Conducting Behavioral Trials in Rural Cameroon to Determine Feasible Strategies for Reducing Zoonotic Disease Transmission in Villages

In April – May 2011, 101 hunters and butchers of wild animals in ten villages in Southern Cameroon were enrolled in a five-week behavioral trial to test six clusters of protective behaviors. Two clusters – #1, protect skin from blood contact when hunting and #2, avoid fruit nibbled by animals/wash before eating – were proposed to hunters, mostly men. Very few agreed to try #1 since they claim to already do that. Many agreed to try #2 but few were able to, since there was little fruit in the forest.

Clusters #3, avoid breathing household dust (which might contain animal feces), and #4, wrap cut meat in plastic/leaves to avoid blood contact, were recommended to butchers, mostly women. Many agreed to try #3 and most did. They experienced reductions in respiratory illness and expect to continue. Few butchers tried #4 since few transport or sell cut meat.

All participants were recommended clusters #5, hand washing with soap, and #6, not handling wild animal meat with open sores. Most agreed to try #5, did so, experienced reductions in diarrhea and expect to continue. However, lack of soap appears to be a barrier. Many agreed to try #6, but few actually had the opportunity to.

This approach to testing behaviors demonstrated that some behaviors (handwashing and avoiding breathing household dust) are acceptable, feasible and beneficial to villagers in these areas of Cameroon. In addition, participants found behaviors #2 and #6 acceptable, even if they did not have the opportunity to practice them.