Abstract
BackgroundIn the Ethiopian dairy farming system, prevalence of zoonotic diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is high in the cattle population. This, combined with some risky milk and meat consumption habits, such as raw milk and uninspected raw meat consumption, poses a considerable risk of zoonotic disease transmission. A survey was conducted to investigate milk and meat consumption patterns, and the level of exposure to urban and peri-urban dairy-keeping households for risks of zoonotic disease transmission.MethodsData on milk and meat consumption behaviours and other socioeconomic and demographic variables were collected from 480 urban and peri-urban dairy farms randomly surveyed in major towns in Ethiopia (Mekele, Hawassa, and Gondar towns, Addis Ababa city, as well as five Oromia towns around Addis Ababa). Determinants of raw milk consumption associated with a number of demographic and socio-economic factors were analysed using a generalised ordered logistic model.ResultsThe results indicated that about 20% the population consumed raw milk and their awareness about pasteurisation and its benefits were low. Location, gender of the household head, previous bTB testing of cattle on the farm, knowledge of zoonotic risks associated with raw milk consumption, household size, and per-capita milk consumption were found to be important determinants of the frequency of raw milk consumption. About 60% of the respondents were exposed to the risk of zoonotic diseases through their habit of frequently consuming raw meat. This was despite that over 90% of the respondents were aware of possible zoonotic risks of raw meat consumption. The determinants of raw meat consumption behaviours were associated with location, gender and age of the household head, household size, meat type preference, per-capita meat consumption, knowledge about disease transmission risks, and training on zoonoses.ConclusionCreating awareness about the risk factors for zoonotic transmission of diseases through training and media campaigns, improving meat hygiene through better abattoir services, and inducing behavioural change around meat sourcing, raw meat and raw milk consumption, are all crucial to the successful prevention and control of the spread of zoonotic diseases, including bTB.
Highlights
In the Ethiopian dairy farming system, prevalence of zoonotic diseases such as bovine tuberculosis is high in the cattle population
Among the variables entered into the model, we found study site, gender of the household head, previous animal bovine tuberculosis (bTB) testing in farm, knowledge of zoonotic risk of milk consumption, household size, and per-capita milk consumption levels were important determinants of frequency of raw milk consumption among the studied dairy farm households (Table 4)
According to Ayele et al [53], 35% of dairy farmers included in a survey around Sebeta in central Ethiopia, which is one of the study areas in the current study, indicated that they drank raw milk and only 13% of these farmers were aware of food borne diseases, which can be transmitted through drinking raw milk
Summary
In the Ethiopian dairy farming system, prevalence of zoonotic diseases such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is high in the cattle population. The aim of this paper was to investigate milk and meat consumption patterns among urban and peri-urban dairy-keeping households in Ethiopia, in order to understand the level of exposure of these segments of society to the transmission risk of bTB and other zoonotic diseases through their milk and meat consumption habits. Studying these issues and the socioeconomic factors that determine the milk and meat consumption behaviour of dairy farmers, and consumers more generally, are important for devising strategies for controlling the spread of zoonotic diseases such as bTB, and it was taken on by the Ethiopia Control of Bovine Tuberculosis Strategies (ETHICOBOTS) project - a collaboration between researchers in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Ethiopia - with the purpose to improve the scientific knowledge base on bTB and to explore control strategies for the disease in Ethiopia
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