Exploring rat meat consumption patterns, and perception of risks regarding urban rats; implications for rat-borne zoonoses outbreaks and drug resistant pathogens spread in urban areas of Ghana
Authors: Deku Godwin , Younge Emmanuel , Doggett Stephen L. , Combey Rofela , Badu Isaac Kwame , Paintsil Mercy Amo , Ametsi Smile Kwabena , Wills Angela Ama , Bonney Rabiatu Bonnoua , Amoah Kwabena Owusu 
Published: April 2024

Introduction

This research explores rat meat consumption patterns among urban Ghanaians and their perception of risks associated with urban rats. Two hypotheses on risk perception among urban inhabitants were proposed: the risk of contracting diseases by consuming rat meat and the risk of contracting diseases from peridomestic rats.

Method/Findings

To achieve the objective, a descriptive cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire was conducted that recruited participants from urban settings in Ghana. Of the 829 respondents recruited, around 65% consumed rodents, and of these, 35% consumes rat meat. Through statistical analyses, our data revealed gender, age, region, religion, ethnicity, education, profession and income significantly influenced rat meat consumption and residents’ perception of disease risk. An adjusted multivariable model identified males aged 27 to 34years with no formal or a basic education in southern Ghana as the most likely rat meat consumers. The majority of the participants (60.3%) indicated rats are often present in homes and community drains, and have some awareness where rats can be found in their place of residence. Low perception scores regarding disease risks associated with rat meat consumption were recorded, with the majority of respondents (55-74.9% of 829) perceiving that there were minimal disease threats associated with peridomestic rats. The outcome of this belief was that participants undertook limited rat control in their neighborhood.

Conclusion

The poor perceptions of disease risks regarding rats increases the vulnerabilities of urban Ghanaians to zoonotic spillovers. This underscores the critical need for public education on rat-borne zoonoses in urban Ghana. This survey presents the first baseline study on urban inhabitants’ interactions with peridomestic rats in Ghana and the data will be crucial in the on-going interventions by the Ghana Health Service to minimize transmission of Lassa fever and other rodent-borne diseases and the spread of rodent related drug resistant pathogens.

Author Summary

Human engagement with rats in urban settings provides a mechanism of transferring rat-related zoonoses to the human population. Unlike some other African nations, instances of zoonoses relating to rats are not common in Ghana. Consequently, the public’s perceptions of disease threats posed by urban rats remain largely unexplored. Ghana’s Lassa fever problems began in 2012, and in 2023, the country experienced 14 cases with one death. The study herein enhances our understanding of the epidemiological risk factors in evaluating Ghanaians preparedness against rat-borne zoonoses in urban settings, by examining rat meat consumption patterns and associated risk perception with the rats. A total of 829 Ghanaians were interviewed from urban residential areas on rodent risk behaviors. Results revealed that around 35% of people consume rat meat in urban settings of Ghana and low perception scores on disease risks pertaining to the rats were recorded. The low scores are reflected in the limited attempts by the public to control rats. Rat meat consumption and perception of risks were driven by several sociodemographic variables. Our data could be used by the Ghana Health Service to justify implementation measures for rodent management to mitigate Lassa fever and the spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens.