Background
Methods
Study design
Study sites and study population selection
No. of respondents (%) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regions | Provinces | No. of districts | No. of villages | No. of respondents | Reported bat contact | Reported bat consumption |
Northern | Chiang Mai | 1 | 4 | 80 (12.78%) | 28 (12.28%) | 27 (28.13%) |
Northern | Chiang Rai | 1 | 2 | 60 (9.58%) | 20 (8.77%) | 13 (13.54%) |
Central | Ang Thong | 1 | 1 | 64 (10.22%) | 26 (11.40%) | 0 (0.00%) |
Central | Ayutthaya | 1 | 1 | 60 (9.58%) | 24 (10.53%) | 1 (1.04%) |
Central | Lopburi | 3 | 4 | 77 (33.77%) | 25 (10.96%) | 1 (1.04%) |
Central | Saraburi | 1 | 1 | 42 (6.71%) | 21 (9.21%) | 3 (3.13%) |
Northeastern | Khon Kaen | 4 | 8 | 69 (11.02%) | 21 (9.21%) | 3 (3.13%) |
Northeastern | Ubon Ratchathani | 1 | 1 | 60 (9.58%) | 24 (10.53%) | 18 (18.75%) |
Southern | Krabi | 1 | 2 | 60 (9.58%) | 19 (8.33%) | 14 (14.58%) |
Southern | Surat Thani | 5 | 13 | 54 (8.63%) | 20 (8.77%) | 16 (16.67%) |
19 | 37 | 626 (100%) | 228 (100%) | 96 (100%) |
Sample size estimation, respondents, and recruitment procedures
A standardized questionnaire
Study variables for risk factors for bat contact and bat consumption behaviors
- Sex (male vs female)
- Age group (> age of 36 years vs ≤ 36 years)
- Occupation (farmer vs other)
- Marital status (married and cohabiting vs single)
- Family size (≥ 2 people vs < 2 people)
- Family monthly income (≤ 15,000 Baht vs > 15,000)
- Own a car (yes vs no)
- Own a motorcycle (yes vs no)
- Number of children (none vs > 1 child)
- Education attainment (< secondary school vs other)
- Humans can get diseases from bats (true vs false)
- There are no concerns about getting diseases from bats (true vs false)
- Bats can transmit diseases to humans (true vs false)
- Bats are economically beneficial to the community (agree vs disagree)
- One can contract diseases if exposed to bats (true vs false)
- One can contract diseases by drinking water from the same places as bats (true vs false)
- One can contract diseases by eating fruits left by bats (true vs false)
- Bat guano is safe to use (true vs false)
- It is safe to eat bats (true vs false)
- There are laws related to hunting bats for consumption (true vs false)
- Children are allowed to play with bats (true vs false)
- Dead bats that are found are brought home for food (true vs false)
- One feels safe in areas where bats live (true vs false)
- Found dead bat(s) in house
- Found live bat(s) in house, the community or tourist location
- Cleaned bat guano from house or the community
- Cleaned bat carcasses from house or the community
- Bat guano mining/collecting
- Use of bat guano
- Bitten by a bat
- Consumed bats for food
- Other activities, e.g., hunted bats, exposed to urine of bats
Analysis of risk factors for bat contact and bat consumption behaviors
Results
Sociodemographic information of respondents
Bat contact experiences among respondents
