Livestock Research for Rural Development 22 (10) 2010 Notes to Authors LRRD Newsletter

Citation of this paper

Determinants of cattle farmers’ awareness and attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus bovis in Botswana

O I Oladele and K Lesotho*

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus. South Africa
oladele20002001@yahoo.com
* Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension, Botswana College of Agriculture University of Botswana, Gaborone

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of cattle farmers’ awareness and attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis in Botswana.  Simple random sampling technique was used to select 68 cattle farmers from three extension areas in Kgattleng-district. A structured questionnaire which had earlier been subjected to face validity and has a reliability coefficient of 0.92 was used to collect data from the sampled cattle farmers.  Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis.

 

The results of the study showed that majority of cattle farmers (53.1%) were at least 30 years old, 51.5% had formal education, 64.8% of farmers have less than 10 years of farming experience, 51.5% were not married and 70.8% of farmers earn less than P1000.00 as income.  The most prominent attitudinal statement as ranked by the farmers were tape worm infection causes a lot of concern to farmers (3.91),  cattle are infected after ingesting tapeworm eggs in human faeces (3.91). Common control methods were   using toilets (85.3%), covering the feaces to prevent cattle gaining access to the feaces (73.5%), acquiring information on diseases of the livestock (72.1%) and  attending short courses and community meeting  about prevention and control of zoonosis(72.1%) . Significant determinants  of farmers’ awareness of   prevention and control programmes of  Cysticercus  Bovis were age( t = -2.13), educational level( t =3.14), number of dependants (t = 2.12),sources of information (t =2.04), visit to veterinary office (t =-1.71),  and attendance of health workshop (t =1.70), while the determinants of attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis were age (t = 2.46), educational level (t = 2.57), farming experience (t = 2.65), number of dependants (t = 1.70), sources of information (t = 2.93), herd composition (t = 1.80), time spent on farm (t = 1.57), and organisation membership (t = 1.86).

Keywords: Taenia saginata prevention


Introduction

In Botswana, the beef sub-sector contributes around 70% of agriculture’s share of Gross Domestic Product due to export to European Union markets (Moreki and Ntshese 2008). Livestock in general acts as a source of income at individual and household levels, create employment, provide services in support of crop production – in terms of draught power and manure used as an organic fertilizers in gardens and arable fields.  The livestock industry is extremely important to the economy of Botswana and includes not only commercial producers of meat or milk, but also purebred breeders and small producers with a few animals. The success of any type of livestock operation is closely related to the disease level of the animals. A number of complex diseases has emerged, difficult to diagnose and induced by a multiplicity of pathogenic agents causing an apparent or ‘clinical disease’ which are more likely that the effect will be less obvious and may only reduce the overall productivity of the livestock. Livestock management system in Botswana has about 80% communal and the rest under the feedlot system which serves as source of livestock to the abattoir. Botswana is reputed for its very effective livestock disease control system with its Veterinary Department well resourced in terms of financial and human personnel. Livestock herd health remains its focus through its extension front-line agents. However, infestation of its cattle population by the larval stage of human tape worm (Taenia saginata) remains a major challenge. Infected beef is not eligible for export to the lucrative market in Europe thereby constituting a major financial loss to the country (Aganga 2009). The communal livestock management systems involve community, group or syndicate and individual ranching. This legislated management system although rooted in the culture and prevalent nature of the semi-arid and arid climatic conditions of the country has been criticized for its inadequacies because of predisposition to occurrence of zoonoses in the country. The beef tapeworm, Taenia saginata, is a cestode parasite acquired in humans through the ingestion of raw or poorly cooked meat of infected cows. These cows would in turn be infected via the ingestion of human feaces containing the eggs of the parasite and these cows contain viable cysticercus larvae in their muscle (Wanzala et al 2003).

 

Until the re-enactment of the Livestock and Meat Industries Act in 2007, veterinary supervision of slaughter facilities was confined only to export abattoirs of Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) (BMC 2007). Beef measles continues to be a major threat to the beef production. The prevalence of beef measles in cattle in Botswana has been found to be 10 and 12 percent as detected by the veterinary staff at the export abattoirs while the recorded prevalence in the municipal abattoirs range from 0.66% to 10.3%. Cattle slaughtered at the BMC and municipal abattoirs originate from the same farms, the sharp variance in the prevalence rates may be due to the accuracy of detection. Beef from carcasses identified during meat inspection procedures as having beef measles can not be exported to the European Union, resulting in loss of export earnings of about P35 million annually(Aganga 2009)

 

