Behaviors of Cameroonian hunters and butchers put them at risk of zoonotic disease transmission

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of the Cameroon Healthy Hunter (HH) educational intervention and to provide evidence for identifying more effective messages and interventions.

The study used primary data collected via quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods in eight villages spread across four areas of Cameroon. Data was collected from villages exposed and villages not exposed to the HH intervention.

Some results of the study include: villagers have frequent, varied contact with blood and feces of wild animals, especially when hunting and butchering; people living in villages that participated in the HH intervention are generally aware of the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, especially through blood, and some mentioned specific ways they avoid this contact; and people in non-exposed villages are generally not aware that contact with blood is dangerous.

Gender differences were also found. Men are more likely than women to know about the dangers of contact with blood of wild animals, specific messages and preventive behaviors. Awareness that exposure to wild animal feces can be dangerous was low in all villages studied, despite considerable contact with feces among hunters and butchers. Protective behaviors declared by most villagers include not consuming raw meat or game found dead without obvious wounds from guns, arrows or snares.

Recommendations include 1) developing an approach to better reach women who are at risk because they regularly butcher animals, 2) testing behaviors to see which are most acceptable, and 3) targeting messages to specific groups through additional effective channels.