Impact of participatory training of smallholder pig farmers on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding biosecurity for the control of African swine fever in Uganda
Open Access
- 20 April 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
- Vol. 67 (6), 2482-2493
- https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13587
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of a participatory training of pig farmers on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of biosecurity relating to ASF control in two districts of Uganda using a randomized control trial (RCT). A total of 830 pig farmers from 32 villages were included in the study, with 425 farmers receiving training, while 405 did not. An item response theory model was used to assess the impact of the training on farmer’s KAP. Logistic regression models were used to assess the factors that affected knowledge gain and change in attitude and practices after training. Focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out with selected farmers from the treatment group at the end of the intervention, to share their experiences and discuss potential factors that could hinder adoption of biosecurity in their communities. Results of the regression analyses showed that there was a significant effect of biosecurity training (P=0.038) on gain in knowledge after 12 months, but there were limited changes in farmer’s attitude and practice between treatment and control groups at 12 months and 28 months. Pig production domain (peri‐urban/urban production), group membership, gender (male) and education of the farmer positively influenced knowledge gain and attitude of farmers towards biosecurity. This paper provides empirical evidence on the impact of training intervention on biosecurity practices for disease prevention or control. In addition, it breaks down the components of the biosecurity practices and documents the specific challenges to its uptake by the farmers. It therefore relaxes the assumption of knowledge constraint as a barrier to uptake. The results clearly show that knowledge is not the binding constraint to uptake of the biosecurity interventions.Funding Information
- Irish Aid
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Quantitative assessment of social and economic impact of African swine fever outbreaks in northern UgandaPreventive Veterinary Medicine, 2017
- Qualitative analysis of the risks and practices associated with the spread of African swine fever within the smallholder pig value chains in UgandaPreventive Veterinary Medicine, 2016
- Determinants of Knowledge and Biosecurity Preventive Behaviors for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Risk Among Chinese Poultry FarmersAvian Diseases, 2016
- Risk Factors for African Swine Fever in Smallholder Pig Production Systems in UgandaTransboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2015
- Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to African Swine Fever Within Smallholder Pig Production in Northern UgandaTransboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2015
- Participatory assessment of animal health and husbandry practices in smallholder pig production systems in three high poverty districts in UgandaPreventive Veterinary Medicine, 2014
- Socioeconomic implications of biosecurity practices in small-scale dairy farmsVeterinary Quarterly, 2014
- Epidemiological Overview of African Swine Fever in Uganda (2001–2012)Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2013
- Cost Implications of African Swine Fever in Smallholder Farrow-to-Finish Units: Economic Benefits of Disease Prevention Through BiosecurityTransboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2011
- Measuring and comparing constraints to improved biosecurity amongst GB farmers, veterinarians and the auxiliary industriesPreventive Veterinary Medicine, 2008