{"title":"Understanding Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Brucellosis in the Agro-Pastoral Region of Djelfa, Algeria.","authors":"Mohamed Lounis, Imane Souadia, Chahinaze Maroua Chibout, Djihad Bencherit, Osaro Mgbere","doi":"10.1080/1059924X.2026.2689681","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonoses threatening both human and animal health worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Algeria is among the most affected countries, particularly in the Steppic region, according to recent estimates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in one of the most affected areas in this region, the department of Djelfa. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 22, 2024, and May 22, 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results showed that of the 664 participants who consented and completed the questionnaire, 639 (96.2%) reported having heard of brucellosis mainly through an infection of a friend or family member (33.23%) or through discussion (33.02%). Among these respondents, 58.4% demonstrated a high level of knowledge (<i>p</i> < .0001), while 59.47% exhibited a positive attitude (<i>p</i> < .0001), and 51.64% of the 122 livestock owners reported good practices (<i>p</i> > .05). Notably, 77.31% of the participants reported consuming unpasteurized milk. In addition, direct or indirect experience with brucellosis increases the odds of adopting good practices (OR: 3.63, 95% CI: 1.72-7.67, <i>p</i> < .001); whereas, male sex decreases the odds (aOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.39, <i>p</i> < .0001). Age also played a significant role, with individuals aged 41-50 years (aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.13-5.01, <i>p</i> = .0219) and dog ownership (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02-2.72, <i>p</i> = .0403) being the only factors significantly associated with participants' knowledge and attitudes toward brucellosis, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicate that although awareness of the disease is high, levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices remain moderate, which could be a barrier to efficiently prevent and control brucellosis spread. This highlights the need for targeted education and interventions to improve our understanding of the disease and to address high-risk behaviors that contribute to its transmission in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":49172,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Agromedicine","volume":" ","pages":"703-717"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Agromedicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2026.2689681","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/6/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonoses threatening both human and animal health worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Algeria is among the most affected countries, particularly in the Steppic region, according to recent estimates.
Methods: This study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in one of the most affected areas in this region, the department of Djelfa. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 22, 2024, and May 22, 2024.
Results: Results showed that of the 664 participants who consented and completed the questionnaire, 639 (96.2%) reported having heard of brucellosis mainly through an infection of a friend or family member (33.23%) or through discussion (33.02%). Among these respondents, 58.4% demonstrated a high level of knowledge (p < .0001), while 59.47% exhibited a positive attitude (p < .0001), and 51.64% of the 122 livestock owners reported good practices (p > .05). Notably, 77.31% of the participants reported consuming unpasteurized milk. In addition, direct or indirect experience with brucellosis increases the odds of adopting good practices (OR: 3.63, 95% CI: 1.72-7.67, p < .001); whereas, male sex decreases the odds (aOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.39, p < .0001). Age also played a significant role, with individuals aged 41-50 years (aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.13-5.01, p = .0219) and dog ownership (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02-2.72, p = .0403) being the only factors significantly associated with participants' knowledge and attitudes toward brucellosis, respectively.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that although awareness of the disease is high, levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices remain moderate, which could be a barrier to efficiently prevent and control brucellosis spread. This highlights the need for targeted education and interventions to improve our understanding of the disease and to address high-risk behaviors that contribute to its transmission in the region.
背景：布鲁氏菌病是世界范围内威胁人类和动物健康的最重要的人畜共患疾病之一，特别是在低收入和中等收入国家。根据最近的估计，阿尔及利亚是受影响最严重的国家之一，特别是在大草原地区。方法：本研究对该地区受灾最严重的地区之一杰尔法省的知识、态度和实践水平进行了评估。一项基于问卷的横断面调查于2024年3月22日至2024年5月22日进行。结果：664名同意并完成问卷调查的参与者中，639名（96.2%）报告主要通过朋友或家人感染（33.23%）或通过讨论（33.02%）听说过布鲁氏菌病。在被调查者中，58.4%的人表现出较高的知识水平（p p p >.05）。值得注意的是，77.31%的参与者报告饮用未经巴氏消毒的牛奶。此外，直接或间接经历布鲁氏菌病会增加采取良好做法的几率(or: 3.63, 95% CI: 1.72-7.67, p p p =。0219)和养狗(aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02-2.72, p =。0403)分别是与参与者对布鲁氏菌病的知识和态度显著相关的唯一因素。结论：这些发现表明，虽然对该疾病的认识很高，但知识、态度和做法水平仍然不高，这可能是有效预防和控制布鲁氏菌病传播的障碍。这突出表明需要有针对性的教育和干预措施，以提高我们对该疾病的了解，并解决导致其在该区域传播的高风险行为。
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Agromedicine: Practice, Policy, and Research publishes translational research, reports and editorials related to agricultural health, safety and medicine. The Journal of Agromedicine seeks to engage the global agricultural health and safety community including rural health care providers, agricultural health and safety practitioners, academic researchers, government agencies, policy makers, and others. The Journal of Agromedicine is committed to providing its readers with relevant, rigorously peer-reviewed, original articles. The journal welcomes high quality submissions as they relate to agricultural health and safety in the areas of:
• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Climate Change
• Education/Training
• Emerging Practices
• Environmental Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Ergonomics
• Injury Prevention
• Occupational and Industrial Health
• Pesticides
• Policy
• Safety Interventions and Evaluation
• Technology
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