Livestock Owners’ Perception on the Impact of Ghibe-III Hydroelectric Dam on Bovine Trypanosomosis, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Trypanosomosis is an endemic livestock disease in Ethiopia. The problem prevails mainly in the South, Southwest, and Northwest regions following main rivers and their tributaries. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Loma and Kindo Didaye districts near the Ghibe-III hydroelectric dam, to compare dam impact upstream and downstream, from January 2019 to June 2020. Two hundred standardized questionnaire surveys were administered. The questionnaire included biography, livestock population before and after dam construction, knowledge of major livestock diseases, clinical signs, transmission, seasonality, and wildlife population status was assessed. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U Test. Results and discussion: A total of 189 questionnaires were returned out of 200 questionnaires administered. Among the respondents, the majorities were males and had an average age of 39.4 + 10.6. In all herd size levels, there was no significant (P >.05) difference before dam construction between the 2 districts; whereas, statistically significant (P