Identification of Gaps in Knowledge and Practices Affecting the Quality of Skins/Hides on the Eve of Eid-Ul-Adha in Pakistan

The 2nd largest export-oriented leather industry of Pakistan fulfills its 40% annual raw material demand during the eve of Eid-ul-Adha on which 6.0-8.0 million best-quality animals are being slaughtered within three days. However, a major portion of raw skins and hides (RSH) gets putrefied due to delayed preservation. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practices about RSH quality and its preservation in the general public from Punjab, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to May 2022 in which 948 individuals from 12 districts participated. Out of six, the overall mean knowledge score of the respondents about RSH preservation was 3.69 +/- 1.6 (61.5%). More than half (52.3%) of the respondents answered that salt could be an appropriate option to preserve RSH. However, contrary to their knowledge, only 4.2% (40/948) of respondents applied it correctly. About 56.6% of respondents donated RSH to religious institutes. The mean knowledge and practice scores of the respondents from rural areas were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those from urban areas (knowledge: 4.03 vs. 3.13; practice: 4.9 vs. 3.9). The knowledge and practice of preserving RSH using common salt application significantly increased (p<0.001) with the level of education (ORs: never attended school = 0.08; school level education = 0.22 & College/University education = 1.0). In conclusion, almost half of the respondents had knowledge about RSH preservation; however, only a few (4%) practiced it correctly. These findings will be helpful to design effective and targeted interventions to improve the knowledge and practices of the public for better RSH preservation.