Local Perceptions and Knowledge of Animal Diseases among Producers in the Guiriko Region of Burkina Faso

Abstract

The health situation in the animal production sector remains a real challenge for good productivity. Its management is strongly influenced by producers' perceptions of these diseases. It is in this context that the study was launched. This study was conducted in the Guiriko region, in western Burkina Faso, to analyse local perceptions of livestock diseases among producers. A sample of 270 producers was drawn from the working population of Guiriko using the Slovin formula. The descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among these 270 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The farmers were identified by the heads of the village development council and the technical support areas for livestock farming. The data were analysed using R.5.0 software. The results identified more than twenty diseases reported by farmers, with trypanosomiasis and foot-and-mouth disease being the most frequently mentioned. The perceived causes were mainly related to environmental conditions, feed shortages and insect bites. Most diagnoses were based on empirical observation of clinical signs, reflecting consistent but incomplete local knowledge. Although empirical, these perceptions provide valuable information for participatory surveillance and animal health planning. Integrating local knowledge into veterinary strategies and adopting a ‘One Health’ approach could strengthen the resilience of livestock systems to endemic and emerging diseases.