An experimental game to assess hunter's participation in zoonotic diseases surveillance.
BMC Public Health
; 24(1): 342, 2024 02 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38302879
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Strengthening the surveillance of zoonotic diseases emergence in the wild meat value chains is a critical component of the prevention of future health crises. Community hunters could act as first-line observers in zoonotic pathogens surveillance systems in wildlife, by reporting early signs of the possible presence of a disease in the game animals they observe and manipulate on a regular basis.METHODS:
An experimental game was developed and implemented in a forested area of Gabon, in central Africa. Our objective was to improve our understanding of community hunters' decision-making when finding signs of zoonotic diseases in game animals would they report or dissimulate these findings to a health agency? 88 hunters, divided into 9 groups of 5 to 13 participants, participated in the game, which was run over 21 rounds. In each round the players participated in a simulated hunting trip during which they had a chance of capturing a wild animal displaying clinical signs of a zoonotic disease. When signs were visible, players had to decide whether to sell/consume the animal or to report it. The last option implied a lowered revenue from the hunt but an increased probability of early detection of zoonotic diseases with benefits for the entire group of hunters.RESULTS:
The results showed that false alerts-i.e. a suspect case not caused by a zoonotic disease-led to a decrease in the number of reports in the next round (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.46, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.36-0.8, p < 0.01). Hunters who had an agricultural activity in addition to hunting reported suspect cases more often than others (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.09-3.88, p < 0.03). The number of suspect case reports increased with the rank of the game round (Incremental OR 1.11, CI 1.06-1.17, p < 0.01) suggesting an increase in participants' inclination to report throughout the game.CONCLUSION:
Using experimental games presents an added value for improving the understanding of people's decisions to participate in health surveillance systems.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Zoonosis
/
Animales Salvajes
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Public Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia