Socioeconomic Assessment of a Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Control Program in Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

A socioeconomic study was made to assess the outcome of a tsetse and trypanosomosis control operation conducted in Chewaka settlement station, Southwest Ethiopia, during 2005-2007 through comparisons of data before and after the control program within Chewaka, and between Chewaka and a non-controlled adjacent site, Bikiltu Didessa peasant Association. Retrospective and crossectional questionnaire survey methods were used to generate data for the study. Results showed that the total livestock and cattle population in chewaka increased by 116% and 1039 %, respectively, and the total cereal production increased by 63.2 %. During this period the overall livestock and cattle population in Bikiltu decreased by 45.7% and 47.5%, respectively, and the total cereal production declined by 35.6%. The average number of cattle bought per house hold per year in Chewaka, 1.15 head, was significantly higher (P=0.000) than the average number of 0.55 head in Bikiltu. The chances of cattle and oxen mortality in Bikiltu were 10 and 6 times (OR= 6.5 and 10.2) more likely than in Chewaka and the chance of abortion in cows in Bikiltu was more than 10 times as compared to Chewaka (OR=10.79). The control operation in chewaka settlement station resulted in rapid growth of livestock and crop production, fast expansion of farmland, improved income from animal sell and increased animal purchasing power.