title: Community Perceptions on Integrating Animal Vaccination and Health Education by Veterinary and Public Health Workers in the Prevention of Brucellosis among Pastoral Communities of South Western Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of veterinary, public health, and economic significance in most developing countries, yet there are few studies that show integrated human and veterinary health care intervention focusing on integration at both activity and actors levels. The aim of our study, therefore, was to explore community perceptions on integration of animal vaccination and health education by veterinary and public health workers in the management of brucellosis in Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a qualitative design where six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) that were homogenous in nature were conducted, two from each sub-county, one with the local leaders, and another with pastoralists and farmers. Five Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with two public health workers and three veterinary extension workers from three sub-counties in Kiruhura district, Uganda were conducted. All FGDs were conducted in the local language and tape recorded with consent from the participants. KIIs were in English and later transcribed and analyzed using latent content data analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the groups mentioned that they lacked awareness on brucellosis commonly known as Brucella and its vaccination in animals. Respondents perceived improvement in human resources in terms of training and recruiting more health personnel, facilitation of the necessary activities such as sensitization of the communities about brucellosis, and provision of vaccines and diagnostic tests as very important in the integration process in the communities. The FGD participants also believed that community participation was crucial for sustainability and ownership of the integration process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The respondents reported limited knowledge of brucellosis and its vaccination in animals. The community members believed that mass animal vaccination in combination with health education about the disease is important and possible if it involves government and all other stakeholders such as wildlife authorities, community members, local to national political leaders, as well as the technical personnel from veterinary, medical and public health sectors since it affects both humans and animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kansiime
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Atuyambe
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Benon B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Asiimwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mugisha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mugisha
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Community Psychology, Makerere University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guma
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Ecosystem Health Initiative, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America.
authors.forename: Innocent B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Rwego
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Elizeus
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rutebemberwa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D002417:Cattle; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012424:Rural Population; D012756:Sheep; D014454:Uganda; D014611:Vaccination; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission