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Overview of Participatory Epidemiological tools
Overview of Participatory
Epidemiological tools used during Participatory Disease
Search Program in Distrct Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Okara and Toba
Tek Singh of Punjab (Pakistan)
Abstract
The Transboundry animal’s diseases are great threat for the
lives of animals/ livestock in the global village (WORLD).
In those part of the world where TAD (Transboundry Animals
Disease) Especially Rinderpest still exists, eradication
will be achieved by a process of Participatory Disease
Surveillance and intensive vaccination of infected
population if found. The eradication program is in progress
in Pakistan with the coordination of Food & Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of United Nation and European Union (EU).
 The ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) and
provincial Livestock departments are in action and
Participatory Disease Surveillance Teams are carrying out
PDS activities in the Targeted villages of their allocated
Districts. From the month of May, 2003 the PDS team (B)
started its activities and visited the targeted villages
(randomly selected by the Data Analyst) of District
Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh and Okara till December,
2003. By applying the different tools of Participatory
Epidemiology, the onset of different Livestock diseases was
observed which are shown at next page. The exercise of
Proportional pilling with the local farmers was the actual
key to determine the Livestock diseases prevalence and
importance wise. The PDS Team (B) visited 263 villages of 04
Districts and contacted 4816 Farmers of area while
conducting the 266 farmers meetings in the targeted
villages. During this survey 152 Key Informants were
interviewed for the prevalence of any contagious livestock
diseases in the area/ village. The PDS team (B) visited 02
cattle markets for the observation of livestock movement
within Districts and Within Provinces. The PDS team (B) also
visited 14 specific area/village on the direction/report of
TADCO or District Livestock Officer concerned to observe the
Disease Incidence and collected 13 laboratory samples. The
PDS Team (B) also visited 54 field veterinary institutions
and contacted 176 veterinary staff personals while
conducting awareness meetings. According to the contacted
farmers and Key Informants interviewed, the Transboundry
Animal Diseases are not present in the Districts covered
except Foot and Mouth Disease Which was observed during the
PDS activities by the PDS team (B).
The Rinderpest Disease is not present in the area/targeted
villages of these Districts of Punjab (Pakistan)
Introduction
Simply stated, Participatory Epidemiology is the application
of Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques to the
collection of epidemiologic information (Jeff Mariner, Andy
Catley, ). In the activity of Participatory Disease
Surveillance the participation by the community or target
group is the main aspect. Participation can be defined as a
voluntary process by which people influence or control the
decisions that affect them selves’ by contributing their
knowledge, resources and skills. Participatory approach
leads the way we interact with the peoples and this approach
of interaction begin and create / establish a relation ship
/ trust between the worker and the target group of people.
While working with Participatory approach, the actual issues
/ data or information’s could be derived from the
people/target group. Participatory Epidemiology is also a
wing of Participatory approach to locate, control and
eradicates any disease from the particular area. In the
Participatory approach the worker/researcher should be aware
of attitude / behavior of the target group. The attitude /
behavior of the target group or community make the
research/surveillance more useful and valuable, so the
active community participation is the main key for success
full Participatory Epidemiology or Disease Surveillance. PDS
is a rural community based program, so the PRA techniques
were applied according to the needs of the farmers for their
livestock health problems such as housing, feeding,
vaccination and provision of veterinary aids etc.
Brief of the Districts:
The Districts under study are thickly livestock populated
area of Punjab (Pakistan) and famous for the world known
SAHIWAL cow and NILI RAVI buffalo breeds. The basic data of
the districts is shown in the table.
|
Districts |
Animal Population |
UC |
Villages |
VH |
VD |
VC |
VO |
VA |
|
Pakpattan |
912673 |
63 |
765 |
3 |
13 |
27 |
9 |
34 |
|
Sahiwal |
1900488 |
89 |
529 |
5 |
25 |
59 |
23 |
47 |
|
Okara |
1557728 |
114 |
912 |
18 |
17 |
54 |
21 |
67 |
|
Toba Tek Singh |
1147881 |
66 |
531 |
20 |
17 |
67 |
37 |
107 |
|
Total |
5518770 |
332 |
2737 |
46 |
72 |
207 |
90 |
255 |
|
Livestock Services status of the Districts
The livestock services are mostly provided to the farmers by
the Livestock and Dairy Development Department through its
field staff posted at Veterinary Hospital, veterinary
Dispensary or Veterinary Centers. The average animal
strength for a veterinary institution or veterinary worker
is shown in the following table.
|
Districts |
Per UC |
Per Village |
Per VH |
Per VD |
Per VC |
Per VO* |
Per VA |
|
Pakpattan |
14500 |
1200 |
304200 |
70200 |
33800 |
101400 |
29500 |
|
Sahiwal |
21350 |
3600 |
380100 |
76000 |
32200 |
82600 |
40500 |
|
Okara |
13700 |
1700 |
86500 |
92000 |
28900 |
74200 |
23200 |
|
Toba Tek singh |
17400 |
2200 |
57400 |
67500 |
17150 |
31000 |
10700 |
|
UC (Union Council) VH (Veterinary Hospital)
VD(Veterinary Dispensary)
VC (Veterinary Center) VO (Veterinary Officer)
VA (Veterinary Assistant)
• One veterinary officer can provide efficient livestock
services to 25000 heads of animals under ideal condition.
Methods and Methodology Used
The Participatory Epidemiology is a main tool to observe the
disease incidence in a particular area as the Livestock
keeper always try to get his sick animal recovered with his
own or traditional methods of treatment and the mutual
consultation of farmers leads to the symptoms of those
diseases which were prevailing in that particular area some
time.
Selection of Area/villages
The villages were selected randomly by the Data Analyst of
Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab, but while
working in the Districts/area some others villages were also
selected for Participatory Disease Search activities to get
the actual data/information of Transboundry Animal Diseases.
Criteria for the selection of villages
• High risk areas
1. The villages in which the livestock Traders are engaged
with Karachi and Peshawar Livestock markets and they are
keeping the livestock in the village /area.
2. The village where the livestock are mainly fed on common
grazing area.
3. The villages near the boundary of high risk area/village.
• Other area
1. The village /area far flung from the metal road and
veterinary hospitals.
2. The village/area near or in the river belt.
3. The village /area near the livestock markets.
The PDS Teams trained in Participatory Disease Surveillance
technique applied the tools of Participatory Disease
Surveillance to get a valuable Participatory appraisal. The
active participation of local farmers/ livestock owners made
the activity more effective and authenticated. To get more
and active participation the meeting time and place was the
main consideration of the PDS Team. In every village / area
the Participatory Epidemiology tools were applied with
flexible manner according to the local situation so that the
correct information/ data can be collected / complied.
Following main activities were performed in the targeted
villages / area as methodology for Participatory Disease
Surveillance.
Conduction of farmers meetings:
Participatory Disease Search is based on the views and
thinking of livestock keeper. The traditional veterinary
knowledge with personal experiences could be elaborated
freely in the informal gathering of farmers. The traditional
names and variety of traditional prescriptions for different
livestock diseases were intelligently described by the
farmers of the area. The symptoms of Transboundry Animal
Disease were also elaborated by the PDS Team while
discussing on particular disease. The farmers gathering
depend upon the time, place, local politics, conflicts and
weather. The primary introduction of PDS Team builds a
structure of confidence which leads to a valuable discussion
of Livestock Diseases prevailing in the area.
Following table is showing the farmers meeting detail
district wise.
|
S/No |
District |
Villages Visited |
No of Farmers Meetings |
No of Farmers Participated |
Average Participation |
|
1. |
Pakpattan |
78 |
78 |
1481 |
19 |
|
2. |
Sahiwal |
57 |
57 |
1102 |
19 |
|
3. |
Okara |
90 |
93 |
1657 |
18 |
|
4. |
Toba Tek Singh |
60 |
60 |
1090 |
18 |
|
5. |
Total |
285 |
288 |
5330 |
18 |
|
Proportional Pilling
The use of pictures, charts and banners for the
identification of different diseases makes the things easier
for the farmers to participate in the proportional pilling
/scoring of Livestock Diseases prevalence and importance
wise.
The use of different types of things such as small stones,
tablets, seeds, and beans etc for pilling creates the
interest in the exercise. Generally the farmer/livestock
holder enjoys the talk/discussion for his livestock health
and production, and it’s the secret of a successful Disease
Surveillance.
Use of pictures
Showing the symptoms of disease on picture, cartoons, and
outlines confirms the faded outline of the disease present
in the farmers /Key Informant mind. The typical signs of HS,
Red Water, Mastitis, Foot and Mouth disease and diarrhea
made the easier for the PDS team to understand the disease
situation of area. In this regards the local names of
different disease were also recorded for proper
pronunciation. The PDS team was very careful while asking
questions during farmers meeting or interviews not to raise
farmer’s expectations concerning future services of the
department. Open ended questions were asked making the
farmers to think for answer. These questions were not
preplanned and were according to the situation of the area,
hence resulting the valuable data/ information’s. The PDS
team also probed the situation on the symptoms of
Transboundry Animal Diseases while listening carefully to
the farmers and gave respect to every individual opinion and
observations with open minded. The data thus derived from
the minds of intelligent farmers are shown in the following
table for livestock diseases in targeted villages of
districts under study.
Prevalence
Importance
|
District |
I |
II |
III |
I |
II |
III |
|
Pakpattan |
HS |
FMD |
PPHU |
HS |
PPHU |
FMD |
|
Sahiwal |
HS |
FMD |
PPHU |
HS |
PPHU |
FMD |
|
Okara |
FMD |
HS |
PPHU |
HS |
PPHU |
Mastitis |
|
Toba Tek Singh |
HS |
FMD |
PPHU |
HS |
PPHU |
FMD |
|
Mapping
Mapping is also a very useful method to get the actual
information from the farmers regarding their livestock
movement and grazing area. This activity involves the
farmers physically to create a map showing natural
resources, such as canal, river, forest, grazing area, ponds
and cattle trespass.
