Abstract:
This study investigated the level of awareness and practices of local communities on Yersinia pestis
plague disease in Nkayi and Umzingwane districts, south-western Zimbabwe. The research used
a two-way case study where Umzingwane district was used as a quasi-control site and Nkayi district
the treatment site. Purposive sampling was used to select four villages, i.e. two from Nkayi district
(plague endemic area) and two from Umzingwane district (non-plague area). Data were collected
through focus group discussions involving 35 respondents held between August 2017 and
April 2018. The study respondents confirmed some awareness of zoonotic diseases albeit limited
knowledge on specific rodent-borne diseases. Respondents from areas that had previous plague
outbreaks (Nkayi district) were more knowledgeable of the disease compared to those from areas
without previous known outbreaks (Umzingwane district). Several practises, e.g. use of traps,
keeping domestic cats (Felis catus) and use of rodenticides to control rodents and educating people
on plague disease, were highlighted from both study sites as local plague management strategies.
Overall, the study results indicate that the awareness and practices employed by local people in the
study area are generally influenced by local contextual factors and past experiences.
