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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of smallholder farmers on foot and mouth disease control in two Cambodian provinces
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  • Socheat Sieng,
  • Ian Patrick,
  • Peter Windsor,
  • Steve Walkden-Brown,
  • Chetra Sar,
  • Geoff Smith,
  • Reatrey Kong
Socheat Sieng
Livestock health and biosecurity Freelance Consultant

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ian Patrick
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Peter Windsor
University of Sydney
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Steve Walkden-Brown
University of New England
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Chetra Sar
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Geoff Smith
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Reatrey Kong
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Abstract

Food-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Cambodia. The control program for FMD has relied on vaccination, with poor vaccination uptake by smallholder farmers an increasing concern. A study to improve the understanding of farmer knowledge, attitudes and practices of FMD and FMD vaccination was conducted in two Cambodian provinces. The aim was to identify opportunities to improve the disease control programs provided by both the government and private sectors. The survey comprised 300 smallholder farmers using a one-on-one interview technique. Results identified that over two-thirds of the respondent farmers had not vaccinated their cattle over two years. Of those who did, most cattle were vaccinated either once a year or once every three years. A booster had never been administered. FMD outbreaks occurred every year during the study period, with a morbidity rate of over 30%. Isolation of first infected cattle from the household herd was not practiced, with treatment identified as the first preference intervention. Farmers often assisted other farmers to restrain and treat infected cattle both before (57%) and after (43%) their own cattle were infected. This indicated that most farmers did not practice basic biosecurity measures and chose to report FMD outbreaks to the village animal health workers (VAHW), friends, neighbors, and relatives in preference to government officials. It was concluded that poor knowledge of disease transmission and biosecurity, with low FMD vaccination coverage and a focus on treatment, contribute to regular FMD outbreaks in these communities. Improvement of FMD control requires the cooperation of villagers, VAHWs, and village leaders in disease reporting, with either improved funding of government vaccination services or private FMD vaccination service. Training programs for farmers on disease transmission, and the importance of biosecurity and vaccination, including information on the cost-benefits of treatment versus full fee bi-annual FMD vaccination, are required.
11 Mar 2021Submitted to Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
11 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
11 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Jun 2021Published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 10.1111/tbed.14182