In this activity both literate and non-literate people can
contribute to draw a map on the ground with an ordinary
stick. The mapping exercise and the map made by the farmers
can be used for the discussion as well as for participatory
analysis. The mapping method is also useful for follow up
questioning and visiting the risk area. Following graph is
showing the mapping of under study districts.
Seasonal Calendar
The onset of different livestock diseases in the particular
area can be searched out through open ended questions to the
farmers or Key informants during meeting /interviews.
Seasonal variations and its perceptions of occurrence could
be defined by the farmers by making seasonal calendar. The
farmer has indigenous knowledge regarding the prevalence of
disease in that area and by making the seasonal calendar on
the ground the worker/researcher can identify the actual
onset of diseases.
To get the actual situation of disease, the
worker/researcher should know or understand the
traditional/local names of season and diseases. While
interviewing or meeting with the farmer, the information
regarding the local names can be got for reference. The use
of pictures for seasons and diseases are necessary, so that
the farmers can understand the disease while drawing
seasonal calendar on the ground. By applying /constructing a
one year time line on the ground and placing the picture of
disease one by one, the onset of disease can be scored with
small stones under each season. In this way the seasonal
calendar grow slowly showing all information of diseases
prevalence in particular area. The farmer can explain the
interesting aspects of diagram / seasonal calendar on the
questions of worker/researcher and by using the probing
questions the actual situation/data could be derived from
the diagram made by the farmers. The disease pattern got
from the seasonal calendar made by the farmers during the PE
is shown as under.
|
SL/NO |
SEASON |
DISEASES
|
|
1. |
☺☺☺
Winter |
HS, FMD, PPHU, Mastitis,
Enterotoxaemia,
Pleuropnemonia,
Diarrhea and PPR |
|
2. |
♫♫♫♫
Spring |
FMD, Rheumatism,
Tympny, Ticks,
I/Worms and PPR |
|
3. |
☼☼☼
Summer |
Rheumatism, Prolapsed Uterus and
Abortion |
|
4. |
  Rainy season
|
HS, Mastitis,
Prolapsed Uterus and
Milk fever |
|
5. |
☻☻☻
Autumn |
I/Worms, Tympny and
Impaction |
|
Key Informants Interviewed
In the Farmer community certain local people are known as
possessing the indigenous veterinary knowledge. Such farmers
(Key Informants) were identified during the farmers meeting
or visiting the area. The PDS team interviewed the key
Informants and got valuable information regarding the
Transboundry Animal Disease in the area under study. These
Key Informants were categorized like, Elder of the village,
livestock Keeper, Siaana of village treating the animals
with traditional prescriptions, Livestock Trader, Butcher,
milk man or veterinary practitioners.
Triangulation:
Participatory Epidemiology could only be beneficial if the
data/information collected by applying different tools are
considered to make a decision or diagnosis. Triangulation is
very much useful for the making of diagnosis in veterinary
medicine. The data/information got from different sources,
case history of animal, owner interview, direct observation
or clinical examination of effected animals is mentally
combined to provide a provisional or final diagnosis.
PDS Impact on the farmer
The PDS Team during its activities interacts with the field
veterinary staff and livestock owners/farmers. Being the
owners of animals, the farmers are the main source of
Information regarding livestock diseases as its prevalence
and importance in their area. The working field veterinary
staff is also a good source of disease reporting. During
this study/surveillance following points regarding social
behavior were observed.
• EXPECTATIONS
• FEAR
• DEMAND
Result
• Tools of Participatory Epidemiology are quite helpful to
evaluate the disease situation in the village/area. The
interest of the farmers/participants was very much
appreciable while applying the exercise of mapping, seasonal
calendar and proportional pilling.
• Working with the beans/seeds for the exercise of
proportional pilling is very much effective when all the
representatives of all groups living in the village are
present and participating in the exercise.
• A reasonable farmers gathering (15-20) in one meeting is
more effective having discussion on every aspects.
• The management and feeding aspects are being ignored by
the farmers causing metabolic disorders in their livestock.
• The livestock diseases such as Hemoglobin urea, Mastitis
and prolapsed uterus are main concern for the farmers.
• The livestock holders of the area/village are well aware
about the severity of Hemorrhagic Septicemia and they are
vaccinating their animals
• The Foot and Mouth disease was prevailing in the
area/villages 3 months back but the farmers have no fear
about the disease as the disease is not causing mortality in
the livestock.
• The name of Rinderpest Disease is new for the farmers of
area/villages, but the symptoms especially Diarrhea
described by the PDS Team leads to think about the PPR in
sheep and Johnes disease in buffalos and cattle.
• The old men of the area/village and the farmer which are
selling their animals to the traders of Karachi were some
time agreed with the symptoms of RP but in Karachi 5-10 year
back.
For more
Detail:
Dr Muhammad Rasheed
In charge PDS Team (B)
Phone: 0441-50305
Email: vetdr@swl.paknet.com.pk
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