Participatory Disease Surveillance in 21 Villages of Igabi and Chukun L.G.A.s of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Participatory disease surveillance involves the use of participatory methods in disease surveillance systems. A total of 21 villages/communities were visited in 2 local government areas (L.G.A.s) of Kaduna state. Focus group semistructured interviews were the chief form of information extraction in addition to other Participatory epidemiological tools. The general occupation of the inhabitants, their major challenges in animal farming, major animals kept and the most important diseases affecting their livestock were deduced and discussed in the paper. Also deduced were the indigenous means of treatment and control available. The importance of Participatory Epidemiology in rapid rural appraisal and disease surveillance is also discussed.