Abstract

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the perception of the public on common zoonotic diseases in Southwestern Ethiopia using a face-to-face interviewing technique. The respondents were stratified into four groups, namely: farmers (n=48), smallholder dairy farmers (n=44), butchers (n=34) and city residents (n=49). Many of them (97.1%) knew rabies was a zoonotic disease contracted via the bite and contact with saliva of a rabid dog. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the level of awareness about rabies in the four respondents groups. Taeniasis was the second most recognised zoonotic disease (84.3%). Anthrax was known by 55.4% of respondents, whereas only 29.1% of them knew tuberculosis can be transmitted from cattle to humans. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in the level of awareness with regard to zoonotic tuberculosis in the study groups where small holder dairy farmers had the highest awareness and traditional farmers had the lowest awareness. Majority of the respondents consume raw milk (66.8%), however, only 11.4% of them have knowledge about transmission of TB through raw milk and meat consumption. Awareness about echinococcosis was lower (4%) than other zoonotic diseases. The zoonotic importance of brucellosis was reported by none of the respondents. In general, the present study revealed a very low level of awareness by the public about major zoonotic diseases, signifying the need for public health promotion through education and inter-disciplinary one health approach with close collaboration among veterinarians, public health practitioners and policy makers.

Key words: Perception, public, transmission, zoonotic, disease, Ethiopia.