A Cross Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitude & Practices about Milk Borne Diseases and Assessment of Quality of Informally Marketed Milk in Urban & Rural field Practice Areas of J.N.M.C., Belgaum

Abstract

Milk being nutritional, balanced foodstuff, is a well-known medium that favours the growth of several microorganisms. Many milk borne epidemics of human diseases have been spread by contamination of milk by spoiled hand of dairy workers, unsanitary utensils, flies and polluted water supplies. Research question What are the knowledge, attitude and practice of respondents about milk borne diseases? Aims and objectives 1. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice about milk borne diseases, in rural and urban participants. 2. To assess the quality of informally marketed raw milk in rural and urban households. Materials and methods A cross sectional study was done in 2010 among 500 households, 250 each residing in Vantamuri rural field practice area (Vantamuri PHC) and Khasbag urban field practice area (Ward no. 21 area of UHC Khasbag) in Belgaum district using predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Informally marketed raw milk samples were collected from 10% households (25 houses) each from both the areas for laboratory analysis using Brucella milk ring test, Methylene blue reduction test and Coliform tests at the teaching hospital. XI Results None of the participants knew that unpasteurized milk can transmit diseases or symptoms of milk borne diseases caused by E. coli or Brucella, however 28% and 38% participants from urban and rural area respectively knew that milk could be contaminated; of which 8% urban and 12% rural participants thought that milk utensil as main source of contamination. 32% urban and 62.4% rural study participants reported to consume raw milk; of which 12% from urban area quoted it is healthy and convenient and 12% from rural area quoted health purpose, as the primary reason for consuming animal raw milk. None of the participants suffered from milk borne diseases in the year preceding the survey. 92% and 87.6% reported that they washed hands, 96% and 88% washed utensils before collecting raw milk, 100% and 84% covered the milk utensils with lid, where as 32% and 70.8% added water to milk prior to consumption from urban and rural participants respectively. 13.6% and 47.2% participants possessed their own milk producing animals of which 5.2% and 45.2% used to keep animals within the house in urban and rural areas respectively. All the participants (13.6% urban an 47.2% rural) had good practice of washing milk collecting utensils, washing hands before milking and sought treatment for animals during illness from the veterinary doctor. Laboratory analysis of 25 urban & 25 rural milk samples showed, mean specific gravity of 1.026 ± 0.004 and 1.025 ± 0.007 from urban and rural areas XII respectively. 5 (10%) samples were positive for brucella milk ring test and 14 (28%) were positive for methylene blue reduction test as well as coliform test. Samples were considered positive for coliform test when viable count was >10 bacteria/mL of milk. Low socio-economic status was associated with poor hygienic practices (i.e. not washing hands / utensils, addition of water and consuming milk on the next day of collection) among urban participants. Awareness regarding addition of water to milk and covering milk utensils with lid was better among urban than rural participants. Urban and rural buffalo milk samples showed significant association with the methylene blue reduction test and coliform test. Conclusion Awareness of milk borne diseases was nil among the study participants and hygienic practices of handling milk was improper. Most of them were not aware that raw milk can transmit diseases.