Alborz University

Introduction: The maintenance of pets is a global phenomenon that is associated with positive effects on individuals' mental and physiological health. However, these animals can also serve as hosts for the transmission of common diseases between humans and animals, known as zoonoses. Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness about the dangers posed by these diseases and promote preventive behaviors. This study aims to investigate the level of awareness and attitudes of individuals, particularly students at Alborz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, regarding zoonotic diseases, especially parasitic infections. Additionally, the study seeks to identify solutions to enhance awareness and mitigate the risks associated with these diseases in the targeted communities.
Methods: This survey is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among students at Alborz University of Medical Sciences. A total of 197 participants from six faculties—Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health, Paramedicine, and Nursing—were selected for the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 22 statistical software, employing appropriate statistical tests based on the types of variables.
Results: The results of this study indicated that the majority of participants were female (n = 109, 55.3%), general medical doctoral students (n = 117, 59.4%), and did not own pets (n = 125, 63.5%). Statistical analysis using Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed significant relationships among the variables: knowledge and attitude of participants (P < 0.001, r = 0.241), knowledge and practice of participants (P < 0.001, r = 0.363), and attitude and practice of participants (P < 0.001, r = 0.380).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study, conducted for the first time among students at Alborz University of Medical Sciences, indicate that education on zoonotic diseases should be ongoing for students in various medical disciplines. Furthermore, these individuals should actively seek to expand their acquired knowledge. Previous studies conducted within the community have shown that the level of knowledge and awareness regarding diseases shared between humans and animals is low and requires significant improvement.