Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards dog-associated zoonotic diseases among undergraduate health students, cleaning staff, and security personnel
This cross-sectional study conducted in Ethiopia in 2025 assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dog-associated zoonotic diseases among undergraduate health students, cleaning staff, and security personnel, revealing generally high awareness and positive attitudes but highlighting specific knowledge gaps that necessitate targeted educational interventions.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Dogs have long been more than just pets; they are companions, guards, and members of the family. Yet, this close bond creates a unique public health challenge. When humans and dogs share living spaces, they also share the potential for disease. These illnesses, known as zoonoses, are infections that jump naturally from animals to people. In many parts of the world, particularly where stray dogs roam freely and veterinary care is scarce, these diseases pose a serious threat. Rabies, a fatal viral infection, is the most famous example, but dogs can also carry parasites and other germs that cause illness in humans. Understanding how people perceive these risks is crucial. If a community does not recognize the danger, or if they know about it but do not change their behavior, the cycle of infection continues.
Researchers at the University of Gondar in Ethiopia set out to examine this dynamic within their own campus community. They focused on three distinct groups: undergraduate health students, who are training to become medical professionals; cleaning staff, who maintain the campus grounds; and security personnel, who patrol the perimeter. The goal was to measure what these groups knew about dog-related diseases, how they felt about the risks, and what they actually did when they encountered dogs. The study took place over three months in 2025, involving 424 volunteers from these three occupations. By comparing these groups, the team hoped to identify gaps in knowledge and behavior that could be addressed to keep the campus and surrounding city safer.
The findings revealed a community that is largely aware of the problem but inconsistent in its actions. When asked if they had heard of zoonotic diseases, more than 90 percent of the participants said yes. Nearly all of them agreed that diseases can pass from animals to humans. Most could identify rabies as a specific danger, and a large majority recognized that dogs can carry parasitic infections. The students, given their medical training, naturally showed the highest levels of knowledge, but even the cleaning and security staff demonstrated a solid baseline of awareness. Most participants believed that diseases spread by dogs are preventable and that dogs should be dewormed to stay healthy. This positive attitude suggests that the community understands the basic concept that care and hygiene can stop these illnesses.
However, knowing the risk did not always translate into safe behavior. While the participants understood that dog feces can spread disease, fewer than half of them reported washing their hands with soap and water after touching a dog or its waste. About one-third of the respondents admitted to sitting or playing in the same areas where dogs sleep, a practice that increases the chance of picking up parasites from the ground. When asked about protecting dogs from disease, the most common answer was a combination of vaccination, sanitation, and isolation, yet a notable portion of the group said they did nothing to protect the animals. The study also found that while everyone agreed stray dogs were a problem, only about a quarter of the participants were aware of any local programs trying to manage the stray population.
The researchers discovered that certain personal factors influenced how people thought and acted. Knowledge levels were strongly linked to education and marital status; those with university degrees and those who were unmarried tended to have higher knowledge scores. Attitudes toward the risks were shaped by age, occupation, and income, with older participants and those in specific roles showing different levels of concern. Perhaps most telling was the link between education and practice. Those with higher levels of education were more likely to engage in good hygiene habits, such as handwashing, while those with less formal education were more likely to fall into the category of poor practice. This suggests that while general awareness is high, the specific habits needed to prevent infection are not yet universal.
The study concludes that the University of Gondar community has a strong foundation of knowledge regarding dog-associated diseases, but this awareness is not fully reflected in daily habits. The gap between knowing that a disease exists and actually washing one's hands after contact represents a critical area for improvement. The researchers recommend targeted education programs, particularly for non-health staff like cleaning and security workers, to bridge this gap. They also suggest integrating a "One Health" approach, which recognizes that human health, animal health, and environmental health are all connected. By focusing on routine hygiene and better management of stray dogs, the campus can move from simply knowing the risks to actively reducing them.
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