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. 2013 Oct 18:2:549.
doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-549. eCollection 2013.

Socio-economic impact of Rift Valley fever to pastoralists and agro pastoralists in Arusha, Manyara and Morogoro regions in Tanzania

Augustino A Chengula  1 , Robinson H Mdegela, Christopher J Kasanga
Affiliations

Socio-economic impact of Rift Valley fever to pastoralists and agro pastoralists in Arusha, Manyara and Morogoro regions in Tanzania

Augustino A Chengula et al. Springerplus. .

Abstract

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral notifiable zoonotic disease primarily of domestic ruminants that causes significant socio-economic impacts. Using the 2006-07 outbreak cases, this study aimed to establish the socio-economic impact of RVF and assessing knowledge, attitude and practice of livestock keepers towards controlling RVF in selected areas of Tanzania. Data were collected in Arusha, Manyara and Morogoro regions using questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants. Results indicate that there was little knowledge on disease (all clinical signs scored <50%) and the difference between the three regions was statistically significant (P = 0.00459). Socio-economic impacts of RVF shown by this study included; animal and human deaths, disruption of livestock market chains, inability of pastoralists to achieve their daily demands, inability to obtain protein leading to malnutrition and monetary loss at individual and national level during control of the disease. These findings have demonstrated low knowledge of the community on RVF, thus, more education and engagement is needed in order to develop more effective and efficient control strategies.

Keywords: Awareness; Pastoralists; Rift Valley fever; Socio-economic losses; Tanzania.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Representation of an average monthly expenditure of livestock households in the study area (US $1 to 1500 TZS). Expenditure levels were not significantly different between the regions (P = 0.414) and within the regions (Arusha P = 0.0564, Manyara P = 0.0668 and Morogoro P = 0.3522).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Representation of Maasai community village (Monic village, Ngorongoro district in Tanzania) on the Eastern arm of Rift Valley shared houses with domestic animals during the outbreak.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representation of the map of Tanzania showing study areas: number 1 to 19 shows locations where socio-economic study was conducted in Arusha, Manyara and Morogoro regions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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