Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Metehara town community towards bat-borne diseases, central Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Metehara town community towards bat-borne diseases, where a novel coronavirus has recently been reported among cave bats in the area. A crosssectional study was carried out between April 2021 and June  2021 among randomly selected individuals in the community. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Multivariable logistic  regression analysis was used to assess associations between socio-demographic characteristics and overall knowledge of respondents  about bat-borne diseases. Out of 392 study participants, the majority (88.5%, n=347) have heard that bats could transmit or serve as a  source of disease to humans. Almost half of them (45.4%, n=179) heard this information from the Metehara’s community. About 40  (11.5%) of the participants perceived that bats could transmit rabies. Close to 26.3% (n=103) of the participants were found to have a high level of overall knowledge, 70.7% (n=277) favorable overall attitudes, and 98.7% (n=387) good overall practices towards bat-borne  diseases. The overall knowledge about bat-borne diseases was strongly associated with observing wild animals in or around residents’  houses. The majority of the participants had high overall attitudes and practices about bat-borne diseases, but their overall knowledge  level was low. Hence, there is a need to create community awareness regarding the risk of bat-borne diseases along with bat   conservation.