Food-Borne Diseases in Bangladesh: First Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Farmers.

Abstract

Background: Food-borne diseases are significant threats to global public health, particularly in developing countries such as Bangladesh, where zoonotic food-borne pathogens cause substantial illnesses, death, and economic losses.

Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of livestock farmers in Bangladesh toward food-borne zoonotic diseases and identify key factors influencing their awareness and behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to September 2025 among 523 farmers from eight divisions of Bangladesh using a structured questionnaire. The participants were over 18 years old, owned at least two livestock or 15 poultry birds, and reported animal diseases to veterinary hospitals.

Results: Among them, 74.4% were male, most were aged 32-45 years, and 50.7% had an education above secondary level. Three-quarters of the participants (74.4%) were aware of tuberculosis, followed by salmonellosis (68.6%), E. coli infection (65.0%), anthrax (65.0%), and clostridial infections (41.5%). A total of 88.9% of respondents identified ingestion of raw or undercooked meat as the primary cause, followed by contaminated water (79.4%) and the consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products (75.7%). However, only 8.8% of the farmers demonstrated good knowledge, defined as adequate understanding of food-borne diseases, including their transmission, symptoms, and prevention, and 38.2% exhibited good management practices, with male farmers showing comparatively higher KAP scores. Univariate regression showed that variables such as sex, education, age, marital status, and training significantly influenced KAP. Despite a generally positive attitude, reflecting a willingness to prevent food-borne diseases and recognition of their health importance, farmers lacked adequate awareness of and adherence to safe practices to prevent zoonotic diseases.

Conclusion: This study underscores the need for enhanced training, community awareness, and integrated One Health collaboration to improve food safety and reduce zoonotic risk in Bangladesh.