Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
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Project No. 248 (2008)Knowledge, Attitude <strong>and</strong> Practice <strong>of</strong> Poultry Farm Workers Towards AvianInfluenza in Al-Ain District in the UAEStudent Authors: Abdulla Mohammed Saleh Bedah Al Awadhi, Khaled AbdullaAhmed Al Bahri Al Neaimi, Ahmed Abdul Kareem Othman Al Hammadi, BaderMahmood Mohd Saleh KazimFaculty Supervisors: Dr. I. Blair, Dr. A. WheatleyAbstract:Objectives: Avian Influenza (AI) is an infection caused by avian influenza viruses. AI isvery contagious among birds <strong>and</strong> it may affect humans. Since 2003 H5N1 avianinfluenza virus has become a global problem for poultry with several outbreaks inmany countries. Experts are concerned that H5N1 may signal the start <strong>of</strong> humaninfluenza p<strong>and</strong>emic if the virus undergoes mutation. Although cases <strong>of</strong> H5N1 in poultryhave been reported in nearby countries, no cases have been reported in the UAE.However, there is always a potential risk for H5N1 outbreaks in UAE because it is onthe migratory routes <strong>of</strong> many species <strong>of</strong> wild birds.. If outbreaks <strong>of</strong> H5N1 were tooccur in UAE poultry farm workers will be in the front line <strong>and</strong>, therefore, they need tobe aware <strong>of</strong> how to recognize it <strong>and</strong> respond to it. Knowledge, attitude <strong>and</strong> practices <strong>of</strong>poultry farm workers have been surveyed in Italy <strong>and</strong> Nigeria but not in Middle Eastcountries. Research done in UAE <strong>and</strong> Saudi Arabia in the past has involved healthcare workers <strong>and</strong> high school students but not poultry farm workers. To assess theknowledge, attitude <strong>and</strong> practices (KAP) <strong>of</strong> poultry farm workers towards AI <strong>and</strong>determine the association between KAP <strong>and</strong> level <strong>of</strong> seniority within the farmworkplace.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out. A sampling frame for poultry farmswas produced <strong>and</strong> eight farms were selected. The farms were visited <strong>and</strong> supervisors<strong>and</strong> workers were sampled. Staff were interviewed using a st<strong>and</strong>ard questionnaire.Composite scores were calculated from the responses covering overall knowledge,local knowledge, <strong>and</strong> attitude to AI.Results: Seventy two subjects were interviewed from five <strong>of</strong> the eight farms..Supervisors had significantly better overall knowledge score (p
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