BioMed Research International
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 3942672, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3942672

Research Article

Health Care Providers’ Knowledge and Practice Gap towards Joint Zoonotic Disease Surveillance System: Challenges and Opportunities, Gomma District, Southwest Ethiopia

Desta Hiko Gemeda,¹ Abiot Girma Sime,¹ Kifle Woldemichael Hajito,¹ Benti Deresa Gelalacha,² Wubit Tafese,² and Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot¹

¹Department of Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
²School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

Received 12 April 2016; Accepted 27 June 2016

Academic Editor: Jacques Cabaret

Copyright © 2016 Desta Hiko Gemeda et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background. Health care providers play a crucial role for realization of joint zoonotic diseases surveillance by human and animal health sectors, yet there is limited evidence. Hence, this study aimed to determine knowledge and practice gap of health care providers towards the approach for Rabies and Anthrax in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 16, 2014, to January 14, 2015. Eligible health care providers were considered for the study. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. A total of 323 (92.02%) health care providers participated in the study. Three hundred sixteen (97.8%) of participants reported that both human and animal health sectors can work together for zoonotic diseases while 96.9% of them replied that both sectors can jointly conduct surveillance. One hundred seventeen (36.2%) of them reported that their respective sectors had conducted joint surveillance for zoonotic diseases. Their involvement was, however, limited to joint outbreak response. Conclusion. There is good opportunity in health care providers’ knowledge even though the practice was unacceptably low and did not address all surveillance components. Therefore, formal joint surveillance structure should be in place for optimal implementation of surveillance.

1. Introduction

It is widely recognized that zoonotic diseases control and elimination require a joint approach by animal and human health sectors [1, 2]. Joint surveillance system using One Health approach is the most effective and efficient way of protecting human and animal populations from zoonotic disease like rabies and anthrax in low income countries [3–5]. However, implementation of such surveillance approach in these countries is hampered by several factors: multiple disease challenges, unmotivated One Health workforce, remoteness, lack of appropriate working tools/infrastructure, and low budget, just to mention a few. These factors often led to emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases like rabies and anthrax as these countries are home to those zoonotic diseases [6].

Similar to other developing countries, one sector approach and weak preexisting animal and human health surveillance system is widely practiced in Ethiopia in general and in Jimma Zone in particular. This approach is characterized by delayed outbreak detection and management of two of the most important zoonotic diseases (rabies and anthrax) in both humans and animal population in Jimma. Such case detection is often after massive loss of human and animal lives and probably after occurrence of several outbreaks detected/undetected in both humans and animals population. Apart from delayed outbreak detection and management, the preexisting weak surveillance system in the countries can jeopardize rabies and anthrax control and eradication efforts of the Sub-Saharan African countries [7].

Jimma Zone, Southwest of Ethiopia, is home to rabies and anthrax, the two common zoonotic diseases. Studies showed that on average three victims visit Jimma town antirabies health centre per day for postexposure prophylaxis excluding victims going to traditional healers. Thirteen deaths due to rabies were reported from Jimma health centre between mid-October 2012 and mid-January 2013 [8]. In December 2013, a massive outbreak of rabies has occurred and claimed the life of ten individuals in Shabe Sombo district of Jimma Zone [9]. Likewise, severe outbreak of anthrax in Jimma Zone was detected in March 2014 which led to public panic as cases were detected even in municipal abattoir in cattle and sheep. The municipal abattoir, hotels, and restaurants in the town were closed for about three weeks in April 2014 by local authorities causing high socioeconomic impact to the local community [10].

Joint zoonotic diseases surveillance approach is not yet formally established in low income countries like Ethiopia. However, there are informal joint practices usually limited on outbreak management. For the realization of the joint zoonotic disease surveillance approach, health care providers in human and animal health sectors play a crucial role. However, there is limited evidence on providers’ knowledge and practice related opportunities and challenges towards joint surveillance for zoonotic disease. Hence, this study was aimed at determining knowledge and practice gap towards such surveillance approach among health care providers in both sectors of the district.

