Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Rift Valley Fever among Livestock Owners in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study on Rift Valley fever, an economically significant zoonotic disease caused by the Rift Valley Fever Virus, was conducted in three Local Government Areas in Kano State, Nigeria, to understand its impact. A cross-sectional study involved administering a structured questionnaire to 78 respondents to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding Rift Valley Fever (RVF). Binary logistic regression and analysis of variance were used to examine associations between demographic factors and KAP outcomes. The respondents were predominantly male (65.4%) and aged 30–39 years (37.2%). Only 14.1% of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of RVF, while 10.3% met the criteria for good preventive practices. Only a few respondents (19.2%) would seek medical care, and 33.3% would slaughter suspected RVF animals. However, overall attitude toward RVF was moderate, with a mean score of 15.82 ± 5.95 (52.7% of the maximum score), with the majority of the respondents, 70.5% (55/78), agreeing that RVF is a serious disease, and 73.1% (57/78) believing that RVF threatens public health and the local livestock economy. Multivariable analyses showed no statistically  significant associations between demographic characteristics and RVF knowledge or preventive practices. A positive but borderline
association was observed between education level and attitude scores (Spearman's ρ = 0.21, p = 0.062), with higher education corresponding to more favorable attitudes, although this did not reach statistical significance. Therefore, enhanced public awareness and targeted interventions by the government and stakeholders are crucial in Nigeria to prevent Rift Valley Fever outbreaks and ensure food security.