Kriegel E R, Cherney D J R, Kiffner C
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4801 USA.
Center for Wildlife Management Studies, The School for Field Studies, PO Box 304, Karatu, Tanzania.
Heliyon. 2021 May 20;7(5):e07041. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07041. eCollection 2021 May.
Understanding factors influencing conventional medical knowledge (CMK), general attitudes and risk perceptions of zoonotic diseases among rural residents who face risk of exposure to such diseases is important for human, livestock, and wildlife health. Focusing on Maasai from Makame, Kiteto District (Tanzania) who largely maintained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, we evaluated respondents' CMK of causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention methods of rabies, brucellosis, and anthrax. In addition, we identified socio-demographic correlates of CMK with respect to the target zoonoses. Finally, we assessed the relative frequency of practices that increase the risk of pathogen transmission, and compared the risk perception of the three diseases. We conducted structured interviews with Maasai respondents (n = 46) in six sub-villages of Makame and considered education, gender, age, and wealth (indicated by standardized number of livestock) as potential correlates of CMK. Respondents had greater CMK of rabies and anthrax, but feared anthrax the most. Receiving formal education increased rabies CMK (p ≤ 0.05). The CMK of anthrax and brucellosis was not associated with any of the tested variables (p > 0.05). Risk perceptions were correlated with knowledge scores for rabies and anthrax (p ≤ 0.05), and multiple interviewees reported engaging in practices that potentially enhance pathogen transmission. Specific socio-demographic attributes (i.e., formal education) may explain the observed variation in CMK of zoonotic diseases. This information can be used to develop and tailor health education programs for specific at-risk groups.
了解影响面临人畜共患病暴露风险的农村居民的传统医学知识（CMK）、对人畜共患病的总体态度和风险认知，对于人类、牲畜和野生动物健康至关重要。我们聚焦于坦桑尼亚基特托区马卡梅的马赛人，他们大多保持半游牧生活方式，评估了受访者对狂犬病、布鲁氏菌病和炭疽的病因、症状、治疗方法及预防措施的传统医学知识。此外，我们确定了与目标人畜共患病相关的传统医学知识的社会人口统计学关联因素。最后，我们评估了增加病原体传播风险行为的相对频率，并比较了对这三种疾病的风险认知。我们在马卡梅的六个小村庄对马赛受访者（n = 46）进行了结构化访谈，并将教育程度、性别、年龄和财富（以标准化牲畜数量表示）视为传统医学知识的潜在关联因素。受访者对狂犬病和炭疽的传统医学知识掌握得更好，但最害怕炭疽。接受正规教育提高了对狂犬病的传统医学知识水平（p≤0.05）。炭疽和布鲁氏菌病的传统医学知识与任何测试变量均无关联（p>0.05）。风险认知与狂犬病和炭疽的知识得分相关（p≤0.05），多名受访者报告有参与可能增强病原体传播的行为。特定的社会人口统计学属性（即正规教育）可能解释了观察到的人畜共患病传统医学知识的差异。这些信息可用于为特定高危群体制定和量身定制健康教育计划。
