Muthiru Ann W, Muema Josphat, Mutono Nyamai, Thumbi S M, Bukachi Salome A
Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 28;20(1):e0315906. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315906. eCollection 2025.
East Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study sought to provide a detailed examination of the dynamics that shape Infection Treatment Method (ITM) vaccine adoption behaviours. The study examined individual, socio-cultural and ecological- level factors influencing ITM adoption using the socio-ecological model. Analyzing data obtained from 18 focus group discussions, 30 in-depth interviews with livestock keepers, and 25 key informant interviews conducted with community stakeholders, the study identified factors associated with vaccine adoption within pastoralist communities in rural Kenya. These factors included knowledge and awareness of the Infection Treatment Method vaccine, its cost, livestock keepers' perceptions of East Coast fever relative to other livestock diseases, wildlife-livestock interactions, climate as contributing factors, and wildlife-livestock interactions influencing ECF risk and severity. Overall, the study findings emphasize the need for multifaceted strategies to increase vaccine adoption among livestock keepers.
东海岸热（ECF）是东非地区牲畜死亡和生产力下降的主要原因之一。尽管一种名为感染与治疗方法的针对东海岸热的活疫苗已经存在了三十年，但受影响社区对其的采用率仍然很低。本研究旨在详细考察影响感染治疗方法（ITM）疫苗采用行为的动态因素。该研究使用社会生态模型，考察了影响ITM采用的个人、社会文化和生态层面的因素。通过分析从18次焦点小组讨论、对牲畜饲养者进行的30次深入访谈以及与社区利益相关者进行的25次关键 informant 访谈中获得的数据，该研究确定了肯尼亚农村牧民社区内与疫苗采用相关的因素。这些因素包括对感染治疗方法疫苗的知识和认识、其成本、牲畜饲养者相对于其他牲畜疾病对东海岸热的认知、野生动物与牲畜的相互作用、气候作为促成因素以及影响东海岸热风险和严重程度的野生动物与牲畜的相互作用。总体而言，研究结果强调需要采取多方面的策略来提高牲畜饲养者对疫苗的采用率。
