Knowledge and Attitude Towards Zoonoses among Workers in Selected Zoological Gardens in Nigeria.
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Department of Forestry Wildlife and Range Management, University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
Abstract
An exploratory questionnaire-based survey of zoological workers (n=152) was carried out from April
2016 to March 2017 in Ibadan (Oyo State), Ilorin (Kwara State) and Jos (Plateau State), Nigeria to
assess local knowledge and attitude towards zoonoses among zoological workers. A combination of
closed and open-ended questions, focused group discussions and ranking techniques were employed
to gather information on perceptions concerning the type of zoonotic diseases prevalent in the study
area, level of risk, mode of transmission and methods of preventing disease transmission from animals
to humans. The results revealed that 44.1% of the respondents had good level of awareness about
zoonoses. Rabies (99%), tuberculosis (41%), bird flu (47%) and Ebola virus disease (EVD) (44%)
were considered the four most common zoonotic diseases in the study area. Among the respondents,
42.1% and 57.2% perceived zoonoses are transmitted by direct contact and attending to sick animals
respectively. Constant hand washing was indicated by 45.4% of the respondents as the mode of
prevention of zoonoses in the study area. It is necessary that the Government provide the vaccination
facility to all the zoological workers against the relevant zoonotic diseases. The level of awareness
about the risks associated is needed to improve through proper education, training, and establishment
of written infection control policies in the various zoological gardens in the country.
Description
Keywords
Zoonoses, Zoological garden, Workers, Knowledge, Attitude
Citation
Aiyedun, J. O., Oludairo, O. O., Jegede, H. O., Daodu, O. B. and Akanbi, O. B. (2021). Knowledge and Attitude Towards Zoonoses among Workers in Selected Zoological Gardens in Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 13(3): 37-41.