Bat contact experience | No. of respondents who reported bat contact (%)a |
---|---|
Found dead bat(s) in house | 65 (28.51) |
Found live bat(s) in house, community or tourist location | 128 (56.14) |
Cleaned bat guano from house or the community | 78 (34.21) |
Cleaned bat carcasses from house or the community | 45 (19.74) |
Bat guano mining/ collecting | 46 (20.18) |
Used bat guano | 25 (10.96) |
Been bitten by a bat | 16 (7.02) |
Consumed bats for food | 96 (42.10) |
Other activities e.g. hunted bat(s), exposed to urine of bat(s) | 41 (17.98) |
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions regarding bat contact experiences
Variables | Total number (N = 626) | Reported bat contact (n = 228) | Unadjusted odds ratio | 95%Cl | P-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | |||||
Sociodemographic information | ||||||
1. Sex | ||||||
Male | 341 | 141 | 61.84 | 0.62 | 0.45–0.87 | 0.005* |
Female | 285 | 87 | 38.16 | 1 | ||
2. Age group | ||||||
> 36 years | 132 | 41 | 17.98 | 1.35 | 0.89–2.04 | 0.150* |
≤ 36 years | 494 | 187 | 82.02 | 1 | ||
3. Occupation | ||||||
Agriculture-related occupation | 224 | 66 | 28.95 | 1.62 | 1.14–2.29 | 0.007* |
Other | 402 | 162 | 71.05 | 1 | ||
4. Marital status | ||||||
Married or cohabiting | 526 | 188 | 82.46 | 1.20 | 0.77–1.86 | 0.417 |
Single | 100 | 40 | 17.54 | 1 | ||
5. Family size | ||||||
≤ 2 people | 123 | 40 | 17.54 | 1.24 | 0.82–1.88 | 0.316 |
> 2 people | 503 | 188 | 82.46 | 1 | ||
6. Number of children | ||||||
0 children | 195 | 74 | 32.46 | 0.91 | 0.64–1.29 | 0.593 |
> 1 children | 431 | 154 | 67.54 | 1 | ||
7. Educational attainment | ||||||
≤ Secondary school | 411 | 159 | 69.74 | 0.75 | 0.53–1.06 | 0.104* |
Other | 215 | 69 | 30.26 | 1 | ||
8. Family monthly income | ||||||
≤ 15,000 Baht | 438 | 150 | 65.79 | 1.36 | 0.96–1.94 | 0.084* |
> 15,000 Baht | 188 | 78 | 34.21 | 1 | ||
9. Own a car | ||||||
Yes | 314 | 110 | 48.25 | 1.13 | 0.81–1.56 | 0.468 |
No | 312 | 118 | 51.75 | 1 | ||
10. Own a motorcycle | ||||||
Yes | 574 | 210 | 92.11 | 0.92 | 0.51–1.67 | 0.777 |
No | 52 | 18 | 7.89 | 1 | ||
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions | ||||||
11. Human can get diseases from bats | ||||||
True | 40 | 15 | 6.58 | 0.95 | 0.49–1.85 | 0.884 |
False | 586 | 213 | 93.42 | 1 | ||
12. There are no concerns about getting diseases from bats | ||||||
True | 48 | 24 | 10.53 | 0.64 | 0.43–0.95 | 0.026* |
False | 578 | 204 | 89.47 | 1 | ||
13. Bats can transmit diseases to humans | ||||||
True | 84 | 28 | 12.28 | 1.17 | 0.72–1.90 | 0.527 |
False | 542 | 200 | 87.72 | |||
14. Bats are economically beneficial to the community | ||||||
Agree | 108 | 65 | 28.51 | 0.30 | 0.20–0.47 | < 0.001* |
Disagree | 518 | 163 | 71.49 | 1 | ||
15. One can contract diseases if exposed to bats | ||||||
True | 101 | 37 | 16.63 | 0.99 | 0.64–1.54 | 0.961 |
False | 525 | 191 | 83.77 | 1 | ||
16. One can contract diseases by drinking water from the same place as bats do | ||||||
