Farmers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on the risk of introducing peste des petits ruminants

This is a qualitative risk assessment of the risk of introducing peste des petits ruminants (PPR) from Angola into the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia. It involved a survey of the communal farmers within 10-20km of the Namibia-Angola border, using a knowledge, attitude, and practices study. It was carried out in two regions, Omusati and Ohangwena. Namibia is officially free of PPR in one zone, south of the veterinary cordon fence but not the NCA. There has never been an outbreak of PPR in the country and the national herd has not been exposed to PPR and is naïve. Thus, an outbreak of the disease is potentially devastating on a socioeconomic level. The closest PPR outbreak was in Cabinda province in Angola. To better understand the risk factors for introducing PPR from Angola, a study was conducted using a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey. The research employed a qualitative descriptive survey design consisting of questionnaires and interviews with 376 communal farmers residing within 10-20 km of the Namibia/Angola border in Namibia's Omusati and Ohangwena regions. 

The results showed that 84% of the farmers surveyed had insufficient knowledge regarding PPR, while 89% were unaware of its clinical symptoms. Nevertheless, the farmers showed good comprehension of general disease prevention techniques, including vaccination (99%), livestock isolation (85%), quarantine (72%), and regulated animal movements (94%). Additionally, the farmers exhibited awareness of the detrimental effects of disease outbreaks (90%). It was concluded that farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in Namibia's surveyed northern communal areas present a moderate risk of PPR incursion. The current surveillance strategies the competent authority implements are deemed sufficient and can be sustained. However, the study recommends enhancing PPR awareness among northern communal farmers, particularly those living near the Namibia/Angola border.

本数据集对安哥拉输入纳米比亚北部社区区域的小反刍兽疫（PPR）的风险进行了定性风险评估。该评估涉及对纳米比亚-安哥拉边境10-20公里范围内的社区农民进行的知识、态度和实践（KAP）调查。研究在奥穆萨蒂和奥哈恩韦纳两个地区进行。纳米比亚官方在该兽医隔离围栏以南的一个区域已无PPR疫情，但北部社区区域（NCA）并非如此。国家未曾爆发过PPR疫情，且全国牲畜群体未接触过PPR，处于无免疫状态。因此，该病的爆发对社会经济层面具有潜在的毁灭性。最近的一次PPR疫情发生在安哥拉的卡宾达省。为了更好地理解从安哥拉引入PPR的风险因素，研究采用知识、态度和实践（KAP）调查进行。研究采用了定性描述性调查设计，包括对居住在纳米比亚奥穆萨蒂和奥哈恩韦纳地区纳米比亚/安哥拉边境10-20公里范围内的376名社区农民进行的问卷和访谈。

调查结果显示，84%的受访农民对PPR的知识不足，而89%的人对其临床症状一无所知。尽管如此，农民对一般疾病预防技术，包括疫苗接种（99%）、牲畜隔离（85%）、隔离（72%）和动物移动管制（94%）等都有良好的理解。此外，农民对疾病爆发造成的负面影响也有认识（90%）。研究结论认为，纳米比亚北部社区区域农民的知识、态度和实践（KAP）表现出PPR入侵的适度风险。当前主管当局实施的监控策略被认为足够且可持续。然而，研究建议提高北部社区农民对PPR的认识，尤其是那些居住在纳米比亚/安哥拉边境附近的农民。