GAP ANALYSIS OF FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING DEWORMING AND VACCINATION

In Pakistan, livestock production is an integral part of rural livelihoods and food security. The implementation of an effective deworming and vaccination program is considered a major preventive animal health management approach; however, farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) play a crucial role in implementing these programs. The present study was undertaken to investigate the KAP of livestock farmers in District Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to measure the current knowledge gaps and misconceptions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 2024 to June 2025 with 200 livestock farmers who were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection, which included questions on demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice on deworming and vaccination. The findings revealed 85.5% and 78.5% of the respondents had knowledge on deworming and vaccination, respectively. The awareness of anthelmintic resistance was, however, low (30.5%), and only 33.5% of farmers were aware of zoonotic diseases that could be prevented by vaccination. Positive attitudes for preventive animal health practices were found, with 84.0% and 86.0% of the respondents saying deworming and vaccination are important for animal health. As far as practices are concerned, 44.5% of farmers dewormed the cattle every six months and 48.5% vaccinated the cattle yearly. There was a significant difference between the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores with respect to education level (p < 0.05). The education level of the respondent (AOR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.72 – 3.56) and frequency of veterinary care (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.21 – 2.71) were significantly associated with adequate KAP. To conclude the study, it was found that while there is an overall understanding of the value of deworming and vaccinations, there are still significant knowledge gaps and misconceptions, notably with anthelmintic resistance and vaccine management. Capacity building for farmer education and veterinary extension services is crucial for enhancing preventive health care, livestock productivity, and decreasing the impacts of infectious and parasitic diseases in rural farmer communities.