KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS ANTHRAX AT THE ANTHRAX BELT SIRAJGONJ DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Background: Anthrax is one of the most important endemic zoonotic diseases due to its negative impact on the smallholder farmers associated with mortality in livestock and disease in humans in Bangladesh. Objective: The main objective of this investigation was to assess the extent of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practices addressing anthrax in animals and humans in the communities of Bangladesh Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in the ‘anthrax belt’ Sirajgonj district where several anthrax outbreaks have been reported in both the livestock and humans. A total of 26 household were selected randomly for sampling from each of four villages during the period from August to December 2013. A total of 104 adult respondents participated in the questionnaire survey and the data were calculated by using the formula 4 pq/d2 and Chi-square test using software. Results: Result shows that 55.8% of the community respondents had knowledge of anthrax, while 44.2% of them did not. Analysis of anthrax cases record obtained from respondents showed 49.8% animals, 44.0% humans and 6.2% birds affected with this disease. Only 18.3 to 28.2% respondents knew the clinical signs cutaneous, gastro-intestinal and pulmonary forms, whereas 13.3 to 25.5% respondents knew more than one transmission routes in animals and humans. A certain percentage (2.9 to 16.8% & 8.9 to 20.9%) of community people obtained information on the outbreaks of anthrax in animals and humans from communication media, NGO workers and community health workers. Conclusions: The knowledge on anthrax of the participants was low with no consistent understanding of the disease. The educated family members in farming practices could improve the awareness and knowledge towards zoonotic diseases including anthrax. These findings could be useful for the decision makers to build technical capacity of veterinary medical services and to foster a ‘One Health’ approach especially a continued infection prevention and control training program for animal owners and local residents with close surveillance and reporting, burying or cremation of dead animal carcasses and decontamination and disinfection procedures as well as immunization of animals against anthrax to prevent the infection in endemic areas. Keywords: Anthrax, Bangladesh, Questionnaire survey, Knowledge, Attitude, Anthrax belt district