“We are doctors”: Drivers of animal health practices among Maasai pastoralists and implications for antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance

Mangesho, Peter; Caudell, Mark A.; Mwakapeje, Elibariki; Ole-Neselle, Moses; Kabali, Emmanuel; Obonyo, Mark; Dorado-García, Alejandro; Valcarce, Antonio; Kimani, Tabitha; Price, Cortney; Eckford, Suzanne; Fasina, Folorunso Oludayo

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105266

Cited by 25 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our previous work among the Maasai has highlighted how their self-perception as "veterinary experts" limits their seeking of advice from animal health professionals and impacts their confidence in these professionals (14). As with health-seeking practises, we observe the impacts of these self-perceptions on antimicrobial administration practises.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…These beliefs may encourage the overdosing of healthy animals and underdosing of sick animals and in turn increase selection pressures for AMR (4). While these practises could be addressed by input from animal health professionals, Maasai self-perceptions as experts combined with the limited accessibility of these professionals in rural areas inhabited by the Maasai mean that such corrections are unlikely (14).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across the 195 households, 21 different drugs were reported to be used with 36% being antibiotics. Sixty-five percent of antibiotics were tetracycline-based drugs, while 28% were penicillin-streptomycin combinations, and 7% were azithromycin-based drugs [see (14) for more details on veterinary drugs used]. See Table 1 for detailed descriptive statistics.…”

Section: Demographic Socioeconomic and Amu Data From Kap Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This relevance, in part, stems from limitations in the enforcement of AMR relevant policies (e.g., prescription laws) and public and animal health services common with LMICs (6). Due to these limitations, AMU and AMR-relevant decisions are often made at the level of individual users and their social networks (14). Given these decisions occur at the user level, understanding the KAP of these users is critical to developing targeted awareness campaigns in LMICs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Psychological biases, such as a preference for short-term rewards limit the observance of practises whose benefits might only be realised in the long-term (e.g., reduce AMR from prudent AMU) (18). Factors outside the individual, such as workforce infrastructures for public and animal health and cultural norms of health also determine options available and so the likelihood of acting on awareness gains (e.g., finding a veterinarian to get a prescription for antibiotics) (14,17,(19)(20)(21). These factors, especially those structural reasons that exist outside of the individual, are rarely assessed in KAP studies (22,23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowing Is Not Enough: A Mixed-Methods Study of Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practises Among Maasai Pastoralists

Mangesho

Caudell²,

Mwakapeje³

et al. 2021

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Global, national, and local efforts to limit antimicrobial resistance (AMR) often stress the importance of raising awareness among users, sellers, and prescribers of antimicrobial drugs. This emphasis is founded upon two assumptions. First, awareness is limited, particularly concerning the links between antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR. Second, “filling the awareness gaps” will motivate practises that will limit AMR. The first assumption is supported by knowledge, attitudes, and practises (KAP) surveys but these same studies provide mixed support for the second, with several studies finding that knowledge and attitudes are not correlated with related practises. This disconnect may arise as these surveys typically do not collect data on the cultural or historical contexts that pattern AMU. To explore how these contexts impact KAP related to AMU and AMR, we use a mixed-methods approach to examine veterinary practises among Maasai pastoralists in Tanzania. We combine a quantitative KAP survey (N = 195 households) with extensive qualitative data from focus group discussions (N = 55 participants). Results document limited awareness of AMR but also find that knowledge and attitudes are not correlated with practise. Thematic analysis of qualitative data pointed to three reasons behind this disconnect, including (1) Maasai self-perceptions as veterinary experts, (2) the central role of livestock in Maasai culture, and (3) the use of ethnoveterinary knowledge in animal health treatment. We argue that mixed-method approaches will be critical to developing the targeted awareness campaigns needed to limit the emergence and transmission of AMR.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Demographic Socioeconomic and Amu Data From Kap Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Knowing Is Not Enough: A Mixed-Methods Study of Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practises Among Maasai Pastoralists

Mangesho

Caudell²,

Mwakapeje³

et al. 2021

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Antimicrobial use and resistance in food animal production: food safety and associated concerns in Sub-Saharan Africa

Odey,

Tanimowo,

Afolabi

et al. 2023

Int Microbiol

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The use of antimicrobials in food animal (FA) production is a common practice all over the world, with even greater usage and dependence in the developing world, including Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, this practice which serves obvious economic benefits to producers has raised public health concerns over the last decades, thus driving the selection and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and adversely impacting food safety and environmental health. This review presents the current and comprehensive antimicrobial usage practices in food animal production across SSA. We further highlighted the overall regional drivers as well as the public health, environmental, and economic impact of antimicrobial use in the production of food animals. Antimicrobial use is likely to increase with even exacerbated outcomes unless cost-effective, safe, and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics, especially probiotics, prebiotics, bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, vaccines, etc. are urgently advocated for and used in food animal production in SSA. These, in addition to the implementation of strong legislation on antimicrobial use, and improved hygiene will help mitigate the public health concerns associated with antimicrobial use in food animals and improve the well-being and safety of food animals and their products.

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Antibacterial efficacy of natural compounds chitin and chitosan: a mechanistic disclosure

Srinivasan

Ahmed

Ashokkumar

et al. 2023

Handbook of Natural Polymers, Volume 1

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“We are doctors”: Drivers of animal health practices among Maasai pastoralists and implications for antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance

Cited by 25 publications

References 39 publications

Knowing Is Not Enough: A Mixed-Methods Study of Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practises Among Maasai Pastoralists

Knowing Is Not Enough: A Mixed-Methods Study of Antimicrobial Resistance Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practises Among Maasai Pastoralists

Antimicrobial use and resistance in food animal production: food safety and associated concerns in Sub-Saharan Africa

Antibacterial efficacy of natural compounds chitin and chitosan: a mechanistic disclosure

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