Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections

Bonwitt, J.; Kandeh, M.; Dawson, M.; Ansumana, R.; Sahr, F.; Kelly, A.H.; Brown, H.

Abstract

The emergence of infectious diseases of zoonotic origin highlights the need to understand social practices at the animal-human interface. This study provides a qualitative account of interactions between humans and wild animals in predominantly Mende villages of southern Sierra Leone. We conducted fieldwork over 4 months including participant and direct observations, semi-structured interviews (n = 47), spontaneously occurring focus group discussions (n = 12), school essays and informal interviews to describe behaviours that may serve as pathways for zoonotic infection. In this region, hunting is the primary form of contact with wild animals. We describe how these interactions are shaped by socio-cultural contexts, including opportunities to access economic resources and by social obligations and constraints. Our research suggests that the potential for exposure to zoonotic pathogens is more widely distributed across different age, gender and social groups than previously appreciated. We highlight the role of children in hunting, an age group that has previously not been discussed in the context of hunting. The breadth of the "at risk" population forces reconsideration of how we conceptualize, trace and monitor pathogen exposure.

Citation

Bonwitt, J., Kandeh, M., Dawson, M., Ansumana, R., Sahr, F., Kelly, A., & Brown, H. (2017). Participation of women and children in hunting activities in Sierra Leone and implications for control of zoonotic infections. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(7), Article e0005699. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005699

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 10, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jul 27, 2017
• Publication Date: Jul 27, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 14, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 15, 2017
• Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1935-2727
• Electronic ISSN: 1935-2735
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: e0005699
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005699
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1377030