Knowledge and practices related to bovine brucellosis transmission amongst livestock workers in Yewa, south-western Nigeria

• Main Authors: Hezekiah K. Adesokan, Peter I. Alabi, Judy A. Stack, Simeon I.B. Cadmus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 2013-02-01
• Series: Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
• Subjects: brucellosis transmission; livestock workers; public health; risk factors; south-western Nigeria
• Online Access: http://www.jsava.co.za/index.php/jsava/article/view/121

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in the animal population in Nigeria and of major public health importance, particularly amongst livestock workers who are ignorant of the risk of <em>Brucella</em> infection. Therefore, to gain insight into the knowledge and practices related to brucellosis transmission amongst livestock holders (LH) and livestock marketers (LM) in Yewa, an international livestock trading centre in south-western Nigeria, we conducted an interviewbased study using a cluster sampling technique. In all, a total of 157 respondents comprising 54 LH and 103 LM were interviewed. Two-thirds (69.5%) of the two groups had poor knowledge of brucellosis with no significant difference between them (<em>p </em>= 0.262). Furthermore, consumption of unpasteurised milk, uncooked meat and its products, co-habitation with animals, and poor hygiene were significant risk practices identified as possible means of transfer of<em> Brucella</em> infection from animals to humans amongst these livestock workers (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, our findings revealed that poor knowledge and practices related to the consumption of unpasteurised or unboiled dairy products, contaminated beef, and unhygienic practices are factors that will facilitate <em>Brucella</em> infections amongst livestock workers in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for more public health enlightenment programmes, as well as implementation of brucellosis control measures in the cattle populations.