Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Emerging infectious diseases with regional spread and potential to escalate to a global pandemic have increased in the last century. Western Uganda has experienced many emerging infectious disease outbreaks over the last five decades, some with worldwide implications. Outbreaks have originated from wild animal reservoir hosts including Marburg and Sudan virus. The goal of this study was to better understand communities contacts with wild and domestic animals and their knowledge of potential disease risks associated with these interactions around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), a known foci for spillover events. METHODS: Focus groups (n = 24 groups) with 153 participants were convened and interview guide (See S1 Text) was used to conduct discussions in rural and urban settings surrounding BINP in Southwestern Uganda. Mixed methods were used for data analysis. For qualitative data, thematic analysis was used to identify and organize patterns of meaning related to the study objectives. Inductive coding and deductive analysis using a codebook was used to explore key themes associated with community understanding of zoonotic infections and participation in high-risk activities. For the quantitative analysis, a count data set was generated using the themes, sub-themes, and codes from the codebook. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of demographic, geographic and occupational factors with zoonotic understanding. RESULTS: Few participants believed animals could transmit diseases to humans (or vice versa), with rural, younger residents as well as those working in healthcare showing higher awareness. Interviews corroborated this finding noting that even when recognized as potentially unsafe, meat from diseased animals was rarely reported and often consumed or resold. CONCLUSIONS: Misconceptions about zoonotic disease transmission are prevalent in Southwestern Uganda despite high-risk for spillover. Policy makers and government entities should prioritize culturally appropriate community education, contextually relevant mitigation of potential spillover events, and comprehensive research into drivers of high-risk activities.