Munyaneza Celestin, Bizimana Ferdinand, Mukumbo Felicitas, Gatesi Sandrine, Sibomana Ephrem, Munyampuhwe Severin, Dutuze Marie Fausta
Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), Bugesera, Rwanda.
Front Public Health. 2025 Apr 17;13:1569682. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1569682. eCollection 2025.
Although zoonotic diseases pose significant health and economic threats globally, rural communities in developing countries are more vulnerable due to the increased proximity between animals and humans and the lack of knowledge about these diseases. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and risk factors regarding zoonotic diseases among smallholder livestock farmers in Bugesera district of Rwanda.
A convenient sample of 155 livestock smallholder farmers was selected from eight of the fifteen sectors of the district. Data were collected through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses including frequencies and means were used to summarize the data. Pearson's chi-square test was used to examine associations between knowledge and socio-demographic variables and between knowledge and practices.
Findings showed that 50.3% of respondents knew diseases could be transmitted from animals to humans and just 13.5% recognized reverse zoonotic transmission - humans to animals. When specifically asked if they knew about brucellosis, tuberculosis, and Rift Valley fever; 88, 79, and 41% of respondents, respectively, reported being familiar with these diseases though many were unaware of their zoonotic nature. Risky attitudes and practices were prevalent, including the lack of isolation for sick animals (70.97%) and failure to quarantine newly introduced animals (83.87%). While 81.94% vaccinated their animals, only 16.54% could specify at least one vaccinated disease, and none knew the date of their animals' next vaccination date. Other poor practices were reported, with 64.52% not separating animal and human utensils, and only 25.81% of cattle owners reported using artificial insemination. Additionally, 34.46% consumed raw non-boiled milk, and 24.5% did not use mosquito nets. Regarding roaming animals in the neighborhood, 79% of rats, 55% bats, 68% dogs, 67% cats, and 5.2% monkeys.
The study revealed low awareness and high-risk practices regarding zoonotic diseases among smallholder livestock farmers in Bugesera district, posing a significant One Health concern. Therefore, educational programs to improve KAP and strengthen zoonotic disease prevention efforts in this district.
尽管人畜共患病在全球范围内对健康和经济构成重大威胁，但由于发展中国家农村社区人畜距离更近且对这些疾病缺乏了解，因而更为脆弱。本研究评估了卢旺达布热塞拉区小农户对人畜共患病的知识、态度、做法（KAP）及风险因素。
从该地区15个分区中的8个分区选取了155个小农户作为便利样本。通过使用半结构化问卷进行访谈收集数据。采用包括频率和均值在内的描述性分析来汇总数据。使用Pearson卡方检验来检验知识与社会人口统计学变量之间以及知识与做法之间的关联。
研究结果显示，50.3%的受访者知道疾病可以从动物传播给人类，只有13.5%的人认识到反向人畜共患病传播——从人类到动物。当具体询问他们是否了解布鲁氏菌病、结核病和裂谷热时，分别有88%、79%和41%的受访者表示熟悉这些疾病，尽管许多人并未意识到它们的人畜共患性质。危险的态度和做法很普遍，包括对患病动物不进行隔离（70.97%）以及不对新引进动物进行检疫（83.87%）。虽然81.94%的人给动物接种了疫苗，但只有16.54%的人能说出至少一种接种的疾病，而且没有人知道他们动物的下次接种日期。还报告了其他不良做法，64.52%的人不区分动物和人类用具，只有25.81%的养牛户报告使用人工授精。此外，34.46%的人饮用生的未煮沸牛奶，24.5%的人不使用蚊帐。关于附近的流浪动物，有79%的老鼠、55%的蝙蝠、68%的狗、67%的猫和5.2%的猴子。
该研究揭示了布热塞拉区小农户对人畜共患病的认识较低且存在高风险做法，这构成了一个重大的“同一健康”问题。因此，需要开展教育项目以改善知识、态度和做法，并加强该地区人畜共患病的预防工作。
