Mutambo Irene N, Bett Bernard, Bukachi Salome A
Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 28;20(1):e0316015. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316015. eCollection 2025.
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that affects both livestock and humans. Men and women in pastoralist communities are vulnerable to RVF risk exposure because of their different roles and reliance on livestock products. This study sought to understand how ownership and decision-making in pastoralist male and female-headed households influence coping mechanisms and resilience to Rift Valley fever (RVF), using the three resilience capacities of absorptive, adaptive, and transformative. This study was conducted in two sub-counties (Garbatulla) and Merti), Isiolo County, Kenya. Data were collected through 16 focus group discussions and 13 key informant interviews with pastoralists and animal and human health stakeholders. The findings indicate that traditionally, men have the final say on decisions related to livestock ownership and make overall household decisions. Pastoralist men and women employ different approaches, including hygiene practices and mosquito nets, community knowledge dissemination, establishment of new businesses, utilization of healthcare, and indigenous medicines, to reduce the effects of RVF in both humans and livestock. They also collaborated with community disease surveillance initiatives to strengthen disease surveillance networks and gain access to county government support. This process fosters resilience, community empowerment, and transformative and sustainable adaptation responses to RVF.
裂谷热（RVF）是一种人畜共患疾病，会影响牲畜和人类。牧民社区中的男性和女性由于其不同的角色以及对畜牧产品的依赖，容易面临裂谷热风险暴露。本研究旨在利用吸收、适应和变革这三种恢复力能力，了解以男性和女性为户主的牧民家庭中的所有权和决策如何影响应对机制以及对裂谷热（RVF）的恢复力。本研究在肯尼亚伊西奥洛县的两个分区（加尔巴图拉和梅尔蒂）开展。通过与牧民以及动物和人类健康利益相关者进行16次焦点小组讨论和13次关键信息访谈收集数据。研究结果表明，传统上，男性对与牲畜所有权相关的决策拥有最终决定权，并做出整个家庭的决策。牧民男性和女性采用不同的方法，包括卫生习惯和蚊帐、社区知识传播、创办新企业、利用医疗保健和本土药物，以减少裂谷热对人类和牲畜的影响。他们还与社区疾病监测倡议合作，加强疾病监测网络，并获得县政府的支持。这一过程促进了恢复力、社区赋权以及对裂谷热的变革性和可持续适应反应。
