Understanding the suitability of Nurturing Care Group approach to improving animal faeces management in Ghana

Abstract Animal faeces management (AFM) is key to avert zoonotic risks especially when integrated into water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions although largely neglected by conventional projects. This study focused on understanding the influence of Nurturing Care Group (NCG) approach on improving AFM in some communities within World Vision Ghana programme areas in Savelugu Municipal and Sekyere East District Assemblies. The study adopted a cross-sectional qualitative survey using 12 focus group discussions and 20 in-depth-interviews with female members from 12 communities. Data analyses used inductive mixed method content analysis based on pre-structured themes from interview tools. 171 female and 4 male members participated in the study. Household animals raised included livestock – fowls, goat, sheep, cattle etc., and pets (cats, dogs, etc.) for: income, meat for nutrition, religious rituals, animal droppings (manure), and pets for security etc. NCG intervention brought high awareness of AFM including penning and composting of droppings and also linked other safe household environmental sanitation practices. Barriers to uptake at scale included lack of resources for animal shelters, inability to feed animals without scavenging, difficulty in securing veterinary services, and women inability to secure men’s support on key decisions on AFM. Local governance structures – unit committees and opinion leaders were not fully integrated in Savelugu unlike in Sekyere East although leaders involved could not sustain commitment with time. Future interventions would benefit active involvement with specified roles of key stakeholders from household heads through community leaders to the District Assembly level to support sustainable uptake and impact.