FiRST Issue
VPHCAP
E-Newsletter
12
VPHCAP has collaborated with the 4th batch alumni; Dr. Papaspong Jongchansittoe from Mae Hong Son Provincial Livestock Development and Dr. Anuwat Wiratsudakul from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand to conduct the research under the title of “Applying of Participatory Epidemiology to Identify Buffaloes and Cattle Health Problems in Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province Thailand”.
This was a cross-sectional study in Mae Ping and Tha-Pai villages in Pai district (Mae Hong Son Province, the Northwestern part of Thailand) during February 26 - March 2, 2014. This study aims to help local community solve the beef/cattle disease outbreaks which reoccurred regularly in this area by identifying the problems and factors involved in free ranged-beef/cattle health. The participatory epidemiology techniques including semi-structure interview, in-depth interview, ranking and scoring, proportional pilling, visualization tools (participatory mapping, seasonal calendar, and transect walk) were applied to collect the qualitative data from small holders of beef/cattle as well as animal health officer and workers in those 2 villages.
The in-depth interview was applied to collect the data from head of 2 villages, 2 animal health volunteers and district livestock officer. The other PE tools were applied in the 4 focus groups of small holders of beef/cattle (2 focus groups/village). The problem related to free-ranged beef/cattle in this area that has been concerned as the first to last priorities are the lack of feeding stuffs, animal disease outbreak, lack of vaccine and medical stuffs, infertility, and predators such as a wolves. The outcome of participatory approaches is depended on the context of community. One of the examples in different community’s context is animal rising. The beef/cattle in this community have free range in the forest for half year; this is the reason why the vaccination program in this area is not efficiently due to unable to apply the vaccine when beef/cattle kept in forest. The collective data were analyzed and transferred to suggestive solution to community.
This suggestive solution was discussed with community again in order to gain community participation and agreement. The integrative problem solving need to meet with both animal health authority and local community level.