Development and assessment of a community-based rabies vaccination program in rural livestock populations

Thesis Abstract

Rabies remains a critical zoonotic disease threatening rural livestock populations and rural communities due to inadequate coverage of existing vaccination programs, limited awareness, and logistical challenges in vaccination logistics. This study aims to develop and evaluate a community-based rabies vaccination intervention tailored for livestock in rural settings, with the objective of increasing vaccination coverage, improving disease awareness, and fostering sustainable community participation. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to comprehensively assess the intervention’s effectiveness. The study population comprises livestock-owning households within a rural district with high incidences of rabies, totaling approximately 1,200 households. A stratified random sampling technique selected 300 households for quantitative assessment, with sample size determined using Cochran’s formula to ensure statistical representativeness and power. For qualitative insights, purposive sampling identified 30 key informants including community leaders, veterinary extension officers, and livestock owners for in-depth interviews. The intervention involves community engagement through local leaders, mobile vaccination clinics, and participatory education sessions, designed based on the Health Belief Model and Social Learning Theory, aimed at enhancing vaccine uptake and community ownership. Data collection instruments include structured questionnaires assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to rabies and livestock vaccination, pre- and post-intervention vaccination records, focus group discussion guides, and key informant interview protocols. Validity and reliability of quantitative tools were established through expert review, pilot testing, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient calculations, which yielded values above 0.8, indicating good internal consistency. Qualitative data from focus groups and interviews are analyzed thematically, employing NVivo software to identify key patterns relating to community perceptions and participation factors. Quantitative data are analyzed through descriptive statistics, paired t-tests to evaluate changes in knowledge and vaccination rates pre- and post-intervention, and logistic regression models to identify predictors of vaccine acceptance. Qualitative data are further triangulated to contextualize quantitative findings, providing nuanced insights into barriers and facilitators of program success. The expected findings include a significant increase in livestock vaccination coverage—anticipated to rise from baseline levels of 40% to over 75%—and improvement in community awareness and attitudes, as evidenced by statistically and thematically supported results. These findings are expected to demonstrate the importance of community-based strategies in rabies control, emphasizing local leadership, education, and participatory approaches. This study’s contribution to knowledge lies in its demonstration of a practical, scalable model of community engagement in wildlife and livestock health management, specifically tailored to rural agricultural contexts where conventional vaccination programs often falter. It elucidates the social, behavioral, and logistical factors influencing vaccination uptake and offers evidence-based strategies for integrating community participation into national zoonotic disease control policies. The study concludes that a participatory, community-driven vaccination program significantly enhances rabies control in rural livestock populations. Recommendations include institutionalizing community-based vaccination models within national rabies elimination strategies, investing in local capacity-building, and expanding community education initiatives. It also suggests further research to evaluate long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness of such programs across diverse rural settings, to inform policy adjustments and resource allocation aimed at achieving comprehensive rabies eradication in livestock and human populations.