2. Methods and Participants

2.1. Study Setting

The research was carried out in Gomma district of Jimma Zone of Oromia Region. Agaro is a capital town of Gomma district located at altitude ranging from 1,380 to 1,680 meters above sea level. However, some points along the Southern and Western boundaries have altitudes ranging from 2,229 to 2,870 meters. The projected total population of the district from the 2007 national census in 2014 is 246, 381 (which is 51,652 households) of which 3,094 (5.99%) were urban households and 48558 (94.01%) rural households [11] residing in 36 rural and 3 urban Kebeles (Kebele is the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia) [12]. Data were collected from December 16, 2014, to January 14, 2015.

2.2. Study Design, Population and Sampling

A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted on all health care providers in Gomma district (351 animal and human health service providers). One hundred thirty health care providers from Agaro health centre, 82 health extension workers from all Kebeles of the district, 9 human health surveillance focal persons from Gomma district level and animal health service providers 1 veterinary doctor, 9 animal health surveillance focal persons, 65 development agents (these are professionals deployed at Kebele level to promote development through primary prevention of disease in animals), and 55 animal health assistants (these are professionals who provide curative care for sick animals at animal clinics) in all Kebeles of the district constitute study population.

2.3. Data Collection Procedure

Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was adapted [13] and developed from different sources. The tool was prepared in English and translated to Amharic language. Then, the translated tool was pretested among health care providers in similar settings in another district of the zone and used for data collection. Four trained graduate program students in Veterinary and Public Health Epidemiology from Jimma University collected data on background characteristics, knowledge, and practice gap of service providers on joint zoonotic disease (rabies and anthrax) surveillance system using face-to-face interview. Data collection process was closely supervised by two veterinary and public health epidemiologists.

2.4. Data Processing and Analysis

Data were checked, edited, and entered into Epi-data version 3.1. Data were then cleaned for outliers and missing values and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis was done to generate summary values for variables on background characteristics, knowledge, and practice of service providers.

2.5. Ethical Considerations

Ethical clearance was obtained from both Health Sciences College and School of Veterinary Medicine Institutional Review Boards of Jimma University. Permission letter was sought from both human and animal Gomma district health offices to conduct the research. Before data collection, the objective of the study was explained to the participants and data collection was commenced only after obtaining verbal consent. Finally, the data were used for the research purpose only.

3. Results

3.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics

From a total of 351 human and animal health service providers, 323 (92.02%) participated in the study, among which 91.9% were human health providers. The majority (65.6%) of the respondents were females with median age of 29 years. Similarly, most (52.9%) respondents served for 61 and above months with a median of 72 months. Nearly three-fourths (74.0%) and one in ten (11.5%) of the participants were working in health centres and health posts, respectively. Most of the participants had B.S. degree (56.3%) followed by diploma (36.2%) holders (Table 1).

Table 1: Sociodemographic characteristics of health service providers, Gomma district, Jimma Zone, 2015.

Variable
Number ()
Percent (100%)

Sex
Male
111
34.4

Female
212
65.6

Age in years
20–30
178
55.1

31–40
123
38.1

41–50
18
5.6

51–58
4
1.2

Profession
B.S. nurse
48
14.9

Diploma nurse
75
23.2

Developmental agents
9
2.8

Health officer
22
6.8

Laboratory technologist
111
34.4

Pharmacist
10
3.1

Health extension workers
28
8.7

Environmental Health
3
.9

Animal science practitioners
17
5.3

Institution
Human district office
21
6.5

Animal district office
7
2.2

Health centre
239
74.0

Health post
37
11.5

Veterinary clinic
19
5.8

Marital status
Married
114
35.3

Single
203
62.8

Widowed
4
1.2

Other
2
.60

Education level
Certificate
8
2.5

Diploma
117
36.2

B.S. degree
182
56.3

Other
16
4.9

Religion
Orthodox
79
24.5

Catholic
1
.3

Protestant
141
43.7

Islam
102
31.6

Ethnicity
Amhara
25
7.7

Oromo
253
78.3

Other
45
13.9

Work experience (in months)
1–12
36
11.1

13–24
23
7.1

25–36
30
9.3

37–48
27
8.4

49–60
36
11.1

≥61
171
52.9

3.2. Knowledge Gap of Health Service Providers on Rabies: Transmission, Reservoir, and Prevention

Almost all (99.7%) respondents heard about rabies; however, 29 (9%) and 3 (0.9%) health care providers replied that rabies do not attack dogs and humans, respectively. Most of the respondents mentioned that rabies can be transmitted from sick animal to human (98.1%) and from sick animal to animal (96.6%). Similarly, more than seven out of ten respondents mentioned that vaccination of animals (73.9%), isolation of sick animals (80.7%), creating community awareness (93.5%), and conducting active surveillance (87.6%) can prevent the acquisition and transmission of rabies in humans and animals (Table 2).

