KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP) ASSOCIATED WITH BRUCELLOSIS AMONG HERDERS IN AIN SHAMS AREA OF MAKKAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Mohammed Bakri Mohammed, Hamed Ademola Adetunji*, Yousef Rizq Alsulamia, Mishari Alharbi, Adel Alfahmi, Saeed Ahmed Almaliki Hani Alqurashia and Abdulaziz Alharbi

ABSTRACT

Background: Promotion of knowledge, attitudes and practices among herders could have a significant impact on
the decrease of many zoonotic infections such as brucellosis. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted
from July 2016 to July 2017. The main objective is to study knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding
prevention of Brucellosis among the Herders in Ain Shams area of Makkah Almukarramah, Saudi Arabia.
Method: To achieve the objective of the study, 35 herders were interviewed using a questionnaire with questions
about demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with brucellosis spread and
prevention. The collected data were reviewed and coded and then analysed using SPSS version 22 Software.
Results: More than half of herders have low education level (51.4% Illiterate, 20% primary) and all of them have
low economic status. Most of them (65.7%) don't use preventive measures when milking and more than two-third
(68.6%) don't have places to isolate sick animals. The competent authorities don't provide to herder any educational
information about the disease (85.7%). We recommend the necessity of cooperation between the Ministry of
Agriculture and the Ministry of Health to intensify health education programs to raise health awareness towards
brucellosis and milking according to the health requirements with the need to use preventive measures during the
milking by the technician in collaboration with the owners of farms.

Keywords: KAP, prevention of Brucellosis Herds men, Shams, Makkah.