Impact of Animal Health Interventions on Food and Nutrition Security in Extensive Livestock Systems in Selected Community-Based Breeding Program (CBBP) and HEARD project Implementation Areas of Ethiopia
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Date
2025
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Ethiopia is home to a large population of small ruminants, although their contribution to the livelihoods is sub-optimal. This study examines the impact of animal health interventions on food and nutrition security within Ethiopia‘s extensive livestock systems, with a focus on Community-Based Breeding Programs and the HEARD project. Literature review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, secondary data analysis, and a targeted survey were employed to compare households in intervention and non-intervention areas regarding access to veterinary services and food security. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Food Consumption Score (FCS), and Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) were used to measure food and nutrition security of the study households. A total of 497 households were surveyed, comprising 321 from intervention areas and 176 from control areas. The study results showed significantly better access to veterinary services among intervention households (e.g., vaccination: 67.9% vs. 54.0%; training: 62.1% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.05). Food security was higher in animal health intervention areas: 72.4% vs. 54.7% (HFIAS), 64.6% vs. 56.3% (FCS), and nutrition security 65.4% vs. 62.9% (MDD-W). Logistic regressions revealed deworming increased odds of food security (OR = 3.6, P = 0.000) and treatment (OR = 2.27, P = 0.006) using the HFIAS indicator. Deworming and treatment also improved FCS (OR = 1.66, P = 0.05 and 1.88, P = 0.023), and awareness of zoonoses had a strong effect (OR = 3.20, P = 0.000). Vaccination was linked to better MDD-W (OR = 2.02, P = 0.043), and primary education improved MDD-W (OR = 2.97, P = 0.000). However, anthrax vaccination was negatively associated with all three indicators. This study showed that targeted animal health interventions significantly enhance food and
nutrition security. The findings support national efforts to strengthen livestock strategies and food security. Further experimental research is needed to strengthen evidence on the relationship between animal health interventions and human nutrition.
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Keywords
Households, animal health, intervention, livestock disease, food and nutritional security, Ethiopia