Community-based participatory research on avian influenza in Burkina Faso and Nigeria: Implications for livelihood and public health policy

In October-November 2006, AED and UNICEF/WCARO carried out community-based participatory action research (PAR) to explore the food security, livelihood and social/ cultural, implications of avian influenza in Burkina Faso and two states in Nigeria. Two communities, one rural and one peri-urban, were engaged in each location, with community members being directly involved in the research effort. PAR methods used included community mapping, seasonal calendars, transect walks, causal flow mapping, matrix ranking, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. This presentation will share the results of this research, including insights on community perceptions of the causes and origins of avian influenza, the potential direct and indirect on livelihoods, food security and social/cultural aspects of community life, and barriers and facilitators to to changing practices to prevent avian influenza. Some key results with policy implications that will be discussed include the importance of social and ritual uses of chickens in all communities, gender and generations relations, perceptions of risks and flexibility for change conceptualizations of “ownership” and expectations for compensation for birds that die or are culled, the acceptability of quarantine as a control method, and underlying factors (such as fear of thieves) that may make adoption of improved practices difficult.