Geographic Distribution of Households with Goats and Women’s Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Perceptions of Healthcare Providers Toward Risk of Exposure to Goats or Their Raw Products in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: To identify the geographic distribution of households with goats and rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women, and assess healthcare providers’ perceptions towards risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related with exposure to goats or their raw products during pregnancy and their intention to do risk screening.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Songkhla province using the number of households with goats and the rates of abortion, stillbirth, and preterm birth reported in the Thailand 2015 Universal Coverage Scheme database. The perceptions towards risk of exposure to goats or their raw products and the intention to do risk screening according to the Health Belief Model of 46 healthcare providers from four districts of this province were using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression.Results: A high number of households with goats was found in all four districts but the number of households with goats was not significantly correlated with any of the rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most perceptions of healthcare providers were highly correlated with intention to do risk screening, except their perceptions on barriers. Cues to action was significantly (p-value=0.018) associated with intention to do risk screening in multiple regression analysis.Conclusion: No correlation between the number of households with goats and rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes were found; however, healthcare providers had positive perceptions and intention to do risk screening for exposure to goats or their raw products in pregnant women. Education and warning messages concerning zoonosis as strengthening cues to action are needed.