Behavioural Challenges around Avian Influenza Evidence from Egypt

Behavioural Challenges around Avian Influenza

Evidence from Egypt

April 10, 2023 UNICEF

2

Map of Egypt

Delta

Upper Egypt

Higher concentration of poultry

Large vulnerable groups – rural areas


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The Current Situation• Backyard breeding is widely prevalent. • Poultry is a major source of protein for Egyptians and a source of income for many families, especially in rural areas.

• Among the highest vulnerable population (the poorest groups) owning poultry, a large part live in rural Upper Egypt.

• However, the concentration of poultry birds is greater in the northern governorates (Delta).


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The Current Situation – Human Cases

• February 2006, first H5N1 outbreak in poultry and first human case in March 2006.

• H5N1 has been detected in 22 of 36 governorates.

• To date, 43 infected human cases, 19 deaths, majority among women and children.

• Contact with birds:– 89% in household, 5% in commercial farms,

and 5% other means.


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Communication TaskThrough media and inter-personal outreach as well as advocacy efforts, ensure that:

general public is aware of AI and means to avoid getting infected.

vulnerable groups are aware of and know how to protect themselves, their family and their

birds from AI.

policies and services exist for people to be motivated to practice key preventive actions.


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Key behaviours promoted Cleaning

Hand washing after handling birds. Cleaning of poultry areas.

Protection Avoid buying from lay merchants. Coverage of nose and mouth during handling poultry Keeping special clothes, shoes when in contact with poultry Safe cooking Safe slaughtering Safe disposal of wastes and dead birds Poultry vaccination

Separation Keeping poultry away from living area or bedrooms Avoiding poultry roaming in streets Separating of different kinds of poultry Avoiding children’s contact with poultry (cleaning, helping or playing)

Reporting Sick or dead birds Similar symptoms of influenza especially after handling birds


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Communication strategies• Community outreach through radiats to reach vulnerable populations

• Mass media for sensitizing/reaching general public

• School based interventions• Training of trainers to ensure outreach workers are equipped with complete and accurate knowledge

• Media/journalist training for wider and in-depth coverage

• Mobilization of religious/social leaders (yet to begin)


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Available Evidence

MOHP Pilot KAP survey (September, 2006). MOHP/UNICEF Baseline / KAP National survey

(June, 2007). FAO/WFP study (September, 2007). Qualitative community study (UNICEF,

forthcoming). Egypt’s DHS (forthcoming).


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Awareness of AI

• Overall, around 9 in 10 respondents reported exposure to AI messages through some source across regions.

• Primary source of information is TV - more than 95% watch TV daily for about 2.5 hours on average.


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Perceptions related to AI

• There is a strong agreement among respondents that getting avian influenza would be very serious with a mean score of 4.7.

However,• The perception is that they are at lower risk of getting

infected; a mean score of 2.1.


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Washing hands with water and soap after cleaning and feeding poultry

88.291.689.389.895.1

0

20

40

60

80

100

Total Urban Rural LowerEgypt

UpperEgypt


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Knowledge around protection from AI

16.3

48.1

65.9

26.9

55

0

20

40

60

80

100

Put gloves/plasticpocket or cover

nose & mouth whenhandling live birds

Put gloves/plasticpocket when

handling with deadbirds

Cooking birds atadequate tempe-

rature

Heard of AIvaccines

Put dead birds inplastic bag, throw in

garbage


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Knowledge of covering nose and mouth when handling live / dead birds

13.28.3

13

23.316.2 15.5

26.3

7.410.314.3 18.2 16.3

0

20

40

60

80

100

Urban Rural UrbanGove.

rnorates

Lower Egypt

UpperEgypt

Total

Live birds Dead birds


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Practice of covering nose & mouth when slaughtering birds

1.70.71.11.2 2.3

0

20

40

60

80

100

Total Urban Rural Lower Egypt

Upper Egypt


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Where do households keep their poultry?

• Generally, 46% of households keep their poultry caged outside home (plot, yard, roof or balcony).

On the other hand:

16% of home breeders keep poultry in a yard / plot outside a cage.

12% keep poultry inside one of the rooms in the house and outside a cage.

10% keep poultry in front or beside the house

10% keep poultry on the roof outside a cage.

5% keep poultry at the middle of the house.


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Knowledge and Practices of keeping poultry away from living and sleeping areas

11 10.84

95.391.793.392.5 91.2

15.4 17.7

0

20

40

60

80

100

Total Urban Rural LowerEgypt

UpperEgypt

Knowledge

Practice


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Lessons Learned Awareness of AI high, risk perception is lowPromoting epidemiological correct practices need to be balanced with social realities and existing practices

Behavioral interventions to affect backyard poultry practices is challenging.

Compensation policies and surveillance systems impact behaviours

Strengthening the “change agents” capacity to engage with communities is critical


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To Stop AI at Source, Communication for ...

Enhance reporting – by addressing negative incentives, issues around stigma when reporting leads to culling

Improve bio-security – small, medium, large producers involved in marketing and processing chicken by engaging with communities incl. role of children

Marketing chain restructured – identify risk points along the chain during poultry movement

Documents

Behavioural Challenges around Avian Influenza Evidence from Egypt