Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41026802›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on anthrax in selected game management areas in Zambia.

Exillia Kabbudula, Laila Gondwe, Chitwambi Makungu, Mtui-Malamsha N Jesse, Kezzy Besa, Suwilanji S Sichone, Noanga Mebelo, Mwila Kayula, Geoffrey Mainda, Fredrick M Kivaria and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Exillia KabbudulaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Laila GondweDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chitwambi MakunguEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Lusaka, Zambia.
Mtui-Malamsha N JesseEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Lusaka, Zambia.
Kezzy BesaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Suwilanji S SichonePangolin Protection, Wild Crime Prevention (WCP), Chilanga, Zambia.
Noanga MebeloDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Mwila KayulaEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Lusaka, Zambia.
Geoffrey MaindaEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Lusaka, Zambia.
Fredrick M KivariaEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Nairobi, Kenya.
Charles BebayEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy.
Baba SoumareEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Nairobi, Kenya.
Suze P FilippiniEmergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Lusaka, Zambia.
Chisoni MumbaDepartment of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID 0000-0002-4662-0876

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In this study, we investigated anthrax, a zoonotic disease, at the human-wildlife-livestock interface in Zambia, focusing on Simalaha Conservancy, Blue Lagoon, and Lochinvar National Parks. These areas represent key points where illegal wildlife trade and anthrax risk coexist. Although anthrax remains endemic in Zambia, there is limited data on community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) related to anthrax transmission and the role of wildlife trade value chains in its spread and maintenance. Therefore, we examined how these community KAPs influence anthrax transmission through the illegal game meat trade. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 1,187 participants and analyzed data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Our findings revealed significant variations between knowledge of anthrax and behavior. While more than 80% of respondents demonstrated positive attitudes and safe practices, their knowledge of anthrax remained limited. Specifically, 72.5% of participants had low awareness of the disease, yet 82.1% acknowledged its severity, and 59.4% recognized vaccination as a control measure. Despite these positive attitudes, misconceptions about anthrax transmission and treatment were widespread. Some community members relied on spiritual or herbal remedies rather than seeking medical intervention. We also identified several risky behaviors that contribute to anthrax transmission. Notably, 14.9% of respondents admitted to consuming meat from animals that had died suddenly, while 46.3% reported handling potentially infected carcasses or animal products without taking safety precautions. We found strong correlations between knowledge, attitudes, practices, and education levels. Our results showed that prior exposure to anthrax information was the strongest predictor of knowledge (β > 1). Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, improved veterinary services, and stricter enforcement of wildlife trade regulations to reduce the risk of anthrax transmission in these communities.

Indexed as

AnthraxHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeZoonosesAdolescentAdultAgedAnimalsAnimals, WildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMeatMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41026802
PMCPMC12503290

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.