Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract Background Malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa and conventional malaria control strategies, such as indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets, have limited effectiveness for some malarial vectors. Consequently, the development of alte...

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Main Authors: Takalani I. Makhanthisa, Leo Braack, Maria S. Bornman, Heike Lutermann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-10-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04334-z
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author Takalani I. Makhanthisa
Leo Braack
Maria S. Bornman
Heike Lutermann
author_facet Takalani I. Makhanthisa
Leo Braack
Maria S. Bornman
Heike Lutermann
author_sort Takalani I. Makhanthisa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa and conventional malaria control strategies, such as indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets, have limited effectiveness for some malarial vectors. Consequently, the development of alternative or supplementary strategies is required. One potential strategy is the use of livestock-administered endectocides to control vector mosquitoes that feed outdoors on livestock. However, since this strategy requires support from local communities and livestock owners consenting for their animals to be treated, it can only be implemented if agreed to by affected communities. The aim of this study was to assess the social acceptance of the use of livestock-administered endectocides in the malaria endemic villages of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, where malaria incidence is high. Methods Questionnaires were administered to 103 livestock-owning households from four villages, namely, Gumbu, Malale, Manenzhe and Bale. The assessment included questions on the acceptability of the strategy, the type and number of livestock owned, distances between houses and kraals (overnight pens) as well as previous use and awareness of endectocides. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Results The types of livestock owned by the participants comprised, cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys, with the most dominant being goats (n = 1040) and cattle (n = 964). The majority of kraals were less than 10 m from homesteads. Most participants (72.5%) were already using chemicals to treat their livestock for parasites. All participants were amenable to the implementation of the strategy, and would give consent for their animals to be treated by endectocides. Conclusions The use of livestock-administered endectocides appears to be a feasible and acceptable approach for control of animal-feeding malaria vector species in the malaria endemic villages of Vhembe District. This is based on a high percentage of rural residents keeping suitable livestock close to their homes and expressing willingness to use endectocides for mosquito control.
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spelling doaj.art-7015dfc8d8c6490fb0c847f0e200ab1e2022-12-22T02:37:54ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752022-10-012111910.1186/s12936-022-04334-zSocial acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South AfricaTakalani I. Makhanthisa0Leo Braack1Maria S. Bornman2Heike Lutermann3Department of Zoology & Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of PretoriaFaculty of Health Sciences, UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of PretoriaFaculty of Health Sciences, UP Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of PretoriaDepartment of Zoology & Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of PretoriaAbstract Background Malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa and conventional malaria control strategies, such as indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets, have limited effectiveness for some malarial vectors. Consequently, the development of alternative or supplementary strategies is required. One potential strategy is the use of livestock-administered endectocides to control vector mosquitoes that feed outdoors on livestock. However, since this strategy requires support from local communities and livestock owners consenting for their animals to be treated, it can only be implemented if agreed to by affected communities. The aim of this study was to assess the social acceptance of the use of livestock-administered endectocides in the malaria endemic villages of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa, where malaria incidence is high. Methods Questionnaires were administered to 103 livestock-owning households from four villages, namely, Gumbu, Malale, Manenzhe and Bale. The assessment included questions on the acceptability of the strategy, the type and number of livestock owned, distances between houses and kraals (overnight pens) as well as previous use and awareness of endectocides. The results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Results The types of livestock owned by the participants comprised, cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys, with the most dominant being goats (n = 1040) and cattle (n = 964). The majority of kraals were less than 10 m from homesteads. Most participants (72.5%) were already using chemicals to treat their livestock for parasites. All participants were amenable to the implementation of the strategy, and would give consent for their animals to be treated by endectocides. Conclusions The use of livestock-administered endectocides appears to be a feasible and acceptable approach for control of animal-feeding malaria vector species in the malaria endemic villages of Vhembe District. This is based on a high percentage of rural residents keeping suitable livestock close to their homes and expressing willingness to use endectocides for mosquito control.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04334-zCommunity engagementsMosquitoesInsecticidesVector control
spellingShingle Takalani I. Makhanthisa
Leo Braack
Maria S. Bornman
Heike Lutermann
Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Malaria Journal
Community engagements
Mosquitoes
Insecticides
Vector control
title Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_full Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_fullStr Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_short Social acceptance of livestock-administered endectocides for malaria control in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
title_sort social acceptance of livestock administered endectocides for malaria control in vhembe district limpopo province south africa
topic Community engagements
Mosquitoes
Insecticides
Vector control
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-022-04334-z
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