True | 139 | 48 | 21.05 | 1.11 | 0.75–1.65 | 0.600 |
False | 487 | 180 | 78.77 | 1 | ||
17. One can contract diseases by eating fruit left by bats | ||||||
True | 170 | 64 | 28.07 | 0.93 | 0.65–1.14 | 0.697 |
False | 456 | 164 | 71.93 | 1 | ||
18. Bat guano is safe to use | ||||||
True | 58 | 14 | 6,14 | 1.90 | 1.02–3.55 | 0.041* |
False | 568 | 214 | 93.86 | |||
19. Bats are safe to eat | ||||||
True | 169 | 37 | 16.23 | 2.56 | 1.70–3.86 | < 0.001* |
False | 457 | 191 | 83.77 | |||
20. There are laws related to hunting bats for consumption | ||||||
True | 196 | 66 | 28.95 | 1.19 | 0.84–1.70 | 0.335 |
False | 430 | 162 | 71.05 | 1 | ||
21. Children are allowed to play with bats | ||||||
True | 431 | 138 | 60.53 | 1.82 | 1.29–2.57 | 0.001* |
False | 195 | 90 | 39.47 | 1 | ||
22. Found dead bat(s) and brought home for food | ||||||
True | 518 | 195 | 85.53 | 0.73 | 0.47–1.14 | 0.164 |
False | 108 | 33 | 14.47 | 1 | ||
23. Feel safe in areas where bats live | ||||||
True | 210 | 47 | 20.61 | 2.67 | 1.83–3.90 | < 0.001* |
False | 416 | 181 | 79.39 | 1 |
Variables | Coefficient | Odds ratio | 95% CI | P-value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sociodemographic information | ||||
Sex (male) | 0.45 | 1.56 | 1.09–2.28 | 0.014* |
Occupation (agriculture-related occupation) | −0.61 | 0.54 | 0.37–0.79 | 0.002* |
Educational attainment (< secondary school level) | 0.39 | 1.45 | 1.02–2.18 | 0.041* |
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions | ||||
Considered bat(s) to be economically beneficial to the community (agreed) | 1.16 | 3.18 | 2.03–4.97 | < 0.001* |
Bat are safe to eat (true) | −0.54 | 0.58 | 0.37–0.93 | 0.023* |
Children are allowed to play with bats (true) | −0.43 | 0.65 | 0.44–0.96 | 0.031* |
Felt safe in areas where bats live (true) | −0.58 | 0.56 | 0.38–0.86 | 0.007* |
Bat consumption behaviors among respondents
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions regarding bat consumption behaviors
Variables | Total number (N = 626) | Reported bat contact (n = 96) | Unadjusted odds ratio | 95%Cl | P-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | |||||
Sociodemographic information | ||||||
1. Sex | ||||||
Male | 341 | 68 | 70.83 | 2.29 | 1.43–3.67 | < 0.001* |
Female | 285 | 28 | 29.17 | 1 | ||
2. Age group | ||||||
> 36 years | 132 | 16 | 16.67 | 0.71 | 0.40–1.27 | 0.249 |
≤ 36 years | 494 | 80 | 83.37 | 1 | ||
3. Occupation | ||||||
Agriculture-related occupation | 224 | 38 | 39.58 | 1.21 | 0.78–1.89 | 0.399 |
Other | 402 | 58 | 60.42 | 1 | ||
4. Marital status | ||||||
Married or cohabiting | 526 | 82 | 85.42 | 1.13 | 0.62–2.09 | 0.686 |
Single | 100 | 14 | 14.58 | 1 | ||
5. Family size | ||||||
≤ 2 people | 123 | 23 | 23.96 | 1.36 | 0.81–2.27 | 0.248 |
> 2 people | 503 | 73 | 76.04 | 1 | ||
6. Number of children | ||||||
0 children | 195 | 29 | 30.21 | 0.95 | 0.59–1.52 | 0.829 |
> 1 children | 431 | 67 | 69.79 | 1 | ||
7. Educational attainment | ||||||
≤ Secondary school | 411 | 76 | 79.17 | 2.24 | 1.31–3.73 | 0.002* |
