1. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to anthrax and animal care: A case-control study in Georgia.
- Author
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Traxler RM, Napetvaridze T, Asanishvili Z, Geleishvili M, Rukhadze K, Maghlakelidze G, Broladze M, Kokhreidze M, Maes EF, Reynolds D, Salman M, Shadomy SV, and Rao S
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Animals, Anthrax pathology, Anthrax veterinary, Case-Control Studies, Female, Georgia (Republic), Humans, Livestock, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, Surveys and Questionnaires, Zoonoses pathology, Anthrax diagnosis, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Zoonoses diagnosis
- Abstract
Introduction: Anthrax is endemic in Georgia and recent outbreaks prompted a livestock-handler case-control study with a component to evaluate anthrax knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among livestock handlers or owners., Methods: Cases were handlers of livestock with confirmed animal anthrax from June 2013-May 2015. Handlers of four matched unaffected animals were selected as controls, two from the same village as the case animal ("village control") and two from 3-10 km away ("area control"). Descriptive statistics were reported and conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the magnitude of the association of cases with specific study KAP factors., Results: Cases were more likely male, had lower level college education, less animal care experience, and provided more animal care to their cattle. Cases had lower odds of burying a suddenly dead animal compared to all controls (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.32, 95% Confidence interval [CI]:0.12, 0.88) and area controls (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.91). On an 8-point knowledge scale, cases having an animal with anthrax had a 1.31 times greater knowledge score compared to all controls (95% CI: 1.03, 1.67). Cases had higher odds of ever having human anthrax or knowing another person who had anthrax compared to all controls (OR: 4.56, 95% CI: 1.45, 14.30) and area controls (OR: 7.16, 95% CI: 1.52, 33.80)., Discussion: Cases were more knowledgeable of anthrax and had better anthrax prevention practices, but these are likely a result of the case investigation and ring vaccination following the death of their animal., Conclusions: The findings reveal a low level of knowledge and practices related to anthrax control and prevention, and will guide educational material development to fill these gaps., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Published
- 2019
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