Knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community and meat industry workers towards Taenia saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in and around Jimma and Ambo towns of Ethiopia

Taenia saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis are prevalent in Ethiopia, however, data on the knowledge/attitude, and practice (KAP) of the community and meat industry workers in this regard is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the KAP of the community and meat industry workers about T. saginata taeniosis/cysticercosis in Jimma and Ambo towns of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional KAP survey was performed on 293 community members selected using multistage random sampling and 97 meat industry workers from the two study towns. A questionnaire was constructed to collect sociodemographic variables, knowledge/attitudes about taeniosis/cysticercosis, raw meat consumption, latrine usage, and taeniosis treatment practices. Mixed effect (generalized) linear models were used to assess the association of self-reported taeniosis as well as the KAP scores with the demographic variables. The predicted proportion of self-reported taeniosis was 54% and 75% for Jimma and 44% and 70% for Ambo community and meat industry workers, respectively. The odds of self-reported taeniosis was higher for men (ORadj, 1.68, 95%CI, 0.97-2.93), and elementary/illiterate (ORadj, 1.46, 95%CI, 0.75-2.86) and high school education level (ORadj, 2.65, 95%CI, 1.45-4.93) compared to their counterparts. Most of the community members and the vast majority of the meat industry workers were knowledgeable about taeniosis but less conscious about cysticercosis. The knowledge/attitude score of the community was positively associated with the Jimma community (beta(adj)= 1.20, 95%CI 0.60-1.80), age (beta(adj)=0.03 points higher per year, 95%CI 0.00- 0.04), and men (beta(adj) = 1.20, 95%CI 0.64-1.76), while it was lower in elementary education/illiterate (beta(adj) =-1.60, 95%CI-2.31 to-0.95) and secondary/high school (beta(adj) =-0.83, 95%CI-1.46 to-0.23). The good practice scores of the community within both towns were negatively associated with increasing age (beta(adj)=-0.01 per year, 95%CI,-0.02 to 0.00), elementary/illiterate (beta(adj) =-0.60, 95%CI-1.01 to-0.19) and secondary/high school education (beta(adj) =-0.09, 95%CI-0.45 to-0.28), and urban community (beta(adj) =-0.47 95%CI,-0.82 to-0.12), while protestant/other (beta(adj) = 0.76, 95%CI 0.36 1.16) religion had higher scores compared to Orthodox religion. In conclusion, the predicted self-reported taeniosis proportion was moderately high, and the knowledge/attitude was substantial whereas, the practice was inferior. The association between the knowledge/attitude score and practice score was very weak. Therefore, public education to improve hygienic practices, risky culinary habits, taeniosis treatment, and backyard slaughtering were suggested.

Automated summary

Taenia saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis are prevalent in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the community and meat industry workers regarding these diseases. The results showed that most community members and meat industry workers had knowledge about taeniosis but were less aware of cysticercosis. The knowledge/attitude score was positively associated with the Jimma community, age, and gender, while it was lower in individuals with lower education levels. The good practice scores were negatively associated with increasing age, lower education levels, and urban community. Public education to improve hygienic practices, risky culinary habits, taeniosis treatment, and backyard slaughtering was suggested.