Community knowledge, attitude and practices regarding rift valley fever in Nyandarua County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Rift Valley Fever is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis of international importance. The disease causes high abortion rates and neonatal mortality in animals while humans experience a febrile illness that may progress to a fatal hemorrhagic syndrome. In Kenya, severe outbreaks of the disease have been experienced among the pastoralist communities but recently there have been reports of the disease spread to non-endemic areas. A Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak was reported in Nyandarua in 2019 making it the first outbreak within the region. Objectives: Determine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding RVF and to describe the economic impact among livestock farmers in Nyandarua County. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in Nyandarua County. Livestock farmers were sampled using systematic random sampling within Ol‘Kalou, Kipipiri and Ndaragwa sub counties. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 205 participants were interviewed. Descriptive analysis was done using frequencies and proportions. The relationship between demographic characteristics and community’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding RVF was assessed using a multiple linear regression. The economic cost of Rift Valley Fever outbreak was estimated by computing the loss of production and cost of vaccination. Results: The overall knowledge score on RVF was 8.8% and 94% of respondents did not know the transmitting vector of RVF. None (0%) of the respondents knew that the disease causes high mortality of young animals while only 20% knew that the disease causes abortions in pregnant animals. About 91% of the respondents were not aware of the disease in humans with less than 10% mentioning correct signs of RVF in humans. Approximately 48.5% had a neutral attitude about RVF and 61% did not know they were at risk of contracting the disease. About 34% agreed that the disease could be prevented by vaccinating animals. A high proportion (65.3%) of the respondents handled aborted materials without protection. An estimated household level economic loss of Ksh 35, 463 within a period of 3 months was attributed to this outbreak. Conclusion: The knowledge about RVF disease was low. Study participants had a neutral attitude but engaged in risky practices. RVF outbreak led to economic losses in Nyandarua County. Recommendation: Provide community education on RVF disease manifestation in both animals and humans and advocate for use of personal protective clothes when handling sick animals, slaughtering and assisting animals to give birth.