title: Using mixed methods to investigate factors influencing reporting of livestock diseases: a case study among smallholders in Bolivia.
abstract: Livestock disease surveillance is particularly challenging in resource-scarce settings, where disease events are often unreported. Surveillance performance is determined as much by the quantifiable biological attributes of the disease, as it is by motivations and barriers perceived by livestock keepers for disease reporting. Mixed methods designs, which integrate the collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data in a single study, are increasingly used across different disciplines. These designs allow for a deeper exploration of the topic under investigation, than can be achieved by either approach alone. In this study a mixed methods design was used in order to gain a greater understanding of the factors that influence reporting of livestock diseases in Bolivia. There is a need to strengthen passive surveillance in this country, among other reasons as part of an eradication programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Findings revealed livestock keepers in the study area were extremely unlikely to report the occurrence of livestock health events to the Official Veterinary Services (OVS). Communication outside the local community occurs more often through alternative routes and this is positively correlated with disease awareness. The main barriers to disease reporting identified were a lack of institutional credibility and the conflicting priorities of the OVS and livestock keepers. As for other animal and human diseases across the developing world, passive surveillance of livestock diseases in Bolivia should be enhanced; this is urgent in view of the current FMD eradication programme. Increasing timeliness and smallholders' participation requires a detailed understanding of their likely actions and perceived barriers towards disease reporting. These insights are most likely to be developed through a holistic mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative analyses.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hetforshire, United Kingdom. Electronic address: glimon@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limon
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hetforshire, United Kingdom; Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet Street, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elisa G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hetforshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: PROMETA, Calle Alejandro del Carpio 659, Casilla 59, Tarija, Bolivia.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: PROMETA, Calle Alejandro del Carpio 659, Casilla 59, Tarija, Bolivia.
authors.forename: Maria Elba
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Balanza
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hetforshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guitian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D029544:Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000821:virology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Animal diseases; Disease reporting; Infectious disease; Mixed methods; Passive surveillance; Qualitative research; Smallholders