KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ASSESSMENT OF CATTLE OWNERS ON LUMPY SKIN DISEASE IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN ZONES, TIGRAY, ETHPIOPIA

Abstract

A cross-sectional study design was conducted from April, 2021 to August, 2021, to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cattle owners about LSD and review its occurrence selected districts of Eastern and Southeastern zones, Tigray. Primary and secondary data were collected. For the primary data a questionnaire surveys and FGD and KII were undertaken. A total of 438 questionnaires, 9 FGD and 12 KII were undertaken. The collected data were analyzed using STATA, descriptive statistics (expressed in terms of frequency and percentage) and univariate logistic regression were employed (expressed in terms of OR and 95% CI). In the current study majority of the respondents were in the age group of 31-40year (49.3%), male (92.5%), illiterate (52.1%) and farmer (75.3%). Majority of them had unfavorable attitude (69.8%) and poor practice (66.7%) toward LSD. Majority of the respondents (68.5%) identify LSD from other illnesses by nodular lesions and 53.0% believe that treating external parasites will reduce LSD infection. Eighty four percent of the respondents did not handle good management, 60.3% didn’t clean pen of cattle regularly and 85.6% did not receive any training about sick animal handling. Knowledge of cattle owners on LSD from Enderta, Adigudem and Wukro districts were 2.16 (OR= 2.16, 95% CI: 1.008, 4.563), 2.15 (OR = 2.15; 95% CI: 0.977, 4.757) and 2.07 (OR=2.07; 95% CI: 0.881, 4.889) times higher as compare to cattle owners of Tsrae-wenberta, respectively. Respondents in the age group of > 50 years old were 1.84 times higher likely to have positive attitude towards the disease compared to owners in the age group of 31-40 years old and the difference was statistically significant (OR=1.84,95% CI :1.091,3.108). Respondents who uses individual grazing land and individual ground water had 1.91 (OR= 1.91; 95% CI: 1.262, 2.893) and 2.80 (OR=2.80,95%CI: 1.476, 5.327) times better LSD prevention and control practice compared to cattle owners uses communal grazing land and dump, respectively. In conclusion, poor sick animal handling practice, poor animal pen hygienic, and inadequate information and training was encountered among respondents of the present study. Therefore, proper handling of sick animals, cleaning and disinfecting of pens and awareness creation need to be implemented