Africa Cross-Border Disease Surveillance Project

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can be spread by trade in poultry. Understanding the behaviour of people engaged in poultry production, trade and processing is necessary to understand the motivation for change and successful disease control.

In June 2010, KYEEMA signed an agreement with FAO to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary approach to common border HPAI surveillance sampling.

KYEEMA, as a key partner in the cross-border disease surveillance mission, implemented a sociological investigation using participatory approaches to investigate and analyse information on:

Appropriateness of bio-security measures (including movement controls, use of natural and artificial borders, commercial management and husbandry practices);

Cross-border legal and illegal poultry trade flows, including quantification of trade;

Knowledge of the detection, identification and surveillance of diseases in the different target groups, specifically HPAI; and

Analysis of factors affecting HPAI preparedness as well as gender differences in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in relation to poultry trade and HPAI.

The KYEEMA input strengthened the multi-disciplinary approach to transboundary animal disease surveillance through including participatory approaches in the collection and analysis of data from men and women who produce, transport, sell and/or process poultry and poultry products, and those who are responsible for regulation of cross-border activities in communities in selected border areas in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.