The Department of Veterinary Services has for many years raised the level of awareness of its Extension staff on the significance of this disease through continuing training of the staff using workshops. Extension staff had been mandated to educate livestock farmers on various control measures. This approach has not resulted in the anticipated decline in the prevalence rate for this disease because it had focused only on livestock farmers. A recent approach has been introduced to harness the support of all stakeholders in the fight against this disease through education and communication, human interventions, animal production interventions, meat inspection interventions and epidemiology and economics (Marlow 2009). Competition for beef market in the international arena is stiff with Britain, Ireland, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Namibia as well as Swaziland has been strong contenders. European Union countries, with prevalence rates of less than 0.5 % (European Food Safety Authority 2006) may begin to pay attention to the high prevalence rate of beef measles in Botswana. There is a risk that at any given time, countries importing beef from Botswana may begin to regard the Botswana beef as threat to human and cattle populations and impose a trade barrier under the Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary conditions. Botswana has no choice but to develop and implement strategies to combat the high level of beef measles in order to remain competitive in beef market and to safeguard its human population from the public health effects of infection (BMC 2007).  The purpose of the study was to identify the determinants of cattle farmers attitude towards  control and prevention of Cysticercus  Bovis in Kgatleng District in Botswana. Specifically, demographic characteristics of cattle farmers were identified, awareness of and attitudes to prevention and control programme on Cysticercus Bovis ascertained.

 

Methodology 

The study was conducted in Kgatleng District in Botswana between October to December 2009. The target population of study was 18184 cattle farmers of Kgatleng District which is made up of 12 extension areas, that is Mochudi, Malotwana, Bokaa, Oodi, Mmathubudukwane, Malolwane, Olifantsdrift, Ramotlabaki, Leshibitse, Artesia, Kgomodiatshaba, and Dikgonnye.  From 12 extension areas simple random sampling technique was used to select 3 extension areas. These were Oodi, Bokaa and Mochudi. These 3 extension areas have 1200 cattle farmers. A simple random sampling was used to select 68 farmers from the  3 extension areas as  sample for the study. A structured questionnaire which was designed based on review of the related literature and objectives of the study was used to collect data from the sample. The questionnaire comprised of demographic characteristics of cattle farmers, awareness of and attitudes to prevention and control programme on Cysticercus  Bovis. The questionnaire was face validated by Lecturers in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Education and Extension and Animal production of the Botswana College of Agriculture. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), with frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis.

 

Results and discussion 

The personal characteristics of cattle farmers examined in the study are presented in Figure 1.


 Figure 1.  Household characteristics of cattle farmers

The results indicated that majority of respondents were at least 30 years old (53.1%), about 61.8% were male which indicated the dominance of males in farming, while 51.5% were not married.  Majority of the respondents (51.5%) had formal education. About 64.8% of farmers have less than 10 years experience in farming. About 70.8% of farmers earn less than P1000.00.  The results further reveled that 33% of the farmers had less than 10 cattle in their herd while a combination of information sources such as radio, television, veterinary officer and newspapers were used .

 

Awareness of control methods of Taenia saginata

 

Table 1 shows awareness of Kgatleng cattle farmers towards control methods of Cysticercus  Bovis. It shows that most of the farmers were aware of the control methods.


Table  1.  Awareness of control methods of Cysticercus  Bovis

Control technique

Aware, %

Mean

SD

Using toilets

85.3

1.82

0.49

Covering the faeces to prevent cattle gaining access to faeces

73.5

1.72

0.48

Buying beef of cattle which has been slaughtered and inspected by veterinary officials

67.6

1.68

0.47

Cook/Braai meat thoroughly until the inside of it turns greyish-white to kill cysts before eating it

64.7

1.65

0.48

Visiting the clinic/ Hospital with the family for check up of faeces

58.8

1.59

0.50

Treatment of humans is done at either hospital or clinic if found with the egg of tape worm

61.8

1.62

0.50

Infected candidates given a  dose of Yomesan (Niclosamide), Dichlorophen, Mebendasol and/ or Praziquantel

45.6

1.56

0.50

Not defecating in the bush

67.6

1.68

0.47

Attending short courses about prevention and control of zoonosis diseases

72.1

1.72

0.45

Attending Kgotla (community) meetings that addresses health of livestock

72.1

1.72

0.45

Acquiring information on  diseases of livestock

72.1

1.72

0.45

Frequent inspection of the livestock and pasture

64.7

1.65

0.48

We are working as syndicate to try and eradicate tapeworm

50.0

1.50

0.25

Frequent visits to the clinic for human check up as well as visit to vet. officials for good advice for my livestock

69.1

1.69

0.47

Prominent control methods were using toilets (85.3%), covering the feaces to prevent cattle gaining access to the feaces (73.5%), acquiring information on the diseases of the livestock (72.1%), attending short courses about prevention and control of zoonosis and even kgotla (community) meetings that were organized only for farmers by veterinary officials to address them about the health of their livestock (72.1%) and they were also aware that they must buy only beef which have been slaughtered and thoroughly inspected by veterinary officials who are professionals  in meat inspection.

