Examining the control of bird flu risks among Nigerian poultry producers: implication for effectiveness of biosecurity knowledge, attitude, and practices (EBKAP)

Benjamin Okpukpara

doi:10.1186/s40100-016-0069-2

Abstract

This study examined socio-economic and behavioral factors affecting Nigerian poultry producers’ biosecurity practices in terms of knowledge about bird flu symptoms, beliefs about safe practices, and handling products as well as perception on disease risk transmission. The study is a result of incidence of bird flu in Nigeria, which affected the livelihood of poultry producers. The study used a survey design. The choice of location and population of study (Kano, Lagos, and Anambra states) was based on bird flu disease risk map and population of small-scale poultry farmers in Nigeria. The study used both descriptive and causal analytical tools to achieve the specific objectives of the study. The major findings were that producers with higher knowledge were able to make more informed and rational assessment of true disease spread risks, KAP indices are not important in explaining the actual biosecurity decisions of the Nigerian producers. The study also found that adoption of biosecurity actions depends on flock size (which related to income), educational level of farmers, and incidence of bird flu previously in the area. In addition, smaller and poorer producers adopt fewer biosecurity actions, thus they are considered to be riskier in terms of disease transmission. The study therefore, recommended among other things a well-planned education programs to improve knowledge of bird flu symptoms, nature of disease, how to prevent and control them especially the small-scale poultry producers. This is likely to improve overall good practices of handling poultry and reduce the risk of disease spread of a variety of poultry diseases as well as the health consequences it poses to both animals and humans.

Highlights

Nigeria was the first country in Africa to be affected by the H5N1 virus outbreaks in 2008
In the case of knowledge KAP, important factors that contribute to higher level of knowledge about bird flu symptoms are higher education level of household head,incidence of poultry disease in the past 5 years, and households from regions where outbreaks occurred
Those producers with higher knowledge about bird flu symptoms are more likely to believe in good practices about handling poultry and poultry products and are found to have higher concerns about disease spread risks

Summary

Introduction

Nigeria was the first country in Africa to be affected by the H5N1 virus (bird flu) outbreaks in 2008. During 2008, the disease rapidly spread to 97 local government areas in Nigeria, and recently, in 2014 the disease resurfaced in Lagos and Rivers State of Nigeria (Obi et al 2009; Okpukpara, 2015). The bird flu outbreak caused a loss of approximately 890000 birds through. At an average farm gate price of about N700 per bird, the farm gate value of the birds lost was about N 617 million (or US$ 4.8 million). These figures are based on official estimates, and are believed to be under estimated because the actual poultry population wiped out in rural areas remains unknown (Avian Influenza Controlled Project (AICP) (2014))

Methods

Results

Conclusion