Abstract
BackgroundIn Ethiopia, the second most prioritized of the zoonotic diseases next to rabies is anthrax. About 50.6% of anthrax cases and 33.3% of deaths of livestock have been reported from Wag-Himra Zone, where appropriate anthrax prevention practices are not implemented by the owners of the animals. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the extent of appropriate anthrax prevention practices of livestock owners and associated factors in Sekota Zuria district, northwest Ethiopia.ResultsTwenty-five percent (95% CI: 25.2, 26.1%) of the livestock owners implemented appropriate anthrax prevention. Three quarters (74%) of the owners consumed infected meat; more than three quarters (78%) used the skins and hides of animals found dead with anthrax. The odds of appropriate anthrax prevention practices were higher among livestock owners with positive attitude (AOR = 4.16, 95% CI: 2.72, 6.37), who received health education (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.28) and owners who lived in urban areas (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.43, 4.77) compared to their counterparts. Ability to read and write (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.37), and primary (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.37) or secondary school and above education (AOR = 4.24, 95% CI: 1.61, 11.13) were significantly associated with appropriate anthrax prevention practices.ConclusionIn Sekota Zuria district, only one quarter of the livestock owners were aware of appropriate anthrax prevention practices. Thus, implementing effective health education and creating positive attitude are vital to improve anthrax prevention practices in the area.
Highlights
In Ethiopia, the second most prioritized of the zoonotic diseases next to rabies is anthrax
Socio-demographic and disease experience characteristics In this study, a total of 800 livestock owners participated with a response rate of 94.8%
91.4% of them pointed out that family members who got sick after consuming the carcass of anthrax killed animals should be taken to health facilities, while 7.7% recommended that the infected visit traditional healers
Summary
In Ethiopia, the second most prioritized of the zoonotic diseases next to rabies is anthrax. About 50.6% of anthrax cases and 33.3% of deaths of livestock have been reported from Wag-Himra Zone, where appropriate anthrax prevention practices are not implemented by the owners of the animals. Anthrax is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis [1].When B. antharcis are exposed to air, they rapidly sporulate to form very persistent spores [2]. Anthrax stands second only to rabies among the zoonotic diseases which are dealt with by one health approach [9]. The federal ministries of health and agriculture surveillance data of Ethiopia (2009–2013) reported a total of 5197 human and 26,214 animal anthrax cases. The highest human cases of 6.7 and 2.3% per 100,100 population [10]
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