Participation and its determinants in East Cost Fever immunization by smallscale cattle keepers in Mazabuka district of Zambia

Abstract

Currently 1.4 million cattle are at risk of East Coast Fever out of approximately 3 million in Zambia. A cross sectional study was carried out in Mazabuka district of Zambia from July to September 2015, to assess participation and factors affecting cattle farmers participation in ECF
immunisation by the infection and treatment method. The study involved 224 randomly selected small scale cattle farmers from three veterinary camps in Mazabuka who participated in the second round of 2015 immunisation campaign. Semi-structured questionnaire was administered
to consented farmers to seek information about demographic and socio-economic characteristics, knowledge and experience in cattle rearing, herd characteristics, management and perceived benefits, costs and challenges of ECF immunisation. Data on immunisation statistics, schedules, coverage, adequacy, vaccine delivery, successes and challenges were collected from the district veterinary office and the Central Veterinary Research Institute covering the period between the years 2008 to 2014. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and proportions were computed to
establish immunization coverage, participation trend and socio-demographic parameters of cattle farmers. Fischer exact test was used to assess associations between variables at 5% significance level. Logistic regression was run using R software to assess influence of different factors on
willingness of farmers to participate in immunization campaign. Majority of participants were males (94%), had secondary education (49.1%), more than five year experience of keeping cattle (89.3%) and depended on sources other than cattle for their livelihood (47.3%). From 2008 to
2014 vaccination coverage was on average 65% of the target per annum and 97% of the participants appreciated reduction in cattle mortality post immunisation. Willingness to participate in immunisation campaign was influenced by education level (secondary education: OR=27, 95% CI: 2.29-352.71), satisfaction with immunisation service (OR=5.14, 95% CI: 1.04- 24.64) and experience of post-immunisation mortality reduction (OR=7.33, 95% CI: 1.26-44.00). Improvement in service delivery quality and monitoring of post immunisation outcome can lead to increased participation of farmers in immunisation campaigns.

Key words: East Coast Fever, immunisation, Infection and Treatment Method, Theileriosis, Tick Borne Diseases, Mazabuka