The Emergence of the Village and the Transformation of Traditional Institutions: A Case Study from Northern Tanzania

McCabe, J. Terrence; Leslie, Paul W.; Davis, Alicia

doi:10.17730/1938-3525.79.2.150

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…There are also significant challenges for livestock keepers in accessing services when they are available. This is especially salient for rural livestock keepers who live in complex environments with increasing pressures from large scale land use change and climate change or conversion of grazing lands to farms or conservation areas (11,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41). This is further compounded by conflicting expectations of both government and citizens about who has the key responsibilities for service provision, including for vaccination against endemic and epidemic diseases [see United Republic of Tanzania (URT) Livestock Policy (34)].…”

Section: Tanzanian Health Landscape (Human and Veterinary)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The issue is further compounded by limited access to formal human and livestock health care in remote rural communities (9) as well as by other livelihood and infrastructural constraints (10)(11)(12). These factors cause disproportionate economic and social burdens on the rural poor, leaving them and their livestock more vulnerable to disease (4,13,14).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“He Who Relies on His Brother's Property Dies Poor”: The Complex Narratives of Livestock Care in Northern Tanzania

et al. 2021

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Background: Endemic zoonoses have important impacts for livestock-dependent households in East Africa. In these communities, people's health and livelihoods are severely affected by livestock disease losses. Understanding how livestock keepers undertake remedial actions for livestock illness has the potential for widespread benefits such as improving health interventions. Yet, studies about livestock and human health behaviours in the global south tend to focus on individual health choices. In reality, health behaviours are complex, and not solely about individualised health experiences. Rather, they are mediated by a range of “upstream” factors (such as unequal provision of services), which are beyond the control of the individual.Methods: This paper presents qualitative research conducted from 2014 to 2019 for a study focused on the Social, Economic, and Environmental Drivers of Zoonoses in Tanzania (SEEDZ). Qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions, community meetings, informal interviews, formal in-depth interviews, observations and surveys that addressed issues of health, disease, zoonotic disease risks, and routes for treatment across 21 villages. Thematic analysis was carried out on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Conceptual analyses and observations were made through application of social science theories of health.Findings: Livestock keepers undertake a range of health seeking strategies loosely categorised around self and formal treatment. Two key themes emerged that are central to why people make the decisions they do: access to resources and trust in health care providers. These two issues affect individual sense of agency which impacts their ability to act to improve livestock health outcomes. We suggest that individual choice and agency in veterinary health seeking decisions are only beneficial if health systems can offer adequate care and health equity is addressed.Significance: This study demonstrates the value of in-depth qualitative research which reveals the nuance and complexity of people's decisions around livestock health. Most importantly, it explains why “better” knowledge does not always translate into “better” practise. The paper suggests that acknowledging and addressing these aspects of veterinary health seeking will lead to more effective provision.

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