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Influence of Pastoralists’ Sociocultural Activities on Tsetse–Trypanosome–Cattle Reservoir Interface: The Risk of Human African Trypanosomiasis in North‐Central Nigeria

The study investigated socio‐cultural characteristics of pastoralists that influenced on the tsetse‐trypanosome‐cattle reservoir interface thereby predisposing them to HAT in Niger State, North‐central Nigeria. It was a cross‐sectional survey of adult pastoral herders, aged 30 years and above, and conducted between October 2012 and February 2013. A face‐to‐face structured questionnaire was administered on the pastoralists nested in 96 cattle herds with questions focused on pastoralists’ socio‐cultural activities and behavioral practices related to HAT risk. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used to describe the obtained data. A total of 384 pastoralists participated, with mean age of 49.6 Â ± 10.76 SD years. Male respondents constituted 86.7% of gender, while pastoralists of age group 40–49 years constituted 35.4% of respondents. About 59.4% of the pastoralists had knowledge about HAT and its symptoms and only 33.9% of them believed that cattle served as reservoir of HAT trypanosome. Knowledge/belief levels of the pastoralists about African trypanosomiasis occurrence in humans and animals were statistically significant. Males were four times more likely to be exposed to HAT (OR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.42, 9.52); age group 60–69 was also four times more likely to be exposed (OR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.56, 8.28); and nomadic pastoralists were two times more likely to be exposed to HAT (OR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.37, 3.14). All cultural practices significantly influenced exposure to HAT with extensive husbandry system three times more likely to predisposed pastoralists to HAT (OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.65, 6.24). Socio‐cultural characteristics of pastoralists influenced exposure to HAT risk and, therefore, there is a need to sensitize them to bring changes to their socio‐cultural practices and perceptions to achieve effective and long term sustainable HAT control. Elimination strategies of parasites in animals and vectors should be considered to avoid reintroduction from animal reservoirs.