Awareness of Zoonoses among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in Korea

Lim, Hyun Sul; Yoo, Seok Ju; Lee, Kwan

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Cattle slaughterhouse workers are known as the high risk group for the zoonoses. We surveyed the awareness of zoonoses among cattle slaughterhouse workers to suggest direction of education and public relations.
METHODS
We evaluated the epidemiological characteristics of zoonoses and the process of cattle slaughtering. We designed different questionnaires for the workers involved in slaughtering, the handlers of residual products, the inspectors and their assistants, and the grading testers and their assistants respectively. We visited 73 cattle slaughterhouses and 62 residual products handle houses across the country and conducted a questionnaire survey of the general characteristics and the awareness of zoonoses. The data collected was evaluated using the SPSS 17.0 statistical package.
RESULTS
The awareness rate of brucellosis, Q fever and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) were 83.9%, 18.5%, 62.7% among cattle slaughterhouse workers. The awareness rate of zoonoses among the workers involved in slaughtering and the handlers of residual products was lower than other workers. The awareness rate of zoonoses tended to increase as the school career. In the correct awareness rate of the transmission of zoonoses, 'transmission by tick bite', 'person to person' and 'air transmission' were lower than other transmission items. The most common reason why cattle slaughterhouse workers think that it is difficult to prevent zoonoses was the ignorance of how to prevent.
CONCLUSIONS
An educational program is needed for the cattle slaughterhouse workers on zoonoses especially Q fever. And publicity activities about prevention of infection are needed for high risk groups.