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. 2017 Mar 16;12(3):e0173365.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173365. eCollection 2017.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to brucellosis in smallholder dairy farmers in two provinces in Pakistan

Shumaila Arif  1   2 , Peter C Thomson  2   3   4 , Marta Hernandez-Jover  1   2 , David M McGill  5 , Hassan Mahmood Warriach  4 , Jane Heller  1   2
Affiliations

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to brucellosis in smallholder dairy farmers in two provinces in Pakistan

Shumaila Arif et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the extent of knowledge and understanding of brucellosis in smallholder dairy farmers and identify practices at the farm and household level that might pose a risk for humans contracting brucellosis. Between February and June 2015 a cross-sectional study was conducted among smallholder farms (n = 420) in five districts of Punjab and two districts of Sindh province. Farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire to obtain information on farmers' knowledge about brucellosis and the potential risks for contracting the disease that are present for dairy farmers and their families. Logistic regression and ordinal logistic models were used to investigate potential predictors for risky behaviours. The results show almost all farmers (97%) were not aware of the modes of transmission of brucellosis. Relating to risk, the majority (66%) of the farmers' families were reported to consume raw milk and its products, live in shared housing with animals (49%) and not cover hand cuts during contact with animals (74%). All farmers performed at least one risky practice on a regular basis for brucellosis transmission from animal to human. A multivariable analysis highlighted that the respondents with no formal education and those who had not heard of the disease displayed greater risky behaviour. Poor understanding of the disease, presence of multiple risky practices on farm and at the household, and incorrect perception supports the need for an educational awareness program in order to ensure uptake of improved practices.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Map of Pakistan indicating current study areas (Map was created using ArcGIS® software by Esri.
ArcGIS® and ArcMap™)
Fig 2
Fig 2. Venn diagram showing the percentages of smallholder dairy farmers in Pakistan having combinations of multiple herd management practices posing a risk of brucellosis transmission within herd.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Venn diagram showing the percentages of smallholder dairy farmers in Pakistan having combinations of multiple household practices posing a risk of brucellosis transmission from animals to human.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Model-based percentages in each household risk score category (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) across levels of farm cleaning risk scores, and across levels of brucellosis herd transmission risk scores.
These values are from the two-variable model and are averaged over the levels of the other factor in the model. Household risk scores and brucellosis herd transmission risk scores were calculated from the practices reported by smallholder dairy farmers who participated in a cross-sectional study on brucellosis in Pakistan
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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