Chengula Augustino A, Mdegela Robinson H, Kasanga Christopher J
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P O Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Springerplus. 2013 Oct 18;2:549. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-549. eCollection 2013.
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.
裂谷热（RVF）是一种主要感染家养反刍动物的病毒性法定报告人畜共患病，会造成重大的社会经济影响。本研究利用2006 - 07年的疫情病例，旨在确定裂谷热的社会经济影响，并评估坦桑尼亚选定地区牲畜饲养者对控制裂谷热的知识、态度和做法。通过问卷调查、焦点小组讨论以及与关键信息提供者的深入访谈，在阿鲁沙、曼雅拉和莫罗戈罗地区收集了数据。结果表明，对该疾病的了解很少（所有临床症状得分均<50%），且三个地区之间的差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.00459）。本研究显示的裂谷热的社会经济影响包括：动物和人类死亡、牲畜市场链中断、牧民无法满足日常需求、无法获取蛋白质导致营养不良以及在疾病控制期间个人和国家层面的金钱损失。这些发现表明社区对裂谷热的了解程度较低，因此，需要开展更多教育和宣传活动，以制定更有效和高效的控制策略。
