Brucellosis knowledge, awareness and practices among military dairy farm workers in Bangladesh

Background: Brucellosis is an ancient re-emerging bacterial zoonotic disease caused by species of the Brucella genus, affects a wide range of domesticated and adult wildlife, and plays a significant economic impact on the public health and the livestock sector. Improvement of knowledge, attitudes and practices among dairy farm workers could have a significant impact on reduction of zoonotic brucellosis in daily farming. Objectives: This study aimed at assessing workers‟ knowledge about brucellosis and practices relevant to its transmission on military dairy farms in Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods: From March to August 2020 a cross-sectional study was conducted among the dairy workers (n = 715) in eight military dairy farms from different regions in Bangladesh. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information of participants‟ knowledge, awareness and practices on brucellosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with knowledge, awareness and practices.
Results: All participants were male and 33.4% of them were in the age group 25 to 34 years. Only 0.3% of the participants knew that brucellosis is a zoonosis and was familiar with its symptoms. Among them, 61% of the participants stated that fever is the most noticeable clinical sign of brucellosis. None of the workers and their families consumed raw milk and products there. While handling fetal membranes and dead fetuses 74.8% of the workers used hand gloves, 94% of participants washed hands after contact with animals and 95.5% also washed hands before and after milking. Dairy farm workers aged between 18 to 24 years and > 44 years were 9.9% (95% CI: 2.9; 33.6) and 5.8 times (95% CI: 1.6; 20.5) more likely to have adequate knowledge of brucellosis than 25 and 44 years old. The odds awareness were 1.8 times (95% CI: 1.1; 2.8) higher among dairy farm workers aged between 18 to 24 years than those aged between 25 to 34 years. Dairy farm workers aged between 18 to 24 years and > 44 years were 2.1 (95% CI: 1.3; 3.4) and 2.9 times (95% CI: 1.8; 4.9) more likely to perform appropriate practice than those aged between 25 to 34 years. In addition, animal attendant performed 8.9 times (95% CI: 2.2; 36.1) more appropriate practices than milkmen.
Conclusions: The knowledge of the workers about brucellosis in these eight military dairy farms was considered moderate. Awareness programs are necessary to improve and foster preventive practices.