Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) on Hantavirus Infections at Community Level in Mbeya Region, Tanzania

Background: Hantaviruses are zoonotic RNA viral pathogens of public health concern in Tanzania andworldwide. These viruses circulate in both human and reservoir host in Tanzania, however, there is a gap in theassessment of knowledge, Attitude, and practices (KAP) which contributes to the transmission of the virus fromReservoir host to human being. This study aimed to assess the level of community knowledge, attitude, andpractices that lead to the transmission of the virus from the reservoir host to a human being.Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in the four districts of Mbeya region betweenJune 2018 to July 2018, where questionnaire data were obtained from 438 participants. Descriptive statistics andChi-square (X2) test were used to explain the response of the participants.Results: (22/66) 33.3% and (22/372) 5.91% of both Health care workers and other members of the community,respectively had a knowledge about Hantavirus infections. (219/438) 50% of all participants have rodent breedingsites in their houses. However, (409/438) 93.4% of all participants did not wear masks when cleaning those breedingsites and this increases the risk for the transmission of Hantavirus infections.Discussion: Low level of knowledge for Hantavirus infections observed in the community increases theuncertainty of patient management as well as endangers the community health due to an increase of practiceswhich increases the chance of pathogen transmission to a human being from the reservoir host.Conclusion: Updating the community about Hantavirus infection is more important as far as public health isconcerned.