Abstract

Background: One Health activities in Nigeria is reputed to have commenced at the Virology Department, University of Ibadan, Nigeria where Lassa fever was first diagnosed in 1969. Fifty years later, there are still rampant outbreak reports of emerging and re-emerging diseases, including Lassa fever in Nigeria. The objective of the final year DVM project study was to access the level of awareness of One Health among undergraduate clinical students (400 to 600 levels) of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, during the 2017 Methods and materials: The study utilized multiple choice questions covering various One Health topics to evaluate their level of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of One Health. An independent t-test was performed to relate the knowledge of respondents in both Veterinary Medicine and Human Medicine students Results: Virtually all the students had One Health knowledge, although most did not have detailed knowledge. Of the Veterinary Students, 65% had a good idea compared to 31.7% Medical Students. Veterinary students had excellent attitude towards One Health Concept while Medical Students had averagely very good attitude. Most Veterinary Students (56.7%) were eager to learn more about One Health compared to 23.3% of Medical Students. Generally, Veterinary students had more knowledge of One Health especially the 600 level students who had excellent knowledge. Conclusion: The need of a paradigm shift of the clinical Medical students towards One Health was established. Multi-disciplinary International Student One Health Alliance (ISOHA) - formerly Students for One Health- clubs should be formed in all Nigerian Universities (especially those that train both Veterinary and Medical students), to provide a platform for students to collaborate and share One Health educational and professional development opportunities. Also to raise awareness for the One Health concept, encouraging interdisciplinary thinking towards complex health issues in the next generation of scientists and health professionals. Multidisciplinary annual One Health Day (November 03) Program events should also hold across the Universities to improve students’ One Health Awareness- Knowledge, Attitude and Practice- in Nigeria.