title: Perceptions about mercury and lead in fish consumed in Lake Albert fishing communities Uganda.
abstract: Fish consumption is a lifestyle in fishing communities influenced by individual and communal perceptions. However, information about individual perceptions about fish consumption in the vulnerable fishing community in a developing country is lacking. Without this study, the benefits of fish consumption in a vulnerable community may not be realized. Data collection was executed using key informant interviews and survey structured questionnaires. The key informants include fisheries, community development, veterinary, community and environmental officers. The household heads were the respondents. The Qualitative data was organized and queried using QSR Nvivo 10 and quantitative data analyzed with SPSS version 22. The perceived benefits of eating fish are health, income, nutrition and manhood. The perceived risks are Stigma and ill health. The factors increasing fish consumption are heedless of fish consumption benefits (p= 0.041) and household size i.e. number of adults more than seven (p= 0.020). Those decreasing are methods of preparation of fish i.e. boiling and frying (p= 0.019 andp= 0.010) and oblivious about organizations dealing with fishing activities (p= 0.029). An awareness campaign is needed to demystify the health benefits and fallacies of fish consumption. The knowledge on individual perceptions associated with fish consumption will increase fish consumption but with fewer risks.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Tamale
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Ejobi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, MakerereUniversity , P.O Box 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Muyanja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naigaga
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Nakavuma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jesca
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Ocaido
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Micheal
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Makerere University , P.O. Box. 7062, Kampala , Uganda.
authors.forename: Katuhoire
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anne
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop protection, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium.
authors.forename: Amulen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deborah
keywords: benefits; contamination; fish consumption; heavy metals; individual perceptions; risks; vulnerable community