 

Attitudes of farmers towards control and prevention of Cysticercus  Bovis

 

Table 2 hows a list of 30 attitudinal statements about control and prevention of Cysticercus  Bovis. The respondents were asked to rate the statements using 5 Likert scale as follows; 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (Disagree) 3(Uncertain) 4 (Agree) and 5 (Strongly agree). The actual mean is 3 due to the rating scale and a mean of greater than 3 denoted a positive attitude while a mean less than 3 denoted negative attitude towards control and prevention of Cysticercus  Bovis.


Table 2.  Attitude of farmers towards control and prevention of Cysticercus  Bovis

Attitudes

Mean

SD

 I am aware of the parasite Taenia saginata

3.19

1.58

Taenia saginata causes great losses to farmers

3.65

1.24

The Government is providing enough education to educate farmers about the parasite

3.50

1.11

I am aware of all the consequences that are caused by T. saginata

3.88

1.04

I know that meat affected by Taenia saginata is rejected at BMC

3.90

1.03

Veterinary officers always give me advices about control of cysticercus’s bovis

3.56

1.16

I am aware of the short Courses provided free to farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture

3.65

1.10

I am aware that Taenia saginata  is a zoonosis disease

3.76

1.12

I am aware that  there is no treatment for infected  live cattle

3.28

1.35

I am aware that I should use toilets or cover up the waste to prevent cattle gaining access to faeces

3.76

1.25

I am aware that I must buy beef of cattle which has been slaughtered and inspected by veterinary officials

3.90

1.19

I am aware that I must Cook/Braai meat thoroughly until the inside of it turns greyish-white to kill cysts before eating

3.62

1.26

I must visit the clinic/hospital with my family for check up of  faeces

3.38

1.27

I  am aware that if any of us has got eggs of tapeworm it will be treated

3.85

0.97

Cattle are infected after ingesting tapeworm eggs in human faeces

3.91

1.03

I am aware that Dichlorophen, Mebendasol/Albendazol, Praziguantel (Beltricide) are tablets that treat tapeworm 

3.31

1.21

After treatment, I should avoid being re-infected

3.79

1.26

Tape worm fed on digested food in our intestines

3.76

1.27

Young children and people with long standing illness such as HIV/AIDS are more at risk

3.56

1.29

A person is infected with tapeworm after eating under cooked beef infected with cysticercu1s bovis cysts

3.34

1.43

I am aware that out of every 100 cattle in Botswana, 10 have measles and will be condemned when slaughtered

3.44

1.19

Infected human adults show no major clinical signs of the tape worm

3.18

1.01

Infected cattle show no clinical signs

3.32

1.21

Producers loose a lot of money from carcass condemnations

3.62

1.40

For any loss caused, I blame myself as a farmer as I have been reluctant for easy control measures of tapeworm

3.62

1.33

 I advice other cattle farmers and herd boys about control measures of tapeworm

3.56

1.20

We are working as syndicate to try and eradicate tapeworm

3.37

1.22

Without tapeworm farmers income will increase a lot as there will be no condemnation at BMC

3.79

1.19

Tape worm infection causes a lot of concern to farmers

3.91

1.29

The results revealed an overwhelming general positive attitude by farmers towards the prevention and control programmes on Cysticercus  Bovis. All the means for the attitudinal statements were above the cut-off point of 3. The most prominent attitudinal statement as ranked by the farmers were statements in the of  positive attitudes that cattle farmers were tape worm causes a lot of concern (3.91), cattle are infected after ingesting tapeworm eggs in human faeces (3.91). Others were rejection of infected cattle at BMC and buying of beef which has been slaughtered and inspected by veterinary officials with a mean of 3.90, Taenia saginata is a zoonotic disease(3.76), using toilets or covering up the waste to prevent cattle gaining access to faeces(3.76), tape worm feeds on digested food in our intestines (3.76) and  producers lose a lot of money from carcass condemnations (3.62). Management practices as described by Kebede(2008) that help to reduce worm burden by breaking down life cycles such that many larvae die before reaching the infective stage include: rotation of pasture also with different species; avoidance of  animals grazing on wet marshy areas; provision of supplementary feeding which creates unfavorable condition in the alimentary tract for a variety of parasites and routine dosing/ deworming also keep worm level insignificant to cause great harm in individual host.

 

The result of multiple regression analysis of relationships between cattle farmers’ personal characteristics and attitude and constraints towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis were presented in Table 3. 


