Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge and Experience of Zoonoses and One Health Approach in Ghana

Abstract Background The ability of healthcare workers (HCWs) to effectively deliver medical services is influenced by their knowledge of zoonotic diseases and the One Health (OH) concept. This study explores HCWs’ knowledge and experience with zoonoses and the OH approach in Ghana. Methods A structured questionnaire was administered to 182 HCWs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess associations between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of zoonoses and OH. Spearman's correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between HCWs’ knowledge and their experience with zoonotic diseases. Results Although 79.7% of HCWs accurately defined zoonoses, only 18.7% identified specific zoonotic diseases and 59.3% were familiar with the OH concept. Ebola was the most frequently recognized zoonosis (75.3%), while brucellosis was the least identified (12.1%). Medical doctors were more likely to report prior encounters with zoonotic diseases. When compared to medical doctors, knowledge of OH was higher among biomedical scientists (OR = 2.25, 95% CI 0.72 - 7.37) and lower among nurses (OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.33 - 2.60). HCWs with more than five years of professional experience demonstrated greater knowledge of rabies and tuberculosis. However, no significant correlation was found between overall knowledge of zoonoses and experience with any of the assessed diseases, except for a weak negative correlation observed for trypanosomiasis (Spearman's r = - 0.206, p = 0.005). Conclusions Most HCWs lack sufficient knowledge of zoonotic diseases. While awareness of the OH concept is relatively widespread, practical experience with zoonoses and OH remains limited. To address these gaps, education and collaboration between HCWs, environmental workers and veterinarians are essential to strengthen competencies in zoonotic disease surveillance and early detection, which are essential for timely response and effective prevention of future outbreaks. Key messages • Given the growing global incidence of zoonotic outbreaks, it is essential to enhance the resilience of health systems and to strengthen both surveillance and diagnostic infrastructure. • Enhancing the knowledge and preparedness of healthcare workers is critical to ensuring the effective prevention, detection, and response to emerging health threats.