Assessment of the knowledge, practice, and perception of anthrax among slaughterhouse workers in Nigeria

Anthrax is a neglected and life-threatening infectious zoonotic disease occurring, especially in Africa. This study was conducted a week before the confirmation of the anthrax outbreak in Nigeria in July 2023. It assessed the knowledge, risk practice, and perception of anthrax among the high-risk working groups, such as meat processors, butchers, animal farmers, meat vendors, para-veterinarians, veterinarians, cleaners, administrative staff, and animal traders in slaughterhouses (SHs) in Nigeria. Also, the national preparedness towards an outbreak was evaluated. A total of 627 participants were purposively selected from seven States and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive and logistic regression statistics. Most (499; 81.4%) of the participants were males, with the mean age being 37.3 ± 12.0 years old, and the majority (471, 78.1%) had no tertiary education. One-third (207, 32.7%) of the participants self-reported being aware of anthrax, and 13.2% indicated that anthrax was a serious disease for both animals and humans. The knowledge median score was 0.0 (min 0, max 30), the general knowledge level was poor (16.8%), and 91.2% (527) of participants fell within this category. The practice median score was 6.0 (min 0, max 12) and categorised as generally poor (52.9%). Gaps observed in practices that could promote the risk of participants’ exposure to anthrax included slaughtering sick animals for human consumption, splashing blood on inspected carcasses, carrying carcasses on heads or shoulders, and disposing of condemned animal tissues or organs in open dumps. One-third of participants (202, 32.2%) strongly perceived that efficiently implementing vaccination in livestock would reduce the outbreak in humans. Furthermore, participants with no tertiary qualifications and no veterinary background had increased odds (COR: 14.378, 95% CI; 4.923–41.991, p = 0.000) and (COR: 9.157, 95% CI; 3.644–23.008, p = 0.000) of having an inadequate knowledge level of anthrax, respectively. Participants who were non-veterinarians/non-para veterinarians had increased odds (COR: 3.471, 95% CI: 1.629–7.392, p = 0.001) of having a poorer practice level than veterinarian or para veterinarians. Conversely, participants less than 37 years old had lower odds (COR: 0.268, 95% CI: 0.148–0.486, p = 0.000) of having a poor practice level than those above the age. The knowledge level of the high-risk working groups was poor, with observable critical risk practices. Promoting media publicity and awareness creation, vaccination, effective disease surveillance, on-farm biosecurity, and adequate border control are critical strategies to prevent anthrax outbreaks in Nigeria.