Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and...

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Main Authors: Assadullah Samadi, Mohammad Asif Safi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CABI 2024-03-01
Series:CABI One Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabionehealth.2024.0007
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author Assadullah Samadi
Mohammad Asif Safi
author_facet Assadullah Samadi
Mohammad Asif Safi
author_sort Assadullah Samadi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and risky behaviors of Kabul City’s butchers about CCHF. Data were collected from 123 butchers by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. The finding of the present study revealed that of the total CCHF cases in the butchers, their family members, and co-workers, 37.9% died. Nearly half of the butchers (45.0%) experienced splashing of animal blood on their faces, while 70.1% of them had cut their hands with a knife during their occupation life. In addition, 27.0% of the respondents held the knife in their mouth while dressing the animal carcasses, and 27.3% of the butchers consumed raw liver. Hand washing and PPE application were practiced by 94.3% and 22.8% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents had heard about CCHF, and 67.4% of the participants had good knowledge about CCHF. The knowledge level of the respondents (poor or good) was statistically related to their age, history of blood splash in the face and eyes of the butchers, holding work knives in the mouth, blowing the skin of animals, hand washing with soap and water, and slaughter places (p < 0.05). A medium correlation between education and total knowledge of the butchers was observed (r = 0.3; p < 0.05). It is necessary to change such high-risk behaviors by continually coordinating awareness campaigns through mass media, workshops, and informative leaflet distribution to improve knowledge. One Health impact statement CCHF is a multifaceted zoonotic disease where tick bites, direct contact with the tissue, secretions, and body fluids of the infected animals and humans, and consumption of raw milk, meat, and liver of infected animals are the main transmission methods of the disease to humans. Although livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and ostrich are the main reservoirs of the virus, they are infected in subclinical form, and humans are the only hosts where fatal clinical disease develops. Since the CCHF virus circulates in nature between tick-vertebrates-ticks, the only method that can effectively control and prevent the disease in humans is by using a targeted One Health approach between the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors. Meanwhile, it has been proven that public awareness campaigns through the use of mass media, community leaders, and integrated workshops are the most effective tools to prevent the transmission of the CCHF virus from infected animals and ticks to humans.
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spelling doaj.art-fcf7f160fcdb4cb98896bb8a1ca739512024-03-23T11:31:43ZengCABICABI One Health2791-223X2024-03-013110.1079/cabionehealth.2024.0007Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic feverAssadullah Samadi0Mohammad Asif Safi1Associate Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology, Paraclinic Department, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan;Assistant Professor of Veterinary Anatomy, Preclinic Department, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Kabul University, Kabul, AfghanistanAbstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and risky behaviors of Kabul City’s butchers about CCHF. Data were collected from 123 butchers by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. The finding of the present study revealed that of the total CCHF cases in the butchers, their family members, and co-workers, 37.9% died. Nearly half of the butchers (45.0%) experienced splashing of animal blood on their faces, while 70.1% of them had cut their hands with a knife during their occupation life. In addition, 27.0% of the respondents held the knife in their mouth while dressing the animal carcasses, and 27.3% of the butchers consumed raw liver. Hand washing and PPE application were practiced by 94.3% and 22.8% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents had heard about CCHF, and 67.4% of the participants had good knowledge about CCHF. The knowledge level of the respondents (poor or good) was statistically related to their age, history of blood splash in the face and eyes of the butchers, holding work knives in the mouth, blowing the skin of animals, hand washing with soap and water, and slaughter places (p < 0.05). A medium correlation between education and total knowledge of the butchers was observed (r = 0.3; p < 0.05). It is necessary to change such high-risk behaviors by continually coordinating awareness campaigns through mass media, workshops, and informative leaflet distribution to improve knowledge. One Health impact statement CCHF is a multifaceted zoonotic disease where tick bites, direct contact with the tissue, secretions, and body fluids of the infected animals and humans, and consumption of raw milk, meat, and liver of infected animals are the main transmission methods of the disease to humans. Although livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and ostrich are the main reservoirs of the virus, they are infected in subclinical form, and humans are the only hosts where fatal clinical disease develops. Since the CCHF virus circulates in nature between tick-vertebrates-ticks, the only method that can effectively control and prevent the disease in humans is by using a targeted One Health approach between the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors. Meanwhile, it has been proven that public awareness campaigns through the use of mass media, community leaders, and integrated workshops are the most effective tools to prevent the transmission of the CCHF virus from infected animals and ticks to humans.http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabionehealth.2024.0007butchersCCHFKabul Cityknowledgerisky behaviors
spellingShingle Assadullah Samadi
Mohammad Asif Safi
Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
CABI One Health
butchers
CCHF
Kabul City
knowledge
risky behaviors
title Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
title_full Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
title_fullStr Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
title_short Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
title_sort knowledge and risky behaviors of kabul city butchers regarding crimean congo hemorrhagic fever
topic butchers
CCHF
Kabul City
knowledge
risky behaviors
url http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabionehealth.2024.0007
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