Quantifying farmers’ preferences for antimicrobial use for livestock diseases in northern Tanzania (original) (raw)

Nthambi, Mary ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7036-979X, Lembo, Tiziana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6405-1849, Davis, Alicia ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1347-7708, Nasuwa, Fortunata, Mmbaga, Blandina Theophil, Matthews, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4420-8367 and Hanley, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1362-3499(2023) Quantifying farmers’ preferences for antimicrobial use for livestock diseases in northern Tanzania.Q Open, 3(1), qoac032. (doi: 10.1093/qopen/qoac032)

Abstract

Understanding the choice behaviours of farmers around the treatment of their livestock is critical to counteracting the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence. Using varying disease scenarios, we measure the differences in livestock species’ treatment preferences and effects of context variables (such as grazing patterns, herd size, travel time to agrovet shops, previous disease experience, previous vaccination experience, education level and income) on the farmers’ treatment choices for infections across three production systems—agro-pastoral, pastoral and rural smallholder—in northern Tanzania, where reliance on antimicrobial treatment to support the health and productivity of livestock is high. Applying a context-dependent stated choice experiment, we surveyed 1224 respondents. Mixed logit model results show that farmers have higher preferences for professional veterinary services when treating cattle, sheep and goats, while they prefer to self-treat poultry. Antibiotics sourced from agrovet shops are the medicine of choice, independent of the health condition to treat, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic. Nearness to agrovet shops, informal education, borrowing and home storage of medicines, and commercial poultry rearing increase chances of self-treatment. Based on our findings, we propose interventions such as awareness and education campaigns aimed at addressing current practices that pose AMR risks, as well as vaccination and good livestock husbandry practices, capacity building and provision of diagnostic tools.

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Funder and Project Information

Supporting the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (SNAP-AMR) in Tanzania

Shona Hilton

MR/S004815/1

Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine

Deposit and Record Details