Mixed methods evaluation of targeted selective anthelmintic treatment by resource-poor smallholder goat farmers in Botswana

dc.contributor.authorWalker, Josephine G.
dc.contributor.authorOfithile, Mphoeng
dc.contributor.authorTavolaro, F. Marina
dc.contributor.authorVan Wyk, Jan Aucamp
dc.contributor.authorEvans, Kate
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, Eric R.
dc.contributor.emailjan.vanwyk@up.ac.zaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-02T07:31:53Z
dc.date.available2017-02-02T07:31:53Z
dc.date.issued2015-11
dc.description.abstractDue to the threat of anthelmintic resistance, livestock farmers worldwide are encouraged to selectively apply treatments against gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Targeted selective treatment (TST) of individual animals would be especially useful for smallholder farmers in low-income economies, where cost-effective and sustainable intervention strategies will improve livestock productivity and food security. Supporting research has focused mainly on refining technical indicators for treatment, and much lesson factors influencing uptake and effectiveness. We used a mixed method approach, whereby qualitative and quantitative approaches are combined, to develop, implement and validate a TST system for GINs in small ruminants, most commonly goats, among smallholder farmers in the Makgadikgadi Pans region of Botswana, and to seek better understanding of system performance within a cultural context. After the first six months of the study, 42 out of 47 enrolled farmers were followed up; 52% had monitored their animals using the taught inspection criteria and 26% applied TST during this phase. Uptake level showed little correlation with farmer characteristics, such as literacy and size of farm. Herd health significantly improved in those herds where anthelmintic treatment was applied: anaemia, as assessed using the five-point FAMACHA©scale, was 0.44–0.69 points better (95% confidence interval) and body condition score was 0.18–0.36 points better (95% C.I., five-point scale) in treated compared with untreated herds.Only targeting individuals in greatest need led to similar health improvements compared to treating the entire herd, leading to dose savings ranging from 36% to 97%. This study demonstrates that TST against nematodes can be implemented effectively by resource-poor farmers using a community-led approach.The use of mixed methods provides a promising system to integrate technical and social aspects of TST programmes for maximum uptake and effect.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentVeterinary Tropical Diseasesen_ZA
dc.description.librarianhb2017en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Cabot Institute of the University of Bristol, and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through a Sparking Impact award following from BBSRC-DFID (UK Department for International Development) Combating Infectious Diseases of Livestock in Developing Countries (CIDLID) project BB/H00940X/1 RISCNET. EM is funded by the EU FP7 GLOWORM project (grant agreement number 288975CP-TP-KBBE.2011.1.3-04). JGW is funded by a University of Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarship.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/vetparen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWalker, JG, Ofithile, M, Vavolaro, FM, Van Wyk, JA, Evans, K & Morgan, ER 2015, 'Mixed methods evaluation of targeted selective anthelmintic treatment by resource-poor smallholder goat farmers in Botswana', Veterinary Parasitology, vol. 214, no. 1-2, pp. 80-88.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0304-4017 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1873-2550 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.10.006
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/58812
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).en_ZA
dc.subjectFAMACHA©en_ZA
dc.subjectParticipatory epidemiologyen_ZA
dc.subjectLivestock managementen_ZA
dc.subjectGoatsen_ZA
dc.subjectTargeted selective treatmenten_ZA
dc.subjectNematodesen_ZA
dc.subjectGastrointestinal nematodes (GINs)en_ZA
dc.subjectTargeted selective treatment (TST)en_ZA
dc.titleMixed methods evaluation of targeted selective anthelmintic treatment by resource-poor smallholder goat farmers in Botswanaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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