Food-Borne Diseases in Bangladesh: First Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Farmers.

BACKGROUND

Food-borne diseases are significant threats to global public health, particularly in developing countries such as Bangladesh, where zoonotic food-borne pathogens cause substantial illnesses, death, and economic losses.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of livestock farmers in Bangladesh toward food-borne zoonotic diseases and identify key factors influencing their awareness and behavior.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to September 2025 among 523 farmers from eight divisions of Bangladesh using a structured questionnaire. The participants were over 18 years old, owned at least two livestock or 15 poultry birds, and reported animal diseases to veterinary hospitals.

RESULTS

Among them, 74.4% were male, most were aged 32-45 years, and 50.7% had an education above secondary level. Three-quarters of the participants (74.4%) were aware of tuberculosis, followed by salmonellosis (68.6%), E. coli infection (65.0%), anthrax (65.0%), and clostridial infections (41.5%). A total of 88.9% of respondents identified ingestion of raw or undercooked meat as the primary cause, followed by contaminated water (79.4%) and the consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products (75.7%). However, only 8.8% of the farmers demonstrated good knowledge, defined as adequate understanding of food-borne diseases, including their transmission, symptoms, and prevention, and 38.2% exhibited good management practices, with male farmers showing comparatively higher KAP scores. Univariate regression showed that variables such as sex, education, age, marital status, and training significantly influenced KAP. Despite a generally positive attitude, reflecting a willingness to prevent food-borne diseases and recognition of their health importance, farmers lacked adequate awareness of and adherence to safe practices to prevent zoonotic diseases.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the need for enhanced training, community awareness, and integrated One Health collaboration to improve food safety and reduce zoonotic risk in Bangladesh.