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Abstract
Malta fever is a serious re-emerging zoonosis which vastly afflicts human health. In Egypt it may account for 10% in high risk human population. The aims of the current study were to assess the factors predisposing to Malta fever among families at rural community in El Minia governorate in addition to providing guidelines to these families to protect themselves from the disease. A descriptive correlational design was used to achieve the aims of the current study. The study was conducted at El Hatahta village at Samalout district affiliated to El Minia governorate. Sample of 260 families was selected by systematic random sampling method. A structured interviewing questionnaire and an observational checklist were designed to assess demographic data, knowledge about the disease, practices during contact with animals or its wastes and consumption practices of milk, milk products and meat. The current study revealed that 67.8% of the studied subjects’ total level of knowledge about Malta fever was unsatisfactory with statistical significance differences with educational level, duration of work in animal breeding and previous infection with Malta fever where p value were 0.002, 0.000, 0.000 respectively. Eighty two point four percent of the studied subjects’ total level of practices related to Malta fever was poor with statistical significant differences with educational level and duration of work in animal breeding where p value were 0.007, 0.006 respectively. To conclude unsatisfactory level of knowledge and poor practices related to Malta fever among the majority of the studied subjects were predisposing factors to the disease. Although the investigator provided the subjects with guidelines for protection, a coordinated, efficient and effective strategy for primary prevention of Malta fever is needed to mitigate the risk of infection