Table 2: Knowledge gap of health service providers on rabies and joint surveillance, Gomma district, Jimma Zone, 2015.

Variable
Number ()
Percent (100%)

Heard about rabies? ()
Yes
322
99.7

No
1
.3

Rabies attack ()
Dogs
Yes
293
91.0

No
27
8.4

Not sure
2
.6

Human
Yes
319
99.1

No
3
.9

Cats
Yes
162
50.3

No
135
41.9

Not sure
25
7.8

Other animals
Yes
136
42.2

No
182
56.5

Not sure
4
1.2

Rabies transmission ()
Sick animal to human
Yes
316
98.1

No
4
1.2

Not sure
2
.6

Sick animal to animal
Yes
311
96.6

No
8
2.5

Not sure
3
.9

Rabies prevention ()
Vaccination of animals
Yes
238
73.9

No
73
22.7

Not sure
11
3.4

Isolation of sick animals
Yes
260
80.7

No
58
18.0

Not sure
4
1.2

Creating community awareness
Yes
301
93.5

No
16
5.0

Not sure
5
1.6

Conducting active surveillance
Yes
282
87.6

No
28
8.7

Not sure
12
3.7

3.3. Knowledge Gap of Health Service Providers on Anthrax: Transmission, Reservoir, and Prevention

Almost all (97.5%) respondents heard about anthrax; however, 104 (33%), 109 (34.7%), and 251 (79.7%) of health care providers replied that anthrax do not attack domestic animals, humans, and wild animals, respectively. More than two-thirds (68.3%) of the respondents replied that anthrax can be transmitted from sick animal to human. Similarly, more than half of the respondents mentioned that vaccination of animals (64.1%), isolation of sick animals (62.9%), creating community awareness (65.1%) and conducting active surveillance (55.6%), wearing protective clothing (55.6%), disinfection of contacts/materials (62.2%), and proper burial of dead animal/human (63.2%) can prevent the acquisition and transmission of anthrax in humans and animals (Table 3).

Table 3: Knowledge gap of health service providers on anthrax, Gomma district, Jimma Zone, 2015.

Variable
Number ()
Percent (%)

Heard about anthrax? ()
Yes
315
97.5

No
5
1.5

Not sure
3
.9

Anthrax attacks ()
Domestic animals
Yes
211
67.0

No
99
31.4

Not sure
5
1.6

Human
Yes
206
65.4

No
106
33.7

Not sure
3
1.0

Wild animals
Yes
64
20.3

No
221
70.2

Not sure
30
9.5

Anthrax transmission ()
Sick animal to human
Yes
216
68.3

No
95
30.2

Not sure
6
1.6

Anthrax prevention ()
Vaccination of animals
Yes
202
64.1

No
107
34.0

Not sure
6
1.9

Isolation of sick animals
Yes
198
62.9

No
108
34.3

Not sure
9
2.9

Creating community awareness
Yes
205
65.1

No
108
34.3

Not sure
2
.6

Conducting active surveillance
Yes
175
55.6

No
131
41.6

Not sure
9
2.9

Wearing protective clothing
Yes
175
55.6

No
130
41.3

Not sure
10
3.2

Disinfection of contacts/materials
Yes
196
62.2

No
116
36.8

Not sure
3
1.0

Properly burial of dead animal/human
Yes
199
63.2

No
112
35.6

Not sure
4
1.3

Are human rabies and/or anthrax reportable diseases in Ethiopia?
Yes
316
97.8

No
2
.6

Not sure
5
1.5

Are animal rabies and/or anthrax reportable diseases in Ethiopia?
Yes
310
96.0

No
6
1.9

Not sure
7
2.2

Do you think that human and animal sectors can
Work together for zoonotic diseases
Yes
316
97.8

