Assessment of Knowledge of Zoonotic Risk and Preventive Health Practices of Livestock Farmers in Rural Communities of Northern Nigeria

Background: Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. Livestock farming is a point of interaction between man and animals. Understanding the zoonotic risks and preventive health behaviour towards zoonotic infections helps build a healthy human community. Method: We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional evaluation of the zoonotic risk and preventive health practices of livestock farmers in the rural communities of Northern Nigeria involving 400 livestock farmers. Results: About 49.6% and 45.7% had good knowledge of risk and preventive health practices. Majority of the respondents were males (81.8%), 46 – 55 years (26%), primary school certificate holders (33.8%) married (78.5%) and ruminant farmers (43.3%). The farmers major source of information on zoonotic diseases was mass media (91.8%). About 88% put their infected animals under observation (88.0%). Only 49.6% with good preventive practice of “Always” washing their hands”. Conclusion: The study revealed that the rural livestock farmers in the region have poor knowledge of zoonotic risk and preventive health practices. We advocate massive community awareness campaign through mass media, government information organs and religious fora to break the zoonotic infection cycles and improve the health of the people of Northern Nigeria towards national development.