Research Participation Influences Willingness to Reduce Zoonotic Exposure in Uganda

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat, yet data on community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) for prevention are limited, especially in biodiversity-rich areas.
• Understanding human-animal interactions is crucial for mitigating the risk of spillover events in communities bordering wildlife habitats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a human-centered design (HCD) intervention on participants' willingness to engage in protective behaviors against zoonotic disease exposure.
• To compare changes in KAP related to domestic and wild animal zoonotic exposure between an intervention and a comparison group over time.

Main Methods:

• A modified grounded-theory framework was used to develop a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) survey.
• The survey was administered at two time points (KAPT1 and KAPT2) to participants living near Kibale National Park, Uganda.
• A difference-in-difference approach compared an intervention group (post-HCD activity) with a comparison group to evaluate sustained behavioral changes.

Main Results:

• Initially, the intervention group showed higher willingness for protective behaviors against wild animal zoonotic exposure, while the comparison group had lower willingness for domestic animal exposure.
• The HCD intervention led to a significant sustained increase in willingness to adopt protective behaviors against domestic animal zoonotic exposure in the intervention group by KAPT2.
• No significant differences in actual practices to avoid zoonotic exposure from domestic or wild animals were observed between the intervention and comparison groups.

Conclusions:

• Human-centered design interventions can effectively enhance willingness to adopt protective behaviors against zoonotic diseases, particularly concerning domestic animals.
• Translating increased willingness into consistent protective practices remains a challenge, highlighting the need for further research into behavioral implementation strategies.
• Targeted interventions are essential for improving public health outcomes in communities at high risk of zoonotic disease transmission.