Exploring community knowledge, perceptions, and the impacts of anthrax among farming communities living in game management areas in Zambia: A qualitative study using a hybrid approach.

Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101291488 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1935-2735 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19352727 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science

Anthrax*/epidemiology ; Anthrax*/transmission ; Anthrax*/psychology ; Anthrax*/veterinary ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* ; Zoonoses*/epidemiology ; Zoonoses*/transmission ; Zoonoses*/microbiology; Zambia/epidemiology ; Humans ; Animals ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Male ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Qualitative Research

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist
Anthrax remains a neglected zoonotic disease of critical public and animal health significance in Zambia, particularly in regions with active human-wildlife-livestock interfaces such as the Western, Southern and Eastern provinces of Zambia. This study explores the socio-ecological drivers of anthrax transmission and examines the role of legal and illegal wildlife trade value chains in sustaining outbreaks. Secondly, the study explores the methodology used to investigate community knowledge, perceptions, and the impacts of anthrax through focus group discussions (FGDs) and a hybrid approach combining traditional thematic analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The research was framed within the interpretivist paradigm, aiming to understand shared experiences and socio-cultural contexts. The study utilized focus groups to encourage interaction and generate rich, collective insights. The hybrid approach allowed for data analysis that combined researcher-led reflexivity with AI-driven thematic analysis. Findings reveal diverse levels of awareness about anthrax, widespread misconceptions, and the influence of cultural beliefs on health behaviours. Communities linked anthrax outbreaks to interactions with wildlife and the illegal game meat trade, highlighting the complex interplay of ecological, economic, and behavioural factors in disease dynamics. Additionally, the study underscores the socioeconomic toll of anthrax, including livestock losses, disrupted livelihoods, and food insecurity, compounded by inadequate public health and veterinary responses. The insights gained from this research emphasize the need for multi-sectoral interventions tailored to the specific needs of these communities.
(Copyright: © 2025 Mumba et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

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Date Created: 20250508 Date Completed: 20250519 Latest Revision: 20250521

20250521

PMC12088521

10.1371/journal.pntd.0012852

40338958