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PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF BRUCELLOSIS INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING MAKERERE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL KAMPALA, UGANDA
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that severely hinders livestock productivity and human health worldwide. The burden that the disease places specifically on low-income countries has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as one of the world‘s leading ‗neglected‘ zoonotic diseases. In Uganda, there is scarcity of information on the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis infection. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis infection among patients attending Makerere university hospital. A cross-sectional study was carried out on patients suspected of having brucellosis at the outpatient department of University hospital from the period of September to October 2021. A total of 180 respondents were enrolled in this study. Out of these, 98 (54.4%) were female and 82 (45.6%) were male. Results from the laboratory showed that 14 respondents turned positive whereas 166 had negative BAT results. This gave an overall prevalence of brucellosis at 7.8 % in the study population Risk factors found to be associated with brucellosis included: contact with animals, consumption of raw milk and contact with aborted fetus. Gender of respondent, socio economic status, knowledge of brucellosis and education level were non-significant. With this observed high prevalence among the study population, there is need to develop strategies aimed at controlling animal brucellosis and raising awareness about the consumption of raw and poorly prepared milk and milk products, appropriate handling of animal after births and abortions to reduce the incidence of human infection in this study area. Innovative methods to sensitize the community on brucellosis and cost effective methods to control animal brucellosis are recommended.
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