Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Poultry Farmers Regarding Avian Influenza in Kaduna State

This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of poultry farmers concerning avian influenza (AI) in Kaduna State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Avian influenza outbreaks have repeatedly disrupted poultry production across Nigeria since 2006, and the adequacy of farmer awareness and biosecurity practices directly determines the speed and scale of outbreak spread. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, structured questionnaires were administered to 200 poultry farmers across 10 local government areas in Kaduna State. Questions covered knowledge of AI clinical signs, transmission routes, biosecurity measures, reporting obligations, and vaccination practices. Data were analysed using frequency distributions, percentages, and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that only 38 percent of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge of avian influenza clinical signs, while 52 percent were unaware of the obligation to report suspected outbreaks to veterinary authorities. Biosecurity practice scores were significantly lower among smallholder backyard farmers compared to commercial operators. Over 70 percent of respondents had not received any formal training in biosecurity from veterinary extension services in the preceding three years. Gender and educational level were significant predictors of knowledge and practice scores. The study recommends intensive veterinary extension efforts, farmer training workshops, and the development of illustrated biosecurity guidelines targeting low-literacy poultry farmer populations in Kaduna State. Keywords: avian influenza, knowledge, attitudes, practices, Kaduna State.