Table 3. Determinants of awareness and attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis

 

Attitude

Awareness

Reg. Coeff (SE)

t

Reg. Coeff (SE)

t

(Constant)

92.0(15.4)

5.96**

18.2 (2.49)

7.32**

Age

-0.92(0.37)

-2.46**

-0.13(0.06)

-2.13**

Gender

-5.13(5.93)

-0.86

1.09(0.95)

1.14

Marital status

4.90(3.91)

1.254

0.66(0.63)

1.05

Educational level

10.5(4.11)

2.57**

2.08(0.66)

3.141**

Farming experience

1.13(0.42)

2.65**

0.11(0.06 )

1.624

Number of dependants

1.53(0.90 )

1.70*

0.30(0.14)

2.12**

Sources of information

5.36(1.83)

2.93**

0.60(0.29)

2.04**

Ownership status

2.64(5.68)

0.46

0.81(0.91)

0.88

Income

1.9-04(0.00)

0.50

8.1-05(0.00 )

1.28

Herd size

8.9-030(.07 )

0.11

-1.1-02(0.01)

-0.97

Herd composition

-2.44(1.35)

-1.80*

-0.31(0.21)

-1.44

Time spent on farm

-4.23(2.69)

-1.57

-0.49(0.43)

-1.14

Organisation membership

5.80(3.10)

1.86*

0.32(0.50 )

0.65

Distance to crushes

-1.6-03(0.01)

-0.08

3.3-04(0.003)

0.10

Time to crushes

-0.62(0.30)

-2.04**

-7.8-020(.05 )

-1.58

Visit to veterinary office

-4.16(4.39)

-0.94

-1.21(0.71 )

-1.71*

Attendance of health workshop

4.38(3.49)

1.25

0.96(0.56)

1.70*

R

0.67

 

0.68

 

R Square

0.45

 

0.46

 

F

2.38

 

2.54

 

p

0.009

 

0.005

 

The independent variables were significantly related to attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis with F value of 2.38, p < 0.05.  Also, R value of 0.67 showed that there was a strong correlation between independent variables and attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis. The result further predicted 45 percent of the variation in attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis by farmers. Significant determinants were age (t = 2.46), educational level (t = 2.57), farming experience (t = 2.65), number of dependants (t = 1.70), sources of information (t = 2.93), herd composition (t = 1.80), time spent on farm (t = 1.57), and organisation membership (t = 1.86).  It implies that as farmers’ age, farming experience, number of dependants increases and  acquire higher levels of education, the more positively disposed they would be towards prevention and control of Cysticercus Bovis. Also, the more the number of information sources farmers were exposed the more positive their attitude would be towards prevention and control of Cysticercus Bovis.  Similarly, continued membership in farmers organization and increased time spent on the farm as well as increasing herd composition would make farmer have positive attitude towards prevention and control of Cysticercus  Bovis

 

In terms of farmers’ awareness of   prevention and control programmes of  Cysticercus Bovis,  independent variables were significantly related to awareness of programmes  with F value of 2.54, p < 0.05. Also the R value of 0.68 shows that there was a strong correlation between independent variables and awareness of   prevention and control programmes of Cysticercus  Bovis. Table 5 further revealed that 46 percent of the variation in awareness of   prevention and control programmes on Cysticercus  Bovis, by cattle farmers were predicted by independent variables. Significant determinants were age( t = -2.13), educational level( t =3.14), number of dependants (t = 2.12),sources of information (t =2.04), visit to veterinary office (t =-1.71),  and attendance of health workshop (t =1.70). The results imply that farmers awareness about prevention and control programmes on  Cysticercus  Bovis would increase as age and visit to veterinary office decreases. However as  educational level, number of dependants ,sources of information and attendance of health workshop increases, farmers awareness about prevention and control programmes on  Cysticercus  Bovis would also increase.

 

Conclusion 

The study has clearly shown that

 

References 

Aganga A O 2009 Botswana beef Industry: tackling the Impact of Cysticercus Bovis Prevalence. Botswana Journal of Agriculture and Applied Sciences 6(3): 46-49 Special Issue.  

 

BMC (Botswana Meat Commission)  2007.Livestock and Meat Industries Act. Government Printers Gaborone

 

European Food Safety Authority 2006. 2005 Zoonoses in the European Union. Largo N Palli 5/A, l-43100 Parma, Italy.

 

Kebede N 2008. Cysticercosis of slaughtered cattle in Northwestern Ethiopia. Research in Veterinary Sciences 85(3): 522-526

 

Marlow J 2009.  Beef measles and human tapeworm: importance that action is taken and tasks for technical Working Groups. Paper presented to the National Committee for the control of Human tapeworm and Beef measles. March 25th 2009.

 

Moreki J C and Ntshese C 2008  Current status of livestock production in Botswana Agric News Ministry of Agriculture Farmers’ Monthly Magazine Volume 38, Number 12, December 2008.

 

Wanzala W, Onyango-Abuje J A, Kang'ethe E K, Zessin K H, Kyule N M , Baumann, H Ochanda M P O and Harrison L J S  2003  Control of Taenia saginata by post-mortem examination of carcasses Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 73(4): 201



Received 18 May 2010; Accepted 10 August 2010; Published 1 October 2010

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