Training needs and risk assessment among farmers and animal handlers on zoonoses in Sokoto metropolis.

INTRODUCTION

Zoonotic diseases are detrimental to animal health resulting not only in great economic loss due to reduced production of meat, milk, wool, etc, but also a threat to national food security and to achieve the millennium development goals on eradicating extreme hunger and poverty. An important factor that aids the spread of zoonoses is the working conditions and habits (behavioural risks) of livestock farmers and handlers.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This study was designed to assess the knowledge gap and risk reduction needs among farmers and animal handlers in Sokoto through an explorative cross-sectional study. A total of 400 respondents were recruited through a multi stage and proportionate sampling technique.

RESULTS

Overall, there is a knowledge gap on aetiology, mode of transmission and preventive measures with only 31.9%, 25.9% and 25.5% respectively, of the respondents having adequate knowledge, positive health, promotive or disease preventive attitude and having practised effective preventive measures against zoonotic diseases consistently. Respondents' place of work (P<0.0001), educational attainment (P<0.0001), training status on rearing or handling of livestock (p<0.0001) and number of years of experience in livestock production and handling (p<0.001) were the consistent important determinants of the level of knowledge, attitude to and use of preventive measures against the zoonoses.

CONCLUSION

There is therefore the need for training, retraining, inter-sectoral sensitisation and awareness creation forum to promote effective prevention and control practices.