Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42423518›Full record

ArticleVeterinary medicine and science2026

Ecopharmacovigilance and Drug Disposal: A Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Among Veterinary Healthcare Providers in and Around Gondar City, Ethiopia.

Yesuneh Tefera Mekasha, Sisaynesh Tarekegn, Mulukan Akalu Shiferaw, Melese Tilahun, Nasibu Tilahun, Abibo Wondie Mekonen, Melaku Getahun Feleke, Adno Ayelgn, Hana Tesfaye, Fikadu Endeshaw and 11 more

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Article in Veterinary medicine and science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Yesuneh Tefera MekashaBioequivalence Center, Clinical Trials Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2225-7088
Sisaynesh TarekegnDoctor of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Mulukan Akalu ShiferawBioequivalence Center, Clinical Trials Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Melese TilahunBioequivalence Center, Clinical Trials Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nasibu TilahunDoctor of Veterinary Medicine, SPANA Project Coordinator, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Abibo Wondie MekonenDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8636-6872
Melaku Getahun FelekeDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8780-2385
Adno AyelgnDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Hana TesfayeDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Fikadu EndeshawDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Birhanu Berihun KidanuDepartment of Veterinary Pharmacy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Beruktayet WonduDepartment of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Asnakew Mulaw BerihunDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5804-125X
Anmaw Shite AbatDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Dinku Yigezaw MebratieShanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai, China.
Mengesha Ayehu GetnetDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Merawi Kindu BirhanieDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Dejen Asaye MengistuDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6350-5000
Kassahun BerrieDepartment of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2748-600X
Assefa AdaneDepartment of Animal Science, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1802-1016
Sileshi BelewBioequivalence Center, Clinical Trials Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVeterinary pharmaceuticals often enter into ecosystems through the disposal of unused and expired medicines and animal excreta. Consequently, these substances are emerging as a global threat, posing risks to ecosystems, biodiversity and public health. However, despite the increasing concerns attributed to veterinary pharmaceuticals, there is a lack of empirical data regarding awareness and practices related to ecopharmacovigilance (EPV) among veterinary professionals in Ethiopia. EPV is an emerging discipline focused on the detection, evaluation, understanding and the prevention of the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals. This knowledge gap highlights the need for evidence-based assessment of veterinary professionals' awareness and practices of EPV in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess veterinary professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding EPV and pharmaceutical waste management.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted between January 2024 and May 2025 among 37 veterinary healthcare providers in and around Gondar City. The data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25 through descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify associations between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP indicators.

resultsThe study found that 73% of respondents had never heard of EPV, 78.4% had not received relevant training, and 67.6% reported the absence of pharmaceutical disposal guidelines in their facilities. Although 94.6% acknowledged the harmful effects of improper drug disposal on human and environmental health, only 16.2% were familiar with the term EPV. Knowledge was marginally associated with reading scientific literature (p = 0.084), whereas attitudes were significantly related to prior knowledge (p = 0.001), training (p = 0.001) and reviewing related reports (p = 0.001). Practices were influenced by prior knowledge (p = 0.023) and engagement with literature (p = 0.032). About 40.5% of participants disposed of pharmaceuticals in regular trash, and only 27% returned unused drugs to appropriate authorities. Overall, 62.8% of respondent's demonstrated poor knowledge, 56.8% held negative attitudes, and practices were inadequate.

conclusionThis baseline study reveals low awareness of EPV and poor waste management practices among veterinary healthcare providers. The study shows the urgent need for targeted training, policy enforcement and the integration of environmental education into veterinary curricula in Ethiopia. This is necessary to promote responsible pharmaceutical stewardship and safeguard the environment and public health.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticePharmacovigilanceVeterinariansVeterinary DrugsAdultAnimalsCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesVeterinary DrugsCentral Gondar Zonedrug disposalecopharmacovigilanceenvironmental riskEthiopiaguidelines pharmaceutical wasteveterinary professionals

Identifiers

PMID42423518
PMCPMC13348970

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.