AWARENESS OF ZOONOTIC DISEASES AMONG PET OWNERS IN WA MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA

Abstract

Cats and dogs are the most common household pets. Although their importance cannot be over emphasized, their interactions with humans may result in the infection of zoonotic diseases. The awareness of zoonosis is a prerequisite for an efficient disease prevention. The study was conducted to determine the awareness of zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Wa municipality. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire, among different groups of respondents within Wa municipality, consisting of two urban and two rural localities. Out of the 100 respondents who were interviewed, about 76 (76%) of the respondents indicated their awareness of zoonoses of dogs and cats. Majority (98.7%) of those who indicated their awareness of zoonoses of dogs and cats, could only mention rabies. Most (93.3%) of the respondents who stated rabies as zoonosis were able to list some of the symptoms of the disease. The overall results suggest that the level of knowledge of zoonoses of cats and dogs in Wa municipality is low. From the results, there is the need for awareness creation on zoonoses of dogs and cats as well as proper management of these pets, with efforts from veterinary, human and public health professionals as the main actors. Keywords: Awareness, Cat, dog, Knowledge, Zoonoses