Newcastle disease vaccine adoption by smallholder households in Tanzania: Identifying determinants and barriers

Abstract

BackgroundFood security is critical to achieving sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and political and economic stability. Livestock have the potential to improve the food security of smallholder households in developing countries, but livestock productivity is constrained by disease. The extent to which households adopt innovations such as vaccines impacts disease control; however, the behavioral and economic drivers underlying household decisions to adopt or forgo vaccination are not well understood. We address this gap with a study of adoption of Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines by chicken-owning households in Tanzania.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administered to 535 households owning indigenous chickens in Arusha, Singida, and Mbeya regions in Tanzania. We measured potential predictors of ND vaccine adoption including knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors correlated with three stages of household adoption: awareness of ND vaccines, previous vaccination, and recent vaccination (within four months) consistent with veterinary guidelines.ResultsEighty percent of households were aware of ND vaccines, 57% had previously vaccinated, and 26% had recently vaccinated. Knowing someone who vaccinated increased the odds of a household previously vaccinating [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.32, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5]. Larger flock size was also associated with higher odds of previous vaccination (AOR: 1.03 for a one chicken increase, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05). Usage of traditional medicine decreased the odds of previously vaccination (AOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36–0.95).ConclusionOur findings suggest that encouraging the flow of professional-level knowledge within the community by vaccine adopters is a strategy to increase vaccine adoption. Enhancing local chicken productivity through increased vaccine coverage would strengthen a key smallholder household resource for food and economic security.

Socio-Economic Factors for Anthill Soil Utilization by Smallholder Farmers in Zambia

“…Before commencement of the present study, we obtained an informed consent through the camp agriculture extension officer of the research sites at the time of recruitment of the participants to the study, by reading and interpreting the designed consent form. This is in line with [21], who reported that oral consent has an advantage over written consent as it includes all respondents of any literacy scale. The informed consent spelt out the purpose of the study and any likely benefits and disadvantages which were to be accrued.…”

Drivers of vaccination preferences to protect a low-value livestock resource: Willingness to pay for Newcastle disease vaccines by smallholder households

“…The first section of the survey measured household demographics and socioeconomic status, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regards to chicken-keeping. The socioeconomic drivers of adoption are described by Campbell et al [10]. The second portion of the survey consisted of a double-bounded contingent valuation activity where respondents within a household were asked if they were willing to pay 2000 Tanzanian shillings (TZS), equivalent to $0.90 USD, to vaccinate ten chickens for ND within the context of a specific, hypothetical scenario.…”

“…In a study concurrent to the one described here, Campbell et al identified determinants and barriers to adoption of Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines in Tanzania. Knowing someone who vaccinated and having a larger flock increased the odds of previous vaccination while using traditional medicines to treat or prevent ND decreased the odds of previous vaccination [10]. Notably, income in the previous month was not significantly associated with previous or recent vaccine use [10].…”

Association of LEI0258 Marker Alleles and Susceptibility to Virulent Newcastle Disease Virus Infection in Kuroiler, Sasso, and Local Tanzanian Chicken Embryos

“…e disease control and prevention strategies largely depend on proper adoption of vaccination programs and good farm management practices like an appropriate institution of biosecurity measures [5,6]. However, vaccination programs and vaccination adoption remains a challenge under backyard production systems in rural areas of developing countries in SSA due to lack of financial resources [4,7]. Moreover, the free movement of birds scavenging for their nutritional needs in backyard chickens halts the institution of biosecurity measures [8].…”