Participatory rural appraisal of
livestock diseases amongst a Fulani
community in central Nigeria
PENAPH First Technical Workshop, Dec 11-13, Chiang Mai
Bolajoko M. B., Moses G. D., Gambari-Bolajoko K. O., Ifende V.
I., Emenna P. and Bala A.

Introduction
Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) evolved from
rapid rural appraisal (RRA)
RRA: rapid collection of data by non-members of
the community for comprehensive understanding
of the rural situation

Introduction cont
PRA: intensive, systematic, but semi-structured
method of having an overview and analyses of
the prevailing situation in community with the
community actively involved in the process.

Objectives study
Overview of the livestock health problems and
their management by the Fulanis
detect disease or health problems of
importance to community
prevalence or incidence

Methods
Checklist
Appraisal team
Introduction of appraisal team
A translator Identify respondents
Two epidemiologists Types of livestock reared &
husbandry systems
A clinician
Identification & description of at
A sociologist least 3 diseases for each
livestock
Grazing location/pattern
Visual & Physical examination
Proportional piling exercise

Methods cont
Approximately 30% of the
Fulani community were
randomly visited during
study
www.farmafrica.org/what-we-do/what-we-do
Among techniques of PRA:
Open-ended interview
with respondents, transect
& proportional piling
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/mv/mv_closer.htm

Methods cont
Sourced information were recorded
as non-numeric, non-categorical
testimonies from oral explanations
of respondents
Iterative analyses http://asapafrica.blogspot.it/2009_01_01_archive.html
Participatory (probing,
triangulation) analyses
Samples and ticks were collected
during visits for laboratory
diagnosis & identification
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Outputs/ClimateChange/jotoafrika_7.pdf

Results
Most important: Haemorrhagic septicaemia
Most prevalent: Babesiosis & contagious bovine
pleuro pneumonia (CBPP)
Other health problems: Newcastle disease
(ND), fascioliasis, brucellosis, tick & tsetse fly
infestation.

Results cont
High incidence of conjunctivitis and fever among the
Fulani communities usually accompanies tick
Infestation in both cattle and goat
Major challenge: limited water supply particularly
over the dry season
> 90% of the respondents do not seek veterinary
consultation

Results cont
Community had no specific grazing lands allocated for
grazing
Increase in the incidence of diseases during the rainy
season
Lab confirmations: infectious bursa disease (poultry),
CBPP, babesiosis, ND, fascioliasis, brucellosis & tick
infestation
Fulanis, not effectively integrated into the nation’s
livestock disease control & health maintenance system

Discussion
PRA, a useful tool for reliable data collection: on
spatiotemporal prevalence or incidence of diseases
and to inform research design & goal.
PRA can be used to liaise with, empower &
integrate the rural or remotely located livestock-
owning communities in the control of animal
diseases.

Conclusion
This study reiterates the benefits of PRA,
particularly in improving the detection &
understanding of problems faced by farmers.
Proving to be an indispensable tool for
sustainable disease control, rural development
particularly in developing nations.

Acknowledgement
The Executive Director, National Veterinary
Research Institute
HOD, Extension and Research Liaison
Division
Dr (Mrs.) Maryam Muhammed
The respondents during the study and our
translator

Thank you for listening