Knowledge, attitudes and practices of habitants of the Kipushi territory on caprine and human brucellosis

Introduction: Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease that is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world. The WHO estimates the annual global incidence of the disease at 500,000 cases. It is classified on the single list of serious animal diseases of the World Organization for Animal Health with significant repercussions on public health and the economy of most developing countries. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of households raising goats in the context of human-animal cohabitation on caprine and human brucellosis in the Kipushi territory. Methods: Our investigations were carried out in the territory of Kipushi, province of upper-Katanga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). This study targeted households raising goats in the context of human-animal cohabitation, with the aim of evaluating their knowledge, attitudes and practices on caprine and human brucellosis. Data collection was done using interviews based on semi-open questions which were administered in these households. We interviewed 347 respondents in 4 different entities in the Kipushi territory, including 26.8% at the Kipushi Antenna, 27.9% in the Lumata village; 17.9% in Musoshi station village and 27.4% in Sambwa village to assess their knowledge on the symptoms of the disease, their attitudes towards prevent this pathology as well as their practices to prevent caprine and human brucellosis in the so-called territory. Results: The respondents’ good knowledge score on the symptoms of caprine and human brucellosis was 32.6%. The proportions of good knowledge of respondents according to the entities were 29.2% at the Kipushi Antenna, 32% in the Lumata village, 31.9% in the Musoshi station village and 33.5% in the Sambwa village. Regarding attitudes to prevent brucellosis, the score of good attitudes was 22.4% among respondents. This score was distributed according to the entities as follows: 23.5% at the Kipushi Antenna; 26.9% in Lumata village; 25.2% in Musoshi station village and 21.4% in Sambwa village. The score of good practices for combating brucellosis was 24.9%, with proportions of good practices of respondents according to the survey entities of 19.4% at the Kipushi Antenna; 23.7% in Lumata village; 29% in Musoshi station village and 26.3% in Sambwa village. Conclusion: Our results revealed a low level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of caprine and human brucellosis among respondents in the Kipushi territory. We recommend capacity building by raising awareness among households that raise livestock in Kipushi territory on the acquisition of knowledge on zoonotic diseases and specifically on brucellosis before undertaking any family breeding.