Clapping with Two Hands: Transforming Gender Relations and Zoonotic Disease Risks through Community Conversations in Rural Ethiopia

Annet Abenakyo Mulema,Annet Abenakyo Mulema,Wole Kinati,Hiwot Desta,Belay Elias,Biruk G Alemu,Mamusha Lemma,Mesfin Mekonnen,Barbara Wieland,Yifru Demeke

doi:10.1007/s10745-020-00184-y

Abstract

Gender inequalities and zoonoses are major concerns in livestock production systems worldwide. Livestock producers are at high risk of zoonotic diseases due to direct and indirect contact with their livestock and livestock products. Gender differences and inequalities in roles, access to and control over resources, decision-making, and cultural norms influence exposure to, perceptions, and management practices for zoonotic disease risks. Using participatory action research, we tested the effectiveness of community conversations in changing gender relations and practices that expose livestock keepers to zoonoses in three districts of rural Ethiopia. Our findings show that community conversations change mindsets and practices regarding gender roles, access to and control over resources, decision-making in households, handling livestock, and consumption of animal-source foods. Behavioral change happens when women and men diagnose and understand the problem, reflect on the beliefs/norms that determine their practices, make shifts in cognitive and emotional mental models, commit, and take actions. This has practical and policy implications for interventions that aim to change behavior. The process requires nurturing collaborative relations, trust-building, community-driven social learning, enhancing local capacities, breaking belief traps, and complementarity to existing interventions.

Highlights

Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock populations and the second largest human population in Africa (Central Statistical Agency 2009; Leta and Mesele 2014)
We address two key questions: (i) how do community conversations effect change in gender relations and practices that expose individuals to zoonotic diseases? and (ii) under what conditions does change occur? We argue that community conversations are a promising approach for stimulating change in gender relations and livestock and animal-source food handling practices in rural communities
Between 50 and 65 community members participated in each community conversation (Table 2), for a total of 928 (339 females, 37%) participants who attended as couples or individuals representing male-headed or female-headed households

Summary

Introduction

Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock populations and the second largest human population in Africa (Central Statistical Agency 2009; Leta and Mesele 2014). About 80% of the Differences and inequalities in the division of labor in livestock management are common with women responsible for labor-intensive activities such as feeding, watering, and cleaning barns while men are responsible for incomegenerating and decision-making activities (Kinati et al 2018). The gender-based differences in roles and power relations disproportionately expose household members to the. Women are heavily involved in livestock production, their role is culturally undervalued by men, affecting their ability to access and control resources and benefits from their labor. Addressing gender-based constraints in livestock production and animal health management reduces morbidity and mortality, saves costs for disease management, and increases productivity, human health, and well-being (Zinsstag et al 2007)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion