Knowledge of and Perceived Public Health Significance of Zoonoses Among Veterinary and Medical Students in Ghana

Abstract

This study examined Ghanaian veterinary and medical students' knowledge and perception of zoonoses' public health impact.
This cross-sectional survey utilised online structured questionnaires which were completed by 384 students (174 veterinary and
210 medical students) from 4 Ghanaian state universities. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the data obtained using mean
scores, Pearson Chi-square, and regression analysis. The study found that 78.6% of medical and veterinary students in Ghana
have decent understanding of zoonoses, with a mean response of 4.88 ± 1.049. Veterinary students (42.9%) knew more about
zoonosis than medical students (35.7%). 83.6% of medical and veterinary students had a strong opinion of the public health
importance of zoonoses, with a mean of 3.99 ± 1.017. Medical students (45.8%) had a higher view of zoonosis than veterinary
students (37.8%). Students' awareness of zoonosis was not substantially associated to religion (P=0.694) or institution (P=0.06),
but was significantly related to gender (P=0.044), school (P=0.031), and year of study (P=0.004). Students' perceptions of
zoonoses' public health significance were not significantly related to gender, religion, institution, or school (P>0.05), but were
significantly related to their year of study (P<0.001). Ghanaian medical and veterinary students had strong awareness and
perceived public health importance of zoonoses, especially the clinical students. In view of these findings, policy debate is needed
to evaluate medical and veterinary pre-clinical education to include the teaching of zoonoses. To understand their role in zoonoses
control, medical, veterinary, animal, and environmental science students should be encouraged to attend workshops that focus
on zoonoses and their control.