Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Among Slaughterhouse Workers in Sana'a and Dhamar Cities-Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT

Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a viral infection spread through tick bites or contact with secretions from infected animals or humans, posing a risk to slaughterhouse workers. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of slaughterhouse workers in Yemen towards CCHF. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted on 173 adults working at slaughterhouses in Sana'a and Dhamar cities, Yemen using a multi-stage sampling. The questionnaire used in the study was a reliable survey instrument (with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.71) employed for the purpose of data collection. The questionnaire encompassed three distinct sections 1)- demographic inquiries pertaining to age, gender, marital status, level of education, and occupation; 2)- knowledge-based inquiries consisting of 27 items;3)- the attitude section consisted of 11 questions. After completing the questionnaire, the data were analyzed by SPSS version 24, using percentages, chi-square test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.6 years with a SD of 11.2 years, with 84.4% male and 15.6% female. Most slaughterhouse workers were butchers (78.6%) and some were shepherds (21.4%). The participants had poor knowledge (86.7%) and attitude (72.3%) towards CCHF. There exists a noteworthy association between the knowledge scores and the gender, education level, and occupation (P=0.035, P=0.039, P=0.001). A significant positive correlation was identified between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.715, P<0.001). Conclusion: The majority of respondents had poor knowledge of CCHF. Educational programs are essential for increasing community awareness, with involvement of technical experts crucial for disseminating information on preventing and managing CCHF.