Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh
Bats are known reservoirs of Nipah virus (NiV) and some filoviruses and also appear likely to harbor the evolutionary progenitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviru...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-10-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1814 |
| _version_ | 1797551675414675456 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan Md. Abul Kalam Mahabub Alam Shahanaj Shano Abdullah Al Faruq Md. Saddam Hossain Md. Nurul Islam Shahneaz Ali Khan Ariful Islam |
| author_facet | Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan Md. Abul Kalam Mahabub Alam Shahanaj Shano Abdullah Al Faruq Md. Saddam Hossain Md. Nurul Islam Shahneaz Ali Khan Ariful Islam |
| author_sort | Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bats are known reservoirs of Nipah virus (NiV) and some filoviruses and also appear likely to harbor the evolutionary progenitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While bats are considered a reservoir of deadly viruses, little is known about people’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of bat conservation and ecology. The current study aimed to assess community people’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of bat ecology, myths, and the role of bats in transmitting NiV in Bangladesh. Since 2001, NiV has been a continuous threat to public health with a mortality rate of approximately 70% in Bangladesh. Over the years, many public health interventions have been implemented to raise awareness about bats and the spreading of NiV among the community peoples of Nipah outbreak areas (NOAs) and Nipah non-outbreak areas (NNOAs). We hypothesized that people from both areas might have similar knowledge of bat ecology and myths about bats but different knowledge regarding their role in the spreading of NiV. Using a four-point Likert scale-based questionnaire, our analysis showed that most people lack adequate knowledge regarding the role of bats in maintaining the ecological balance and instead trust their beliefs in different myths about bats. Factor score analysis showed that respondents’ gender (<i>p</i> = 0.01), the outbreak status of the area (<i>p</i> = 0.03), and their occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.04) were significant factors influencing their knowledge of bat ecology and myths. A regression analysis showed that farmers had 0.34 times the odds of having correct or positive knowledge of bat ecology and myths than businesspersons (odds ratio (OR) = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.15–0.78, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Regarding the spreading of NiV via bats, people had a lower level of knowledge. In NOAs, age (<i>p</i> = 0.00), occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.00), and level of education (<i>p</i> = 0.00) were found to be factors contributing to the amount of knowledge regarding the transmission of NiV, whereas in NNOAs, the contributing factors were occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.00) and level of education (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that respondents who were engaged in services (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.07–8.54, <i>p</i> = 0.04) and who had completed primary education (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.02–9.17, <i>p</i> < 0.05) were likely to have correct knowledge regarding the spreading of NiV. Based on the study results, we recommend educational interventions for targeted groups in the community, highlighting the ecosystem services and conservation of bats so as to improve people’s current knowledge and subsequent behavior regarding the role of bats in ecology and the spreading of NiV in Bangladesh. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:49:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21abdf950cdd478d8938ecc448b07b2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:49:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-21abdf950cdd478d8938ecc448b07b2f2023-11-20T16:09:11ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-10-011010181410.3390/ani10101814Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in BangladeshMohammad Mahmudul Hassan0Md. Abul Kalam1Mahabub Alam2Shahanaj Shano3Abdullah Al Faruq4Md. Saddam Hossain5Md. Nurul Islam6Shahneaz Ali Khan7Ariful Islam8Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, BangladeshHelen Keller International, Dhaka 1212, BangladeshFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, BangladeshInstitute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka 1212, BangladeshFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, BangladeshFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, BangladeshGlobal Health Development (GHD) and EMPHNET, Amman 11195, JordanFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram 4225, BangladeshCentre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Geelong Campus, VIC 3216, AustraliaBats are known reservoirs of Nipah virus (NiV) and some filoviruses and also appear likely to harbor the evolutionary progenitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). While bats are considered a reservoir of deadly viruses, little is known about people’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of bat conservation and ecology. The current study aimed to assess community people’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of bat ecology, myths, and the role of bats in transmitting NiV in Bangladesh. Since 2001, NiV has been a continuous threat to public health with a mortality rate of approximately 70% in Bangladesh. Over the years, many public health interventions have been implemented to raise awareness about bats and the spreading of NiV among the community peoples of Nipah outbreak areas (NOAs) and Nipah non-outbreak areas (NNOAs). We hypothesized that people from both areas might have similar knowledge of bat ecology and myths about bats but different knowledge regarding their role in the spreading of NiV. Using a four-point Likert scale-based questionnaire, our analysis showed that most people lack adequate knowledge regarding the role of bats in maintaining the ecological balance and instead trust their beliefs in different myths about bats. Factor score analysis showed that respondents’ gender (<i>p</i> = 0.01), the outbreak status of the area (<i>p</i> = 0.03), and their occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.04) were significant factors influencing their knowledge of bat ecology and myths. A regression analysis showed that farmers had 0.34 times the odds of having correct or positive knowledge of bat ecology and myths than businesspersons (odds ratio (OR) = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.15–0.78, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Regarding the spreading of NiV via bats, people had a lower level of knowledge. In NOAs, age (<i>p</i> = 0.00), occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.00), and level of education (<i>p</i> = 0.00) were found to be factors contributing to the amount of knowledge regarding the transmission of NiV, whereas in NNOAs, the contributing factors were occupation (<i>p</i> = 0.00) and level of education (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that respondents who were engaged in services (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.07–8.54, <i>p</i> = 0.04) and who had completed primary education (OR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.02–9.17, <i>p</i> < 0.05) were likely to have correct knowledge regarding the spreading of NiV. Based on the study results, we recommend educational interventions for targeted groups in the community, highlighting the ecosystem services and conservation of bats so as to improve people’s current knowledge and subsequent behavior regarding the role of bats in ecology and the spreading of NiV in Bangladesh.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1814bat ecologycommunity perceptionconservationmythNipah virusBangladesh |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan Md. Abul Kalam Mahabub Alam Shahanaj Shano Abdullah Al Faruq Md. Saddam Hossain Md. Nurul Islam Shahneaz Ali Khan Ariful Islam Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh Animals bat ecology community perception conservation myth Nipah virus Bangladesh |
| title | Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh |
| title_full | Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh |
| title_short | Understanding the Community Perceptions and Knowledge of Bats and Transmission of Nipah Virus in Bangladesh |
| title_sort | understanding the community perceptions and knowledge of bats and transmission of nipah virus in bangladesh |
| topic | bat ecology community perception conservation myth Nipah virus Bangladesh |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1814 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammadmahmudulhassan understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT mdabulkalam understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT mahabubalam understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT shahanajshano understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT abdullahalfaruq understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT mdsaddamhossain understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT mdnurulislam understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT shahneazalikhan understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh AT arifulislam understandingthecommunityperceptionsandknowledgeofbatsandtransmissionofnipahvirusinbangladesh |