ASSESSMENT OF FARMER’S KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES ON FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS AMONG SMALL RUMINANTS IN MIXED LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was a cross-sectional and survey-based risk assessment. to assess farmer’s knowledge, attitudes and practices on foot and mouth disease virus among small ruminants in mixed livestock systems in Gombe state, Nigeria The study population included animals: Sheep and goats in mixed herds with cattle and humans: Farmers and livestock handlers in Gombe state. A multistage cluster sampling was employed to select sampling units. A semi-structured closed ended questionnaire was developed and administered to the herders immediately after sample collection. These questions were deployed via KoBoToolbox, using the KoBoCollect mobile app on Android phones, to enable both offline data collection and online data submission by trained field assistants. The Demographic characteristics of the respondents the study showed that majority of the respondents 38.9% were above 30 years of age and only about 2.9% of the respondence were above 60 years of age, majority 82.2% of the respondents were male and only 17.2% female, 30.9% respondents have no formal education, 64.4% of the respondents claimed farming as their occupation and majority 66.9% of the respondence were Fulani, 14.2% Hausa and 18.9% other tribes .About 52.7% have very good knowledge of FMD in small ruminants, 66.1% and 69% of the respondents exhibit attitudes and practices that increase the risk to FMDV infection. In conclusion, more than half of the respondents have good knowledge on FMD in small ruminant, but exhibit attitudes and practices that increase the risk of FMD in Gombe State. Movement-control measures and public education on FMD were recommended in the prevention and control of FMD.