Phiri Anthony, Likulunga Emmanuel, Chauwa Adriace, Zulu Mildred, Kankhuni Beatrice, Monde Ngula, Malama Sydney
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Apr 10;19(4):e0012870. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012870. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease of cattle that is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal or ingestion of contaminated food.
A mixed-methods study was conducted in two districts of Zambia, Lundazi and Monze, from December 2021 to June 2022. A cross-sectional survey with 280 respondents, five focus group discussions, and five key informant interviews were conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data using R software, while qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo and content analysis.
Social and cultural practices were reported to significantly contribute to bTB transmission with risky behaviors including the consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk, and inadequate protective measures during cattle slaughtering. Overall, 75.3% of male and 70.3% of female respondents expressed a poor level of awareness of bTB transmission. Among cattle farmers, 85.7% lacked formal education, resulting in low knowledge levels, with 99.5% expressing poor awareness. Additionally, findings revealed that 99.5% of cattle farmers had poor awareness of bTB, human doctors/clinicians, and veterinary/para-veterinarians had 100% excellent knowledge. Abattoir workers had good knowledge at 78.3% and cattle businessmen had a fair knowledge level at 96.4%. Overall, bTB awareness varied across occupations, with human and animal healthcare professionals being the most knowledgeable.
Our study found low levels of awareness and misperception about bTB among cattle farmers. Awareness varied across professionals with educated individuals being more knowledgeable. The consumption of undercooked meat and raw milk highlighted these knowledge gaps. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct public health campaigns to raise awareness about bTB causes, sources of infection, and control measures.
牛结核病（bTB）是一种牛类疾病，可通过与受感染动物直接接触或摄入受污染食物传播。
2021年12月至2022年6月，在赞比亚的伦达齐和蒙泽两个地区开展了一项混合方法研究。进行了一项有280名受访者的横断面调查、五次焦点小组讨论和五次关键信息人访谈。使用R软件对定量数据进行描述性统计分析，同时使用Nvivo和内容分析法对定性数据进行分析。
据报告，社会和文化习俗对牛结核病传播有重大影响，危险行为包括食用未煮熟的肉类和未经巴氏消毒的牛奶，以及在屠宰牛时保护措施不足。总体而言，75.3%的男性和70.3%的女性受访者对牛结核病传播的知晓程度较低。在养牛户中，85.7%没有接受过正规教育，导致知识水平较低，99.5%的人表示知晓程度低。此外，研究结果显示，99.5%的养牛户对牛结核病认识不足，人类医生/临床医生和兽医/准兽医的知晓率为100%。屠宰场工人的知晓率为78.3%，处于良好水平，牛商的知晓率为96.4%，处于中等水平。总体而言，不同职业对牛结核病的认识各不相同，人类和动物卫生保健专业人员知识最丰富。
我们的研究发现，养牛户对牛结核病的认识水平较低且存在误解。不同专业人员的认识存在差异，受过教育的人知识更丰富。食用未煮熟的肉类和生牛奶凸显了这些知识差距。因此，开展公共卫生运动以提高对牛结核病病因、感染源和控制措施的认识至关重要。