Other | 215 | 20 | 20.83 | 1 | ||
8. Family monthly income | ||||||
≤ 15,000 Baht | 438 | 64 | 66.67 | 0.83 | 0.53–1.33 | 0.443 |
> 15,000 Baht | 188 | 32 | 33.33 | 1 | ||
9. Own a car | ||||||
Yes | 314 | 41 | 42.71 | 0.70 | 0.45–1.09 | 0.113* |
No | 312 | 55 | 57.29 | 1 | ||
10. Own a motorcycle | ||||||
Yes | 574 | 93 | 96.87 | 3.16 | 0.96–10.35 | 0.046* |
No | 52 | 3 | 3.13 | 1 | ||
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions | ||||||
11. Human can get diseases from bats | ||||||
True | 40 | 5 | 5.21 | 0.78 | 0.29 to 2.07 | 0.607 |
False | 586 | 91 | 94.79 | 1 | ||
12. There are no concerns about getting diseases from bats | ||||||
True | 48 | 8 | 8.33 | 1.11 | 0.50 to 2.55 | 0.790 |
False | 578 | 88 | 91.67 | 1 | ||
13. Bats can transmit diseases to humans | ||||||
True | 84 | 10 | 10.42 | 0.72 | 0.36 to 1.44 | 0.348 |
False | 542 | 86 | 85.58 | |||
14. Bats are economically beneficial to the community | ||||||
Agree | 108 | 18 | 18.75 | 1.13 | 0.64 to 1.98 | 0.673 |
Disagree | 518 | 78 | 81.25 | 1 | ||
15. One can contract diseases if exposed to bats | ||||||
True | 101 | 12 | 12.50 | 0.71 | 0.37 to 1.35 | 0.293 |
False | 525 | 84 | 87.50 | 1 | ||
16. One can contract diseases by drinking water from the same place as bats do | ||||||
True | 139 | 15 | 15.63 | 0.61 | 0.34 to 1.09 | 0.092* |
False | 487 | 81 | 84.37 | 1 | ||
17. One can contract diseases by eating fruit left by bats | ||||||
True | 170 | 26 | 27.08 | 0.99 | 0.61 to 1.62 | 0.986 |
False | 456 | 70 | 72.92 | 1 | ||
18. Bat guano is safe to use | ||||||
True | 58 | 6 | 6.25 | 0.61 | 0.26 to 1.47 | 0.268 |
False | 568 | 90 | 93.75 | |||
19. Bats are safe to eat | ||||||
True | 169 | 1 | 1.04 | 0.02 | 0.00 to 0.16 | < 0.001* |
False | 457 | 95 | 98.96 | |||
20. There are laws related to hunting bats for consumption | ||||||
True | 196 | 11 | 11.46 | 0.24 | 0.13 to 0.46 | < 0.001* |
False | 430 | 85 | 88.54 | 1 | ||
21. Children are allowed to play with bats | ||||||
True | 431 | 42 | 43.75 | 0.28 | 0.16 to 0.44 | < 0.001* |
False | 195 | 54 | 56.25 | 1 | ||
22. Found dead bats and brought home for food | ||||||
True | 518 | 75 | 78.13 | 0.70 | 0.41 to 1.19 | 0.193 |
False | 108 | 21 | 21.87 | 1 | ||
23. Feel safe in areas where bats live | ||||||
True | 210 | 19 | 19.79 | 0.44 | 0.26 to 0.75 | 0.002* |
False | 416 | 77 | 80.21 | 1 |
Variables | Coefficient | Odds ratio | 95% CI | P-value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sociodemographic information | ||||
Sex (male) | 0.91 | 2.48 | 1.49–4.11 | < 0.001* |
Educational attainment (< secondary school level) | 0.79 | 2.21 | 1.27–3.85 | 0.005* |
Knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions | ||||
Bat are safe to eat (true) | −3.36 | 0.04 | 0.01–0.254 | 0.001* |
There are laws related to hunting bats for consumption (agree) | −1.04 | 0.35 | 0.18–0.71 | 0.004* |
Children are allowed to play with bats (true) | −0.68 | 0.51 | 0.31–0.81 | 0.006* |