Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of the Community Toward Pet Contact‐Related Zoonoses in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Pet-associated zoonoses represent a relatively neglected area compared to food-borne zoonoses, but the close contact between household pets and people offers favourable conditions for transmission, either through direct or indirect contact. OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the community's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding pet contact-associated zoonoses in Mekelle City. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 pet-owning households from November 2024 to May 2025. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using STATA with descriptive and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 59.5%, 74.2% and 43.3% of respondents had good knowledge, attitudes and practices, respectively. Though the majority of the respondents (99.0%) had heard of zoonoses, gaps existed in understanding transmission and prevention. Higher education was strongly associated with better knowledge and practices. Risky practices included poor hand washing and feeding raw meat. CONCLUSIONS: Although knowledge and attitude were relatively good among respondents with higher education, practices remain inadequate. Therefore, strengthening public awareness through formal and informal education is essential to reduce zoonotic disease risks.