No
5
1.5

Not sure
2
.6

Jointly conduct surveillance on zoonotic diseases
Yes
313
96.9

No
6
1.9

Not sure
4
1.2

3.4. Knowledge Gap of Health Care Providers towards Joint Surveillance for Rabies and Anthrax

More than 96% of the respondents replied that occurrence of both rabies and anthrax in human and animal population is reportable in Ethiopia. The finding revealed that 97.8% of the respondents reported that both human and animal health sectors can work together for zoonotic diseases and similarly 96.9% of them replied that both human and animal sectors can jointly conduct surveillance on zoonotic diseases like rabies and anthrax (Tables 2 and 3). A total of seven human and no animal health care providers were not aware whether the two diseases’ occurrence in human population is reportable. Similarly, one animal and twelve human health care providers replied that the occurrence of rabies and anthrax in animal population is not reportable. One animal and nine human health care providers replied that the two sectors cannot undertake joint surveillance for zoonotic diseases like rabies and anthrax.

3.5. Practice Gap of Health Care Providers and Their Respective Sectors on Rabies and Anthrax Joint Surveillance

Just over a third (36.2%) of health care providers reported that their respective sectors had conducted joint surveillance for zoonotic diseases of public health importance in the past; however, almost all (99.1%) of the respondents who had joint surveillance experience reported that their involvement was limited to outbreak response. Only less than 11% of the respondents mentioned that they were involved in joint surveillance planning, surveillance data exchange, monitoring, and evaluation of surveillance activities. Seven respondents (2.2%) reported that their sectors have joint surveillance structure for zoonotic disease of which only 5 reported that level of integration between human and animal sectors was between health extension workers and development agents (DAs), health centres and veterinary clinics, and human and animal surveillance focal persons, respectively. Similarly, only six respondents reported that they had joint surveillance manual for zoonotic diseases in their respective health institutions (Table 4). One hundred eighty-six human and twenty animal health care providers reported that they did not conduct joint surveillance on zoonotic disease like rabies and anthrax.

Table 4: Practice gap of health service providers and their respective sectors on joint surveillance, Gomma district, Jimma Zone, 2015.

Variable

Number ()
Percent (100%)

Conducted joint surveillance on zoonotic diseases with human or animal sector
Yes
117
36.2

No
194
60.1

Not sure
12
3.7

Joint surveillance activity experience ()
Planning
Yes
11
9.4

No
106
90.6

Surveillance data exchange
Yes
13
11.1

No
103
88.0

Not sure
1
.9

Outbreak response
Yes
116
99.1

No
1
.9

Monitoring and evaluation
Yes
12
10.3

No
105
89.7

Did your sector have integrated surveillance structure?
Yes
7
2.2

No
299
92.6

Not sure
17
5.2

Level of integration was between ()
Health extension workers and DAs
Yes
5
71.4

No
2
28.6

Health centre and veterinary clinic
Yes
5
71.4

No
2
28.6

Human and animal focal persons
Yes
5
71.4

No
2
28.6

Integrated surveillance manual in your institution
Yes
6
1.9

No
302
93.5

Not sure
15
4.6

4. Discussion

More than nine in ten of the respondents replied that both human and animal health sectors can jointly conduct surveillance on rabies and anthrax. However, only a third of health care providers reported that their respective sectors had conducted joint surveillance for zoonotic diseases of public health importance in the past one year preceding the survey and their involvement was limited to joint outbreak response. The respondents also mentioned that there is formal joint surveillance structure even during outbreak response in the district.

Almost all (99.7%) respondents heard about rabies and this was higher than (45.8%) what was reported by Tanzanian animal health workers [14]. The variation could be explained by the fact that study participants were only animal health care providers in Tanzania unlike the current study. In addition, in Tanzania the study was conducted from 2001 to 2002, during which public health importance of zoonotic diseases was poorly given due attention as compared to recent growing recognition by global community. However, 29 (9%) and 3 (0.9%) health care providers replied that rabies do not attack dogs and humans, respectively. This implies that there could be less emphasis given to zoonotic disease in the curriculum or absence of ongoing refreshment training for health care providers in the district. This poor level of knowledge if left unresolved may be a significant obstacle for future prevention and control efforts on the disease.

