Yuwei Qi, Sijmen A Reijneveld, Josué Almansa, Sandra Brouwer, J Cok Vrooman
Diverging death risks: Mortality as a corollary of economic, social, cultural and person capital
SSM - population health
bats reservoir many viruses causing haemorrhagic fevers proximity bats risk factor virus spillover animals humans conducted study assess knowledge perceptions exposure bats communities living near bat roosts bundibugyo district uganda crosssectional study using mixed methods quantitative qualitative data conducted september december 2022 participants quantitative data survey n 384 resided near bat caves andor roost sites selected using multistage random sampling survey investigated participants prior exposure bats well knowledge perceptions bat exposure logistic regression used determine factors associated bat exposure participants qualitative data focus group discussions n 10 68 participants purposely selected based engagement guano mining hunting farming activities perceived risk associated batrelated activities identified ranked focus group discussions using participatory epidemiology tools total 214384 557 history bat exposure 208384 542 poor knowledge risk factors associated bat exposure increased exposure bats associated male 16 95 ci 10 24 pvalue 0038 staying urban areas 19 pvalue 0010 hunting 109 pvalue 0024 positive perception bat guano safe fertiliser 25 pvalue 0045 proportional piling process total 7 risk factors identified 10 groups hunting outbreak consumption bats frequently identified overall strong statistical agreement ranking across 10 focus groups w 052 p 001 n 10 based provided data adjusted odds ratio 07 good measures pvalue 0112 suggests potential protective effect risk bat exposure communities living around bat roosts frequently come contact bats yet inadequate awareness regarding behaviors lead transmission bat borne diseases humans essential undertake educational initiatives preventive measures minimise risks batrelated infections need targeted health communication education efforts address knowledge gaps promote accurate understanding bats disease transmission understanding diseases associated bats minimize batrelated health risks especially communities engaged wildlife hunting