Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya
BackgroundLivestock farmers' attitudes, practices, and behaviors are major factors in infection prevention and control of animal diseases. Kenya has the fourth largest global camel population, and the industry has grown over the last two decades, transforming beyond the traditional camel-keepin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1022146/full |
| _version_ | 1811215421043376128 |
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| author | Joseph Othieno Joseph Othieno Obadiah Njagi Sophie Masika Michael Apamaku Evans Tenge Bridgit Mwasa Peter Kimondo Emma Gardner Sophie Von Dobschuetz Joseph Muriira Ben Adul Lawrence Mwongela Haret A. Hambe Thomas Nyariki Folorunso O. Fasina Folorunso O. Fasina |
| author_facet | Joseph Othieno Joseph Othieno Obadiah Njagi Sophie Masika Michael Apamaku Evans Tenge Bridgit Mwasa Peter Kimondo Emma Gardner Sophie Von Dobschuetz Joseph Muriira Ben Adul Lawrence Mwongela Haret A. Hambe Thomas Nyariki Folorunso O. Fasina Folorunso O. Fasina |
| author_sort | Joseph Othieno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundLivestock farmers' attitudes, practices, and behaviors are major factors in infection prevention and control of animal diseases. Kenya has the fourth largest global camel population, and the industry has grown over the last two decades, transforming beyond the traditional camel-keeping areas to include peri-urban camel trade and value chain growth. The dromedary camel is resilient, and it is a preferred species in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya. However, it still faces many health and production challenges; to identify infection drivers and risky behaviors for camel respiratory illnesses and conditions in Kenya, we conducted a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey.MethodUsing a set of tools (questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions), we interviewed camel owners, herders, agro-veterinary outlets, and other relevant value chain stakeholders in Garissa and Isiolo counties (n = 85). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics.ResultsMost camel owners/herders are male and most are relatively uneducated (85.5%). The camels were used primarily for milk and meat production, income generation, and transport. Larger herd sizes (>30 camels) and owner/herder's lack of formal education are risk factors for owner-reported respiratory illnesses in camels. Major clinical signs of respiratory conditions were coughing (85.7%), nasal discharge (59.7%), and fever (23.4%). Diseases, lack of feeds, theft, and marketing challenges are the major constraints to camel production in Kenya. Owners-herders use drugs indiscriminately and this may contribute to antimicrobial resistance challenges.ConclusionPractitioners in the camel value chain want more commitment from the government and animal health officials on support services and access to veterinary services. Watering points, grazing areas, and marketing points are the primary areas for congregating camels and have a significant potential for disease spread. Kenya camels have a massive capacity for rural and ASALs' livelihoods transformation but the identified health challenges, and other issues must be addressed. Further studies on the Kenyan camels' respiratory microbial ecology are important to understand microbial risks and reduce the burden of zoonotic infections. Intensification of risk communication and community engagement, and messaging targeted at behavior change interventions should be directed at camel value chain actors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:22:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d6fa47c09714e09b849e3b6bc4cf6b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:22:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d6fa47c09714e09b849e3b6bc4cf6b42022-12-22T03:44:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-11-01910.3389/fvets.2022.10221461022146Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, KenyaJoseph Othieno0Joseph Othieno1Obadiah Njagi2Sophie Masika3Michael Apamaku4Evans Tenge5Bridgit Mwasa6Peter Kimondo7Emma Gardner8Sophie Von Dobschuetz9Joseph Muriira10Ben Adul11Lawrence Mwongela12Haret A. Hambe13Thomas Nyariki14Folorunso O. Fasina15Folorunso O. Fasina16Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaEmergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, KenyaDirectorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaDirectorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaEmergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, KenyaEmergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, KenyaDirectorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaDirectorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, ItalyFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, ItalyMinistry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Isiolo County, KenyaDirectorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Nairobi, KenyaMinistry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Isiolo County, KenyaMinistry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Garissa County, KenyaEmergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, KenyaEmergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaBackgroundLivestock farmers' attitudes, practices, and behaviors are major factors in infection prevention and control of animal diseases. Kenya has the fourth largest global camel population, and the industry has grown over the last two decades, transforming beyond the traditional camel-keeping areas to include peri-urban camel trade and value chain growth. The dromedary camel is resilient, and it is a preferred species in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya. However, it still faces many health and production challenges; to identify infection drivers and risky behaviors for camel respiratory illnesses and conditions in Kenya, we conducted a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey.MethodUsing a set of tools (questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions), we interviewed camel owners, herders, agro-veterinary outlets, and other relevant value chain stakeholders in Garissa and Isiolo counties (n = 85). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics.ResultsMost camel owners/herders are male and most are relatively uneducated (85.5%). The camels were used primarily for milk and meat production, income generation, and transport. Larger herd sizes (>30 camels) and owner/herder's lack of formal education are risk factors for owner-reported respiratory illnesses in camels. Major clinical signs of respiratory conditions were coughing (85.7%), nasal discharge (59.7%), and fever (23.4%). Diseases, lack of feeds, theft, and marketing challenges are the major constraints to camel production in Kenya. Owners-herders use drugs indiscriminately and this may contribute to antimicrobial resistance challenges.ConclusionPractitioners in the camel value chain want more commitment from the government and animal health officials on support services and access to veterinary services. Watering points, grazing areas, and marketing points are the primary areas for congregating camels and have a significant potential for disease spread. Kenya camels have a massive capacity for rural and ASALs' livelihoods transformation but the identified health challenges, and other issues must be addressed. Further studies on the Kenyan camels' respiratory microbial ecology are important to understand microbial risks and reduce the burden of zoonotic infections. Intensification of risk communication and community engagement, and messaging targeted at behavior change interventions should be directed at camel value chain actors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1022146/fullcamel respiratory diseasesknowledgeattitudespracticesKenyarisk communication and community engagement |
| spellingShingle | Joseph Othieno Joseph Othieno Obadiah Njagi Sophie Masika Michael Apamaku Evans Tenge Bridgit Mwasa Peter Kimondo Emma Gardner Sophie Von Dobschuetz Joseph Muriira Ben Adul Lawrence Mwongela Haret A. Hambe Thomas Nyariki Folorunso O. Fasina Folorunso O. Fasina Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya Frontiers in Veterinary Science camel respiratory diseases knowledge attitudes practices Kenya risk communication and community engagement |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in Garissa and Isiolo, Kenya |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices on camel respiratory diseases and conditions in garissa and isiolo kenya |
| topic | camel respiratory diseases knowledge attitudes practices Kenya risk communication and community engagement |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1022146/full |
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