Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a veterinary disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies. AAT causes huge agricultural losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Both tsetse flies and trypanosomosis (T&T) are endemic in the study area inhabited by smallholder live...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Joel L Bargul, Erick K Serem, Osman A Abdullahi, Moses M Ngari, David M Mburu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2022-06-01
Series:Open Research Africa
Subjects:
Online Access:https://openresearchafrica.org/articles/5-22/v1
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850060564622999552
author Joel L Bargul
Erick K Serem
Osman A Abdullahi
Moses M Ngari
David M Mburu
author_facet Joel L Bargul
Erick K Serem
Osman A Abdullahi
Moses M Ngari
David M Mburu
author_sort Joel L Bargul
collection DOAJ
description Background: Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a veterinary disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies. AAT causes huge agricultural losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Both tsetse flies and trypanosomosis (T&T) are endemic in the study area inhabited by smallholder livestock farmers at the livestock-wildlife interface around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (ASFR) in Kilifi County on the Kenyan coast. We assessed farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and control practices towards T&T. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during November and December 2017 to collect data from 404 randomly selected cattle-rearing households using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to determine farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and control practices towards T&T. Demographic factors associated with knowledge of T&T were assessed using a logistic regression model. Results: Participants consisted of 53% female, 77% married, 30% elderly (>55 years), and the majority (81%) had attained primary education or below. Most small-scale farmers (98%) knew the tsetse fly by its local name, and 76% could describe the morphology of the adult tsetse fly by size in comparison to the housefly’s (Musca domestica). Only 16% of the farmers knew tsetse flies as vectors of livestock diseases. Higher chances of adequate knowledge on T&T were associated with the participants’ (i) age of 15–24 years (aOR 2.88 (95% CI 1.10–7.52), (ii) level of education including secondary (aOR 2.46 (95% CI 1.43–4.24)) and tertiary (aOR 3.80 (95% CI 1.54–9.37)), and (iii) employment status: self-employed farmers (aOR 6.54 (95% CI 4.36–9.80)). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that small-scale farmers around ASFR have limited knowledge of T&T. It is envisaged that efforts geared towards training of the farmers would bridge this knowledge gap and sharpen the perceptions and disease control tactics to contribute to the prevention and control of T&T.
format Article
id doaj-art-c6d6cc2db55143aabd89675694423c5b
institution DOAJ
issn 2752-6925
language English
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher F1000 Research Ltd
record_format Article
series Open Research Africa
spelling doaj-art-c6d6cc2db55143aabd89675694423c5b2025-08-20T02:50:30ZengF1000 Research LtdOpen Research Africa2752-69252022-06-01510.12688/openresafrica.13397.114545Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]Joel L Bargul0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8573-6807Erick K Serem1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4700-1268Osman A Abdullahi2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5003-2973Moses M Ngari3David M Mburu4Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Nairobi, P.O Box 62000-00200, KenyaDepartment of Public Health, School of Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, P.O Box 195-80108 Kilifi, KenyaDepartment of Public Health, School of Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, P.O Box 195-80108 Kilifi, KenyaDepartment of Public Health, School of Health and Human Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, P.O Box 195-80108 Kilifi, KenyaPwani University Bioscience Research Centre (PUBReC), Pwani University, Kilifi, P.O Box 195-80108, KenyaBackground: Animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) is a veterinary disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies. AAT causes huge agricultural losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Both tsetse flies and trypanosomosis (T&T) are endemic in the study area inhabited by smallholder livestock farmers at the livestock-wildlife interface around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve (ASFR) in Kilifi County on the Kenyan coast. We assessed farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and control practices towards T&T. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during November and December 2017 to collect data from 404 randomly selected cattle-rearing households using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to determine farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and control practices towards T&T. Demographic factors associated with knowledge of T&T were assessed using a logistic regression model. Results: Participants consisted of 53% female, 77% married, 30% elderly (>55 years), and the majority (81%) had attained primary education or below. Most small-scale farmers (98%) knew the tsetse fly by its local name, and 76% could describe the morphology of the adult tsetse fly by size in comparison to the housefly’s (Musca domestica). Only 16% of the farmers knew tsetse flies as vectors of livestock diseases. Higher chances of adequate knowledge on T&T were associated with the participants’ (i) age of 15–24 years (aOR 2.88 (95% CI 1.10–7.52), (ii) level of education including secondary (aOR 2.46 (95% CI 1.43–4.24)) and tertiary (aOR 3.80 (95% CI 1.54–9.37)), and (iii) employment status: self-employed farmers (aOR 6.54 (95% CI 4.36–9.80)). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that small-scale farmers around ASFR have limited knowledge of T&T. It is envisaged that efforts geared towards training of the farmers would bridge this knowledge gap and sharpen the perceptions and disease control tactics to contribute to the prevention and control of T&T.https://openresearchafrica.org/articles/5-22/v1animal trypanosomosis tsetse flies wildlife–livestock interface small-scale farmers Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve Kenyaeng
spellingShingle Joel L Bargul
Erick K Serem
Osman A Abdullahi
Moses M Ngari
David M Mburu
Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
Open Research Africa
animal trypanosomosis
tsetse flies
wildlife–livestock interface
small-scale farmers
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve
Kenya
eng
title Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_short Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector: A cross-sectional study around Kenya’s Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve at the livestock-wildlife interface [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_sort farmers knowledge perceptions and practices on animal trypanosomosis and the tsetse fly vector a cross sectional study around kenya s arabuko sokoke forest reserve at the livestock wildlife interface version 1 peer review 2 approved
topic animal trypanosomosis
tsetse flies
wildlife–livestock interface
small-scale farmers
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve
Kenya
eng
url https://openresearchafrica.org/articles/5-22/v1
work_keys_str_mv AT joellbargul farmersknowledgeperceptionsandpracticesonanimaltrypanosomosisandthetsetseflyvectoracrosssectionalstudyaroundkenyasarabukosokokeforestreserveatthelivestockwildlifeinterfaceversion1peerreview2approved
AT erickkserem farmersknowledgeperceptionsandpracticesonanimaltrypanosomosisandthetsetseflyvectoracrosssectionalstudyaroundkenyasarabukosokokeforestreserveatthelivestockwildlifeinterfaceversion1peerreview2approved
AT osmanaabdullahi farmersknowledgeperceptionsandpracticesonanimaltrypanosomosisandthetsetseflyvectoracrosssectionalstudyaroundkenyasarabukosokokeforestreserveatthelivestockwildlifeinterfaceversion1peerreview2approved
AT mosesmngari farmersknowledgeperceptionsandpracticesonanimaltrypanosomosisandthetsetseflyvectoracrosssectionalstudyaroundkenyasarabukosokokeforestreserveatthelivestockwildlifeinterfaceversion1peerreview2approved
AT davidmmburu farmersknowledgeperceptionsandpracticesonanimaltrypanosomosisandthetsetseflyvectoracrosssectionalstudyaroundkenyasarabukosokokeforestreserveatthelivestockwildlifeinterfaceversion1peerreview2approved