| dc.description |
This study was carried out with the objective of assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices
(KAP) related to marine food associated diseases (MFADs) among fish stakeholders in Zanzibar
with socio-demographic characteristics of age, education level, sex, marital status and years of primary occupation.
Study Design: A cross sectional study that utilized structured questionnaire was conducted
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Zanzibar, Tanzania between
September 2015 and March 2016.
Methodology: Structured questionnaires were developed and used to collect data from 663
respondents. Each individual KAP variable was divided into 2-3 elements; elements of knowledge
were on transmission, epidemiology and symptoms in humans, elements of attitude were on attitude
towards threat and towards control and elements of practices were on practices of disease
prevention and practices of sharing of information. Mean of the dependant variables were calculated
to identify their cut off points that decided the level of the variable under question. Data was then
pooled together to obtain overall knowledge, overall attitude and overall practice. Chi-square test
was used to determine statistical association among KAP variables.
Results: Overall attitudes, overall knowledge and overall practices were highly associated
(p=0.000) with age, level of education and primary occupation. Overall practices were associated
with years of primary occupation (p<0.05). Moreover, years of primary occupation was highly
associated with overall knowledge. None of the pooled dependant variables had association with
gender or marital status (p>0.05). Overall attitudes, overall knowledge and overall practices were all
observed to be highly associated (p=0.000) with each other.
Conclusion: High association on MFADs was found in this study between KAP with
sociodemographic variables. Sociodemographic variables can therefore be predictors of KAP. High
association observed among overall KAP variables indicates synergism and interrelation amongst
them. Gaps within elements of KAP need to be addressed to improve hygiene and handling of
marine foods. |
|