An expanded One Health model: Integrating social science and One Health to inform study of the human-animal interface

Abstract

Zoonotic disease emergence is not a purely biological process mediated only by ecologic factors; opportunities for transmission of zoonoses from animals to humans also depend on how people interact with animals. While exposure is conditioned by the type of animal and the location in which interactions occur, these in turn are influenced by human activity. The activities people engage in are determined by social as well as contextual factors including gender, age, socio-economic status, occupation, social norms, settlement patterns and livelihood systems, family and community dynamics, as well as national and global influences. This paper proposes an expanded "One Health" conceptual model for human-animal exposure that accounts for social as well as epidemiologic factors. The expanded model informed a new study approach to document the extent of human exposure to animals and explore the interplay of social and environmental factors that influence risk of transmission at the individual and community level. The approach includes a formative phase using qualitative and participatory methods, and a representative, random sample survey to quantify exposure to animals in a variety of settings. The paper discusses the different factors that were considered in developing the approach, including the range of animals asked about and the parameters of exposure that are included, as well as factors to be considered in local adaptation of the generic instruments. Illustrative results from research using this approach in Lao PDR are presented to demonstrate the effect of social factors on how people interact with animals. We believe that the expanded model can be similarly operationalized to explore the interactions of other social and policy-level determinants that may influence transmission of zoonoses.

Spatial and simultaneous representative seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in owners and their domiciled dogs in a major city of southern Brazil

“…In such a scenario, an inter-disciplinary approach may be required for better understanding of the spreading, fluctuations, epidemics and outbreaks of infectious pathogens, particularly zoonoses [26]. T .…”

Posthumanist critique and human health: how nonhumans (could) figure in public health research

“…A recent special issue of Social Science & Medicine, for example, critiqued One-health for failing to address power relations (Craddock, 2015;Craddock & Hinchliffe, 2015;Giles-Vernick, et al, 2015), which has in turn meant that the social, political and economic embeddedness of human-animal interactions is not addressed by 'One-health' advocates (Coffin, Monje, Asiimwe-Karimu, Amuguni, & Odoch, 2015;Woldehanna & Zimicki, 2015;Wolf, 2015). Posthumanist theory can help public health researchers address these concerns, which are certainly shared by critical public health scholars.…”

Beyond Human to Humane: A Multispecies Analysis of Care Work, Its Repression, and Its Potential

“…Health care researchers and practitioners have begun developing an approach called the One Health Model, which recognizes and promotes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health (see, for example, Fitzgerald, 2010;Lerner & Berg, 2015;Mackenzie, Jeggo, Daszak, & Richt, 2013;Woldehanna & Zimicki, 2015). This approach may offer conceptual and practical lessons for worlds of work and could serve as another foundational axis for a more ambitious, holistic approach to care work.…”