AB014. Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on fascioliasis among farmers in Nueva Ecija
Abstract

AB014. Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on fascioliasis among farmers in Nueva Ecija

Nikko Gabriel D. Manipula1, Bea Therese J. Marquez1, Audrey Nadine C. Mendoza1, Juliana Loraine C. Mondala1, Nina Beatrice R. Narciso1, Maria Luisa R. Olano1, Marvin A. Villanueva2, Jennielyn D. Seraffin3, Gregorio L. Martin I1, Florence C. Navidad1

1Department of Medical Technology, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines; 2Philippine Carabao Center, Department of Agriculture, Science City of Muñoz, Philippines; 3City Veterinary Office, San Jose City, Philippines

Background: Nueva Ecija, a key agricultural province in the Philippines, heavily depends on farming and carabao (water buffalo) husbandry to sustain its rural economy. However, fascioliasis—a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease—poses a threat to livestock productivity, agricultural output, and farmer livelihoods. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of carabao-owning farmers toward fascioliasis, emphasizing socio-behavioral and environmental factors influencing disease management and control.

Methods: A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were gathered through a structured KAP survey of 57 purposively and snowball-sampled farmers and caretakers, analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 19 participants and examined thematically. Triangulation integrated both data sets.

Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in knowledge based on marital status (P=0.001) and monthly income (P=0.03), while attitudes (P=0.44) and practices (P=0.61) showed no significant variation across sociodemographic variables. Spearman’s rho indicated no significant correlations among the KAP domains (P=0.65, P=0.12, and P=0.09). Four themes emerged from qualitative analysis: (I) foundational knowledge and information sources; (II) belief systems guiding prevention; (III) practical disease management strategies; and (IV) experiences with carabao morbidity and mortality. The integration of findings led to the development of the Snail Shell Model of Fascioliasis Control, identifying key points for effective intervention in the community.

Conclusions: Farmers demonstrated low knowledge but moderately positive attitudes and practices regarding fascioliasis control. Sociodemographic factors influenced knowledge but not the relationships among KAP elements. Strengthening community-based education and engagement initiatives is recommended to enhance disease control and protect both animal and public health, leading towards a One Health approach.

Keywords: Animal husbandry; attitudes; fascioliasis; knowledge; practices

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the noncommercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

doi: 10.21037/jphe-26-ab014
Cite this abstract as: Manipula NGD, Marquez BTJ, Mendoza ANC, Mondala JLC, Narciso NBR, Olano MLR, Villanueva MA, Seraffin JD, Martin I GL, Navidad FC. AB014. Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on fascioliasis among farmers in Nueva Ecija. J Public Health Emerg 2026;10:AB014.

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