Kainga Henson, Mponela James, Basikolo Linda, Phonera Marvin Collen, Mpundu Prudence, Munyeme Muso, Simulundu Edgar, Saasa Ngonda
Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe 207203, Malawi.
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia.
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2022 Aug 5;7(8):167. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed7080167.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis whose cases go unreported in endemic areas without active surveillance. Information on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of RVF among livestock farmers remains speculative in Malawi. A cross-section survey using a semi-structured questionnaire ( = 400) was conducted in eight districts of Malawi to capture information on knowledge, attitude, and management practices (KAP) regarding RVF. The average KAP score was calculated from total scores for knowledge, attitude, and practices and then assessed. The association between the level of knowledge and factors of knowledge, factors of attitude, and factors of practices was determined using Pearson chi-square. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the predictors of knowledge. Participants had an overall poor knowledge (score = 17.94%), negative attitude (score = 9.40%), and poor management practices (score = 41.23%) towards RVF. Only 8.25% (33/400) of participants had sufficient knowledge of RVF. The study found that the cause of abortion (OR: 3.86 (95% CI: 1.14-13.05)) ( = 0.030) and knowledge on transmission of RVFV (OR: 5.65 (95% CI: 1.76-18.12)) ( = 0.004) were predictors of insufficient knowledge of RVF. The current study reported that participants had insufficient knowledge and a negative attitude despite displaying limited management practices towards RVF. Therefore, this study recommends community sensitization to RVF and advocates for the importance of reporting suspected cases to relevant authorities for proper management.
裂谷热（RVF）是一种由蚊子传播的病毒性人畜共患病，在没有主动监测的流行地区，其病例未被报告。在马拉维，关于牲畜养殖户对裂谷热的知识、态度和做法的信息仍然是推测性的。在马拉维的八个区进行了一项横断面调查，使用半结构化问卷（n = 400）来获取关于裂谷热的知识、态度和管理做法（KAP）的信息。从知识、态度和做法的总分计算平均KAP得分，然后进行评估。使用Pearson卡方检验确定知识水平与知识因素、态度因素和做法因素之间的关联。采用多变量分析确定知识的预测因素。参与者对裂谷热的总体知识水平较差（得分 = 17.94%）、态度消极（得分 = 9.40%）、管理做法不佳（得分 = 41.23%）。只有8.25%（33/400）的参与者对裂谷热有足够的了解。研究发现，流产原因（OR：3.86（95%CI：1.14 - 13.05））（P = 0.030）和裂谷热病毒传播知识（OR：5.65（95%CI：1.76 - 18.12））（P = 0.004）是对裂谷热了解不足的预测因素。当前研究报告称，尽管参与者对裂谷热的管理做法有限，但他们的知识不足且态度消极。因此，本研究建议对社区进行裂谷热宣传，并倡导向相关当局报告疑似病例以进行妥善管理的重要性。
