Open Access
Research
(Published
online: 18-02-2016)
13.
Awareness, knowledge, and risks
of zoonotic diseases among livestock farmers in Punjab -
Jaspal Singh Hundal,
Simrinder Singh Sodhi, Aparna Gupta,
Jaswinder Singh
and Udeybir Singh Chahal
Veterinary World, 9(2): 186-191
doi:
10.14202/vetworld.2016.186-191
Jaspal Singh Hundal :
Department of
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad
Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab,
India; drjshundal@yahoo.com
Simrinder Singh Sodhi :
Department of
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad
Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab,
India; simrindersodhi@gmail.com
Aparna Gupta :
Krishi Vigyan
Kendra, Ropar, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab,
India; aparnapau@gmail.com
Jaswinder Singh :
Department of
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad
Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab,
India; jaswindervet@rediffmail.com
Udeybir Singh Chahal :
Department of
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Guru Angad
Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab,
India; udeybirchahal@gmail.com
Received: 18-10-2015, Revised: 28-12-2015, Accepted: 09-01-2016,
Published online: 18-02-2016
Corresponding author:
Jaspal Singh Hundal, e-mail: drjshundal@yahoo.com
Citation:
Hundal JS, Sodhi SS, Gupta A, Singh J, Chahal US (2016)
Awareness, knowledge, and risks of zoonotic diseases among
livestock farmers in Punjab, Veterinary World 9(2):
186-191.
Abstract
Aim:
The present
study was conducted to assess the awareness, knowledge, and
risks of zoonotic diseases among livestock farmers in Punjab.
Materials and
Methods:
250 livestock
farmers were selected randomly and interviewed with a pretested
questionnaire, which contained both open and close ended
questions on different aspects of zoonotic diseases, i.e.,
awareness, knowledge, risks, etc. Knowledge scorecard was
developed, and each correct answer was awarded one mark, and
each incorrect answer was given zero mark. Respondents were
categorized into low (mean − ½ standard deviation [SD]),
moderate (mean ± ½ SD), and high knowledge (Mean + ½ SD)
category based on the mean and SD. The information about
independent variables viz., age, education, and herd size
were collected with the help of structured schedule and scales.
The data were analyzed by ANOVA, and results were prepared to
assess awareness, knowledge, and risks of zoonotic diseases and
its relation with independent variables.
Results:
Majority of the respondents had age up to 40 years (70%), had
their qualification from primary to higher secondary level
(77.6%), and had their herd size up to 10 animals (79.6%). About
51.2% and 54.0% respondents had the history of abortion and
retained placenta, respectively, at their farms. The respondents
not only disposed off the infected placenta (35.6%), aborted
fetus (39.6%), or feces (56.4%) from a diarrheic animal but also
gave intrauterine medication (23.2%) bare-handedly. About
3.6-69.6% respondents consumed uncooked or unpasteurized animal
products. About 84.8%, 46.0%, 32.8%, 4.61%, and 92.4% of
livestock farmers were aware of zoonotic nature of rabies,
brucellosis, tuberculosis, anthrax, and bird flu, respectively.
The 55.6%, 67.2%, 52.0%, 64.0%, and 51.2% respondents were aware
of the transmission of zoonotic diseases to human being through
contaminated milk, meat, air, feed, or through contact with
infected animals, respectively. The transmission of rabies
through dog bite (98.4%), need of post-exposure vaccination
(96.8%), and annual vaccination of dogs (78%) were well-known
facts but only 47.2% livestock owners were aware of the
occurrence of abortion due to brucellosis and availability of
prophylactic vaccine (67.6%) against it as a preventive measure.
About 69.2% respondents belonged to low to medium knowledge
level categories, whereas 30.8% respondents had high knowledge
(p<0.05) regarding different aspects of zoonotic diseases. Age,
education, and herd size had no significant effect on the
knowledge level and awareness of farmers toward zoonotic
diseases.
Conclusion:
Therefore, from the present study, it may be concluded that
there is a need to create awareness and improve knowledge of
livestock farmers toward zoonotic diseases for its effective
containment in Punjab.
Keywords:
awareness, knowledge level, livestock farmers, risk factors,
zoonotic diseases.
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