Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydophilosis in Small Ruminant Farms in Cameroon: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perception of Zoonotic Risks of Farmers

Roland NANKAM CHIMI
* ORCID logo ,
Justin KOUAMO
ORCID logo ,
Michel Alain Simo Kouam
,
Muller DZOUSSE FOTSAC
,
Raphael CHERMAPI DEMBENG
,
Armelle Prudence KOUENGOUA KOUENGOUA
,
Josué SIMO
,
Ferdinand NGOULA
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 20 August 2023 / Approved: 22 August 2023 / Online: 23 August 2023 (07:38:09 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 24 August 2023 / Approved: 25 August 2023 / Online: 25 August 2023 (11:44:32 CEST)

How to cite: CHIMI, R.N.; KOUAMO, J.; Simo Kouam, M.A.; FOTSAC, M.D.; CHERMAPI DEMBENG, R.; KOUENGOUA, A.P.K.; SIMO, J.; NGOULA, F. Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydophilosis in Small Ruminant Farms in Cameroon: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perception of Zoonotic Risks of Farmers. Preprints 2023, 2023081563. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1563.v2 CHIMI, R.N.; KOUAMO, J.; Simo Kouam, M.A.; FOTSAC, M.D.; CHERMAPI DEMBENG, R.; KOUENGOUA, A.P.K.; SIMO, J.; NGOULA, F. Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydophilosis in Small Ruminant Farms in Cameroon: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perception of Zoonotic Risks of Farmers. Preprints 2023, 2023081563. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202308.1563.v2

Abstract

Zoonotic abortive diseases represent a significant health and economic risk for national public health. This cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to October 2021 among 200 selected small ruminant farmers in the three northern regions of Cameroon. Data collection was done through questionnaires administered by exchange with the herder and responses were coded and recorded on an Excel spreadsheet. The data were then analyzed with R software, version 2.13.0. An ANOVA test was used to assess significant differences in mean of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Perception of zoonotic risks (KAPP) scores between regions. Pearson correlations were used to calculate the association between KAPP scores within regions. Small ruminant farmers surveyed had low mean scores for knowledge of abortive Toxoplasmosis and Chla-mydophilosis (0.1 ± 0.2), desirable attitude (0.32 ± 0.07), appropriate practice (0.36 ± 0.13) in managing abortion, and positive perception of zoonotic risks of Toxoplasmosis and Chlamydo-philosis in small ruminants (0.12 ± 0.33), respectively. KAPP was significantly (p<0.01) and posi-tively associated with knowledge (r=0.98) and risk perception (r=0.99). However, attitudes (r=0.06), practices (r=0.05) and risk perception of toxoplasmosis (r=0.07) and Chlamydophilosis (r=0.08) were not associated with farmers' knowledge. This study revealed significant knowledge gaps, low levels of desired attitudes, and high-risk behavioral practices. These results therefore call for capacity building of health professionals and farmers to better integrate the One Health concept in the management of neglected zoonotic diseases.

Keywords

knowledge; attitude; practice; risk perception; abortion; small ruminant farmers; Cameroon

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: 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.

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Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 25 August 2023
Commenter: Roland Nankam
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: The word "small" in the title
Correct names of authors and affiliations in the document :
Roland Nankam Chimi 1,2*, Justin Kouamo 3, Michel Alain Simo Kouam 1, Muller DZOUSSE FOTSAC1, Raphael CHERMAPI DEMBENG2, Armelle Prudence KOUENGOUA KOUENGOUA1, Josué Simo4 and Ferdinand Ngoula 21   School of Veterinary Medicine, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangte P.O. Box 208, Cameroon; alkouam2005@yahoo.fr (M.A.S.K.); mullerfotsac@gmail.com (M.D.F); dchermapi@gmail.com (R.C.D); kouenpru@yahoo.com (A.P.K.K)2   Laboratories of Animal Physiology and Health, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang P.O. Box 222, Cameroon; fngoula@yahoo.fr 3   School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, The University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere P.O. Box 454, Cameroon; justinkouamo@yahoo.fr  4  Pharmacy division, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangte P.O. Box 208, Cameroon; josuesimo@gmail.com (J.S.)

Order of appearance of figures in the text

Author Contributions: J.K and F.G designed, structured and coordinated the study. R.N.C coordinated the fieldwork but also collected data with M.A.S.K, M.D.F. R.N.C and J.S. extracted and analyzed the data. R.N.C and R.C.D prepared the first draft of the manuscript. J.K, F.G, A.P.K.K, and J.S critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript. 
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