Assessing the socio-economic determinants affecting the rural farmers knowledge of theileriosis and contact with veterinary in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe
- Author
- Mpofu, Veronica
- Title
- Assessing the socio-economic determinants affecting the rural farmers knowledge of theileriosis and contact with veterinary in Gwanda district, Zimbabwe
- Abstract
- This study aimed to assess the socio-economic determinants affecting rural farmers' knowledge of Theileriosis and their engagement with veterinary services in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe. The research specifically focused on identifying the socio-economic characteristics influencing farmers’ knowledge, evaluating the role of farmer-specific attributes in determining information sources, and examining the coping strategies employed to manage Theileriosis. A cross-sectional research design was utilized, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure a comprehensive analysis. Data was collected using structured questionnaires for farmers and semi-structured interviews for veterinary officers and extension workers. Simple random sampling was used to select 150 farmers, while purposive sampling targeted 50 veterinary officers and extension workers, ensuring that the perspectives of key stakeholders were represented. Quantitative data from 200 participants were analyzed using SPSS, applying descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression to determine the relationships between socio-economic factors and Theileriosis knowledge. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative responses to identify key coping strategies and resilience mechanisms. The findings revealed that education, income level, and access to veterinary services significantly influenced farmers’ knowledge of Theileriosis, with wealthier and more educated farmers displaying better disease awareness. Social networks and extension services were the most preferred sources of information, while financial constraints and acaricide shortages hindered effective disease control. Farmers primarily relied on community-based dipping programs, indigenous herbal treatments, and diversified livestock farming as resilience strategies. The study concluded that enhancing veterinary outreach, improving farmer education, and integrating both traditional and scientific knowledge systems are essential for effective Theileriosis control. It is recommended that policy interventions focus on increasing subsidized veterinary services, while farmers should adopt integrated tick management strategies to reduce disease prevalence. Additionally, future research should explore the efficacy of indigenous herbal remedies and investigate the impact of digital extension platforms on improving disease knowledge among rural farmers.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Socio-economic determinants
- Rural farmers
- Veterinary
- Supervisor
- N/A
- Item sets
- Department of Animal Sciences