More than 96% of the respondents mentioned that rabies can be transmitted from sick animal to human or vice versa. This is similar to study conducted among medical practitioners (94.3%) in Tanzania [15] whereas it is much higher than that conducted among Indian medical interns and residents (5%) [16]. This variation may be due to study participant difference and rabies epidemiology in the studied areas. Likewise, respondents mentioned that vaccination of animals (73.9%), isolation of sick animals (80.7%), creating community awareness (93.5%), and conducting active surveillance (87.6%) can prevent the acquisition and transmission of rabies in human and animal population. These are good entry points for introduction of zoonotic disease surveillance using One Health approach in the studied area.

Though the majority of the respondents heard about anthrax, significant number of them replied that anthrax do not attack human and animals. This implies that health care providers in the district can easily miss anthrax cases that can in turn contribute to a number of needless human and animal deaths and delayed outbreak detection and allow the disease to persist in the population. As a result, there could be difficulty in exporting animal products and the consequence is detrimental to the national economy. As high as fifty percent of the respondents did not know that anthrax can be transmitted from sick animal to human. Similarly half of the respondents did not know that anthrax can be prevented through vaccination, isolation of sick animals, creating community awareness, conducting active surveillance, wearing protective clothing, disinfection of contacts, and proper burial of dead animal/human from anthrax. This may be explained by the fact that, unlike other national priority infectious diseases, there are no national/international zoonotic disease prevention and control programs in the district. Such significant number of health care providers may not be able to advise on the method of anthrax transmission/acquisition prevention and this will lead to the persistent occurrence of anthrax outbreak in human and animal population.

The majority of the respondents replied that occurrence of rabies and anthrax in either population is reportable and both sectors can jointly conduct surveillance on the diseases. This implies that there is a fertile ground for establishment of joint surveillance system for zoonotic disease in the district.

Just over a third of health care providers reported that their respective sectors had conducted joint surveillance for zoonotic diseases of public health importance; nevertheless, their involvement was limited to joint outbreak response. In other words, the focus was on zoonotic disease outbreak control rather than zoonotic disease outbreak prevention. The need for joint response only during outbreaks of zoonotic disease in low income countries is to reduce the far reaching consequences of the outbreak. If such approach remains unresolved, there will be persistent occurrence of outbreaks, economic loses, and threatening lives of humans and animals. In addition, joint surveillance structure and manual at all levels were absent in both sectors. All of these issues imply a challenge for the realization of the new approach.

However, the finding for this study should be interpreted with the following limitations: health care providers from animal health sector were not adequately represented in our sample. Hence, the findings might not represent the knowledge and practice of these health care providers.

5. Conclusion

Almost all respondents replied that occurrence of both diseases in human and animals is reportable and the sectors can conduct joint surveillance on the two zoonotic diseases. A few respondents had past experience of joint zoonotic disease surveillance but it was only during outbreak response for such diseases. It was further revealed that there were no formal joint surveillance structure and its implementation manual in the district. Therefore, formal joint surveillance structure for rabies and anthrax should be in place for optimal implementation of all surveillance components.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ Contributions

Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot, Abiot Girma Sime, Desta Hiko Gemeda, Benti Deresa Gelalacha, Wubit Tafese, and Kifle Woldemichael Hajito conceived and designed the experiment; Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot, Abiot Girma Sime, Desta Hiko Gemeda, Benti Deresa Gelalacha, Wubit Tafese, and Kifle Woldemichael Hajito performed the experiments; Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot, Abiot Girma Sime, and Desta Hiko Gemeda analyzed the data; Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot, Abiot Girma Sime, and Desta Hiko Gemeda contributed analysis tools; Tsegaye Tewelde Gebrehiwot, Abiot Girma Sime, and Desta Hiko Gemeda wrote the paper; and Abiot Girma Sime and Wubit Tafese got permission letter from human and animal health offices.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) for the realization of this research, Jimma Zone Human and Animal Health Offices for their valuable support by giving information, and all workers of the two health offices, data collectors, and study participants for their cooperation and assistance.

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