Published 2017 | Version v1
Journal article Restricted

Socio-cultural Determinants of Human–Bat Interactions in Rural Ghana

Description

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Bats are known to be a natural reservoir for a lot of disease pathogens and can spread several diseases. All 11 genera of fruit bat found in West Africa are found in Ghana, and human–bat interactions are common. However, there is a dearth of knowledge about the socio-cultural factors that shape these interactions. This paper explores the socio-cultural factors that bring humans into contact with bats. Data were obtained through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that gender, religious affiliation, and belief systems influence the interaction between humans and bats. We conclude that the hunting and consumption patterns of bats have farreaching consequences for the transmission of bat-borne zoonotic diseases. Educational campaigns, therefore, should be intensified and, in particular, target groups that are most at risk of contracting bat-borne zoonotic diseases.

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Additional details

Identifiers

URL
hash://md5/0418c148627f7429b8fcb4b5356e20b5
URN
urn:lsid:zotero.org:groups:5435545:items:K54U54RZ
DOI
10.1080/08927936.2017.1310984

Biodiversity

Class
Mammalia
Kingdom
Animalia
Order
Chiroptera
Phylum
Chordata