Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective

BackgroundWith widely adequate efforts to promote food (cassava) safety, adoption still remains low. This study explored the knowledge of cassava cyanide poisoning, perceived threat, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda.MethodsData were collected using focus group discussions (...

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Main Authors: Jenifer Apil, Lucy Mulugo, Peter Atekyereza, Bernard Obaa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1592661/full
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author Jenifer Apil
Lucy Mulugo
Peter Atekyereza
Bernard Obaa
author_facet Jenifer Apil
Lucy Mulugo
Peter Atekyereza
Bernard Obaa
author_sort Jenifer Apil
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundWith widely adequate efforts to promote food (cassava) safety, adoption still remains low. This study explored the knowledge of cassava cyanide poisoning, perceived threat, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda.MethodsData were collected using focus group discussions (10), in-depth individual interviews (10), and household interviews (420). Participants responded to a culturally specific questionnaire that comprised demographic inquiries and adapted questions from the qualitative findings on knowledge, perceived threat, and adoption of preventive measures.ResultsPerceived threat mediated the path between knowledge and the adoption of preventive measures, and the indirect effect was moderated by education and not gender. In other words, having knowledge of cassava cyanide poisoning was interconnected to the adoption of preventive measures through the risk perception of educated respondents.ConclusionFrom the Health Belief Model perspective, the study recommends that cassava cyanide poisoning responsiveness campaigns should hinge on raising awareness of the risk associated with cyanide poisoning to motivate households to adopt recommended preventive measures.
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series Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
spelling doaj-art-e1c6df12a8f141c8a3a7abb19c90fd212025-08-20T03:41:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-08-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15926611592661Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspectiveJenifer Apil0Lucy Mulugo1Peter Atekyereza2Bernard Obaa3Department of Extension and Innovation Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Extension and Innovation Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Extension and Innovation Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaBackgroundWith widely adequate efforts to promote food (cassava) safety, adoption still remains low. This study explored the knowledge of cassava cyanide poisoning, perceived threat, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda.MethodsData were collected using focus group discussions (10), in-depth individual interviews (10), and household interviews (420). Participants responded to a culturally specific questionnaire that comprised demographic inquiries and adapted questions from the qualitative findings on knowledge, perceived threat, and adoption of preventive measures.ResultsPerceived threat mediated the path between knowledge and the adoption of preventive measures, and the indirect effect was moderated by education and not gender. In other words, having knowledge of cassava cyanide poisoning was interconnected to the adoption of preventive measures through the risk perception of educated respondents.ConclusionFrom the Health Belief Model perspective, the study recommends that cassava cyanide poisoning responsiveness campaigns should hinge on raising awareness of the risk associated with cyanide poisoning to motivate households to adopt recommended preventive measures.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1592661/fullcassava cyanide knowledgerisk perceptionpreventive measuresNorthwestern Ugandaadoption
spellingShingle Jenifer Apil
Lucy Mulugo
Peter Atekyereza
Bernard Obaa
Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
cassava cyanide knowledge
risk perception
preventive measures
Northwestern Uganda
adoption
title Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
title_full Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
title_fullStr Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
title_full_unstemmed Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
title_short Cassava cyanide knowledge, risk perception, and adoption of preventive measures in Northwestern Uganda: a moderated mediation perspective
title_sort cassava cyanide knowledge risk perception and adoption of preventive measures in northwestern uganda a moderated mediation perspective
topic cassava cyanide knowledge
risk perception
preventive measures
Northwestern Uganda
adoption
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1592661/full
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