Assessment of the knowledge, practice, and perception of anthrax among slaughterhouse workers in Nigeria
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Date
2026
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Discover Public Health
Abstract
Background Anthrax is a neglected and life-threatening infectious zoonotic
disease occurring, especially in Africa. This study was conducted a week before the
confirmation of the anthrax outbreak in Nigeria in July 2023. It assessed the knowledge,
risk practice, and perception of anthrax among the high-risk working groups, such
as meat processors, butchers, animal farmers, meat vendors, para-veterinarians,
veterinarians, cleaners, administrative staff, and animal traders in slaughterhouses (SHs)
in Nigeria. Also, the national preparedness towards an outbreak was evaluated.
Method A total of 627 participants were purposively selected from seven States
and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using
descriptive and logistic regression statistics.
Results Most (499; 81.4%) of the participants were males, with the mean age being
37.3 ± 12.0 years old, and the majority (471, 78.1%) had no tertiary education. Onethird
(207, 32.7%) of the participants self-reported being aware of anthrax, and 13.2%
indicated that anthrax was a serious disease for both animals and humans. The
knowledge median score was 0.0 (min 0, max 30), the general knowledge level was
poor (16.8%), and 91.2% (527) of participants fell within this category. The practice
median score was 6.0 (min 0, max 12) and categorised as generally poor (52.9%).
Gaps observed in practices that could promote the risk of participants’ exposure to
anthrax included slaughtering sick animals for human consumption, splashing blood
on inspected carcasses, carrying carcasses on heads or shoulders, and disposing of
condemned animal tissues or organs in open dumps. One-third of participants (202,
32.2%) strongly perceived that efficiently implementing vaccination in livestock
would reduce the outbreak in humans. Furthermore, participants with no tertiary
qualifications and no veterinary background had increased odds (COR: 14.378,
95% CI; 4.923–41.991, p = 0.000) and (COR: 9.157, 95% CI; 3.644–23.008, p = 0.000)
of having an inadequate knowledge level of anthrax, respectively. Participants who were non-veterinarians/non-para veterinarians had increased odds (COR: 3.471, 95%
CI: 1.629–7.392, p = 0.001) of having a poorer practice level than veterinarian or para
veterinarians. Conversely, participants less than 37 years old had lower odds (COR:
0.268, 95% CI: 0.148–0.486, p = 0.000) of having a poor practice level than those above
the age.
Conclusion The knowledge level of the high-risk working groups was poor, with
observable critical risk practices. Promoting media publicity and awareness creation,
vaccination, effective disease surveillance, on-farm biosecurity, and adequate border
control are critical strategies to prevent anthrax outbreaks in Nigeria.
Description
Keywords
Anthrax, Knowledge, Risk Practice, Perception, Slaughterhouse, Public health, One Health
Citation
Adebowale et al. Discover Public Health (2026) 23:85