Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices on bovine tuberculosis in Yemalogi Welel district, Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis poses a significant global threat to public health and economic stability, particularly in developing nations like Ethiopia, where community awareness and appropriate practices are often limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community regarding bovine tuberculosis in the Yemalogi Welel district of Kellem Wallaga zone, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 422 randomly selected community members between March and October 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. A composite score was calculated for each participant’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices, with a score equal to or above the mean designated as “good” and below the mean as “poor.” A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 422 randomly selected community members between March and October 2024. The majority of respondents were male (70.6%) and resided in rural areas (75.1%). The overall mean knowledge score indicated that 67.5% of participants had good knowledge of Bovine tuberculosis. Socio-demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, educational status, and residence showed a significant association with knowledge (p < 0.05). Regarding attitudes, 65.6% of participants demonstrated a good attitude towards the disease, while 63.3% exhibited good practices. All socio-demographic factors, except kebele and cattle ownership, were significantly associated with both attitude and practice (p < 0.05). A notable proportion of the community (32.5%) has poor knowledge and a significant number still engages in risky practices like consuming raw milk and meat. Therefore, tailored One Health awareness programs are needed to reduce the zoonotic transmission of Bovine tuberculosis and improve community health in Ethiopia.