142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

310979
Factors contributing to emerging infectious diseases: Findings from a qualitative study in Uganda

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Sara Woldehanna, MS, MAA , Global Health, Population and Nutrition Group, FHI 360, Washington, DC
Susan Zimicki, PhD, ScM , Global Health, Population and Nutrition Group, FHI 360, Washington, DC
Most infectious agents implicated in newly emerging diseases have a non-human animal origin (zoonoses). Bats, primates and rodents have been most frequently implicated in the transmission of infections that have had severe impact on humans. Analysis of newly emerging zoonotic disease events from 1940-2004 revealed a significant increase in these events over time, related to factors including changing environments and global development patterns. The PREVENT Project (funded by USAID to help reduce transmission of emerging viruses from animals to humans) has conducted animal exposure studies in several countries, environments and groups of people to understand what factors place people at risk for such diseases. 

In October 2013, PREVENT conducted a qualitative study among two ethnic groups (Bakiga and Bafumbira) living in or using areas with semi-disturbed and disturbed ecologies in Kisoro District, Uganda.  We sought to understand differences in exposure to animals related to  landscapes  ethnicity, gender and age. Methods included individual interviews and focus group discussions employing a variety of participatory tools.

Findings indicate varying degrees of human interaction with key species - bats, primates, rodents – as well as other animals. The main activities associated with exposure include consumption, medicinal uses, crop fertilization and pest eradication. Cultural and social factors influencing exposure included religious beliefs, taboos, social roles, and legal issues. In addition to differences between ethnic groups and physical environments, the study determined that men, women and children have different types and levels of exposure that need to be addressed when developing interventions.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain the mechanisms of transmission of zoonotic diseases from animals to humans. Describe the research questions and methods used in the design of a qualitative study that explores human exposure to animals. Discuss the main factors that might place people in Kisoro district in Uganda at risk of disease transmission from animals Discuss the role of environment (different landscapes and ecologies) in exposure.

Keyword(s): Behavioral Research, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a researcher for over a decade on a variety of public health projects, most recently on a US Agency for International Development project on zoonotic/emerging infectious diseases.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.