Williams Samuel Maxwell Tom, Ansumana Rashid, Johnny Jonathan, Bakarr Ibrahim A, Osborne Augustus
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Department of Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2023 Jul 19;16:1331-1342. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S413802. eCollection 2023.
Bats are considered wildlife species of public health concern, as they are known to host various pathogenic agents, and their interactions with humans are potential routes of pathogen spillover. A high level of knowledge on Bat-borne Zoonotic Diseases (BZD), their causative agents, signs, symptoms, mode and pattern of transmission, health attitudes, and practices towards the disorders are vital parameters in handling them. This study aimed to look into BZD knowledge, public attitudes, and behaviour.
We surveyed the 14 chiefdoms of Moyamba district. A total of 421 participants were randomly sampled using closed-ended questionnaire. Simple linear regression analysis was used to determine the effects of gender, age, education, and livelihood opportunities on BZD knowledge (at 95% confidence interval and alpha value = 0.05). The findings were analysed and correlated with a scientific and public health perspective to assess the breadth of knowledge and awareness of BZD among the people of Moyamba district.
The findings from the study show a low level of knowledge on BZD among the people of the Moyamba district, with only 119 (28.3%) individuals that had some knowledge about BZD. Of those that knew about BZD, 94 (79.0%) had very little knowledge, 24 (20.2%) had a fair amount, and 1 (0.8%) had a great deal of knowledge about BZD. The primary mode of knowledge dissemination was through social media platforms.
The level of knowledge about BZD is also very low. As a result of these findings, policymakers, health professionals, and environmental educators will be compelled to develop strategies to reduce the risk of BZD transmission in Sierra Leone's population.
蝙蝠被视为关乎公众健康的野生动物物种，因为它们已知携带多种病原体，且它们与人类的互动是病原体溢出的潜在途径。对蝙蝠传播的人畜共患病（BZD）、其病原体、体征、症状、传播方式和模式、健康态度以及对这些疾病的应对措施有深入了解，是应对这些疾病的关键参数。本研究旨在探究BZD知识、公众态度和行为。
我们对莫扬巴区的14个酋长领地进行了调查。使用封闭式问卷随机抽取了421名参与者。采用简单线性回归分析来确定性别、年龄、教育程度和生计机会对BZD知识的影响（置信区间为95%，α值 = 0.05）。从科学和公共卫生角度对研究结果进行分析和关联，以评估莫扬巴区民众对BZD的知识广度和认知程度。
研究结果显示，莫扬巴区民众对BZD的了解程度较低，只有119人（28.3%）对BZD有一定了解。在那些了解BZD的人中，94人（79.0%）了解甚少；24人（20.2%）有一定了解；1人（0.8%）了解很多。知识传播的主要方式是通过社交媒体平台。
对BZD的了解程度也非常低。基于这些研究结果，政策制定者、卫生专业人员和环境教育工作者将不得不制定策略，以降低塞拉利昂民众感染BZD的风险。
