Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.

East Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study s...

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Main Authors: Ann W Muthiru, Josphat Muema, Nyamai Mutono, S M Thumbi, Salome A Bukachi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315906
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author Ann W Muthiru
Josphat Muema
Nyamai Mutono
S M Thumbi
Salome A Bukachi
author_facet Ann W Muthiru
Josphat Muema
Nyamai Mutono
S M Thumbi
Salome A Bukachi
author_sort Ann W Muthiru
collection DOAJ
description East Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study sought to provide a detailed examination of the dynamics that shape Infection Treatment Method (ITM) vaccine adoption behaviours. The study examined individual, socio-cultural and ecological- level factors influencing ITM adoption using the socio-ecological model. Analyzing data obtained from 18 focus group discussions, 30 in-depth interviews with livestock keepers, and 25 key informant interviews conducted with community stakeholders, the study identified factors associated with vaccine adoption within pastoralist communities in rural Kenya. These factors included knowledge and awareness of the Infection Treatment Method vaccine, its cost, livestock keepers' perceptions of East Coast fever relative to other livestock diseases, wildlife-livestock interactions, climate as contributing factors, and wildlife-livestock interactions influencing ECF risk and severity. Overall, the study findings emphasize the need for multifaceted strategies to increase vaccine adoption among livestock keepers.
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spelling doaj-art-58a9a3862ab1448683137cde46c164412025-02-05T05:31:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031590610.1371/journal.pone.0315906Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.Ann W MuthiruJosphat MuemaNyamai MutonoS M ThumbiSalome A BukachiEast Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study sought to provide a detailed examination of the dynamics that shape Infection Treatment Method (ITM) vaccine adoption behaviours. The study examined individual, socio-cultural and ecological- level factors influencing ITM adoption using the socio-ecological model. Analyzing data obtained from 18 focus group discussions, 30 in-depth interviews with livestock keepers, and 25 key informant interviews conducted with community stakeholders, the study identified factors associated with vaccine adoption within pastoralist communities in rural Kenya. These factors included knowledge and awareness of the Infection Treatment Method vaccine, its cost, livestock keepers' perceptions of East Coast fever relative to other livestock diseases, wildlife-livestock interactions, climate as contributing factors, and wildlife-livestock interactions influencing ECF risk and severity. Overall, the study findings emphasize the need for multifaceted strategies to increase vaccine adoption among livestock keepers.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315906
spellingShingle Ann W Muthiru
Josphat Muema
Nyamai Mutono
S M Thumbi
Salome A Bukachi
Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
PLoS ONE
title Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
title_full Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
title_fullStr Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
title_full_unstemmed Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
title_short Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.
title_sort beyond the jab unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for east coast fever in rural kenya
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315906
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