Implications from the health belief model concerning zoonoses‐related threat perceptions held by livestock farmers in Nepal

Diseases that can be spread from animals to humans (zoonoses) are neglected health issues in Nepal. Due to professional exposure, livestock farmers are highly vulnerable to zoonoses. However, since there are limited studies, we have virtually no actual evidence on perception and practices toward prevention and response to zoonoses by livestock farmers in Nepal. This study examines the association between zoonoses preventive practices and the threat perceptions held by livestock farmers in Nepal based upon applications of health belief model (HBM) constructs. A descriptive cross‐sectional quantitative interview‐based survey was conducted with 380 livestock farmers randomly selected from three districts in Nepal. Results show that livestock farmers held primarily strong beliefs about zoonoses based on key constructs from the Health Belief Model (susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers with 91.5%, 93.7%, 91.1%, and 41.0%, respectively). However, they described low levels of participation in zoonoses preventive practices, such as handwashing with soap and water (52%–59%), following prescribed sick animal consumption practices (6.6%–17.7%), raw meat consumption practices (1.6%–6.3%), engaging in vaccination practices for livestock (33.9%–38.2%), and maintaining distance between home and shed (2.1%–13%). Based upon these findings, we strongly recommend enacting strategies to minimize the gaps between zoonoses preventive practices and perceptions through targeted communication interventions that include optimal educational sessions to reinforce applications from the constructs of HBM in farming communities. 在尼泊尔，可从动物传播给人类的疾病（人畜共患病）是被忽视的健康问题。由于职业接触，畜牧业者极易感染人畜共患病。不过，由于研究有限，几乎没有证据表明尼泊尔畜牧业者对预防和应对人畜共患病的感知与实践。本研究应用健康信念模型(HBM)，分析了尼泊尔畜牧业者的人畜共患病预防措施与威胁感知之间的关联。对从尼泊尔三个地区随机选取的380名畜牧业者进行了一项基于描述性横断面定量访谈的调查。结果表明，基于健康信念模型的关键建构（易感性、严重性、益处和障碍分别为91.5%、93.7%、91.1%和41.0%），畜牧业者主要对人畜共患病抱有强烈的信念。不过，受访者描述了在人畜共患病预防实践中的低参与度，例如用肥皂和水洗手(52‐59%)、遵循规定的患病动物消费惯例(6.6‐17.7%)、生肉消费习惯(1.6‐6.3%)，参与牲畜疫苗接种(33.9‐38.2%)，以及保持家与厂房之间的距离(2.1‐13%)。基于这些发现，我们强烈建议制定策略，通过有针对性的传播干预措施（包括最佳教育课程）将人畜共患病预防措施与感知之间的差距最小化，以加强健康信念模型建构在农业社区中的应用。 Las enfermedades que pueden transmitirse de los animales a los humanos (zoonosis) son problemas de salud descuidados en Nepal. Debido a la exposición profesional, los ganaderos son muy vulnerables a las zoonosis. Sin embargo, dado que hay estudios limitados, prácticamente no tenemos evidencia real sobre la percepción y las prácticas hacia la prevención y respuesta a las zoonos