Public Health assessment of consumers on knowledge of foodborne zoonoses in Umuahia, Abia State: A pilot study

Abstract

Emerging and re-emerging pathogens emanating from food-borne zoonoses are becoming triggering factors to global health threats causing diseases of increased human cases and deaths annually. The knowledge of foodborne zoonotic sources, types, preventive methods and health risks were assessed in this study. Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected being active urban areas. A validated well-structured questionnaire was administered to consenting respondents randomly selected from the study site. Data generated were analysed with statistical significance at p ≤ 0.05. One hundred and sixty nine (169) respondents participated in the study and most (52%) of the respondents were females, 53% married, 57% aged 24-29 years and 53% had tertiary education. Seventy five percent (75%) of the respondents had good knowledge of zoonoses but 62% knew the types of zoonoses. Seventy seven percent (77%) of the respondents had good knowledge of food-borne zoonoses, 96% on preventive methods, 90% on associated health risks but poor knowledge on types of foodborne zoonoses. Gender (χ2 =5.161, df=1, p = 0.023), educational status (χ2 =15.882, df=3, p = 0.001) and occupation (χ2 =15.945, df=7, p = 0.026) were statistically associated with level of knowledge of food-borne zoonoses. Respondents with tertiary education (OR= 2.909, CI =1.27-6.66, p = 0.011) and animal handlers (OR= 1.428, CI =1.07-1.90, p = 0.015) were more knowledgeable than others within the same category. More surveillance efforts by way of increased research, adequate education and public awareness campaign are recommended on a larger scale in Abia State.