Intervention

A series of focus group discussions (FGDs) documented the early stages of the intervention, how women were introduced to tsetse control and the control tools (tiny targets), and how they prepared for target deployment. This section describes and illustrates the process based on the findings from group discussions.

Women demonstrated competence in planning target deployment (Box 5.1)

During FGDs, which were initiated at the beginning of the action research, women readily identified water bodies where tsetse were present. In both villages, women mentioned being ‘attacked’ or ‘bitten’ by tsetse flies. Specific riverine sites were described by referring to locations where women performed their daily activities, such as washing clothes, fetching water, drying cassava and collecting firewood. Women reported having local names for the river sections and tributaries where these activities took place and

84 they used these names in the planning process. Participants from both villages agreed that targets must be deployed along all these sites, particularly in places where their daily activities were performed.

Despite initial reluctance by one group, both villages created detailed maps (Figure 5.1) of the rivers running through their villages, which demonstrated a clear spatial understanding of the river system. Boundaries between villages were identified through landmarks, such as trees, big stones, and anthills, nearby paths or tributaries. Participants used these landmarks to divide the river into sections and individuals living in the vicinity were placed in charge of each section.

Participants were resourceful and made prompt decisions about the practical tasks involved in planning target deployment. For example, despite the lack of equipment to measure river lengths to calculate the number of tiny targets needed, women in both villages decided to count their footsteps (one hundred footsteps would equal approximately 50 metres). Some participants wrote the number of footsteps on paper while others, who did not have the use of pen and paper, used sticks15 _{(Figure 5.2) to record the} numbers. Some women suggested marking target deployment location by using: a) a small hole in the ground, b) a mark on a nearby tree or c) knot tied in the grass.

15 _{Each provided stick was equivalent of the 100 steps walked along the river (~50 m).}

85 Women discussed the challenges they faced while planning target deployment. The most common challenge was the nearby vegetation (tall grass, dense underbrush and thorns) as it impeded access to the river. Women also commented on the inappropriateness of ground targets because of their susceptibility to loss and damage due to flooding of the river. All women preferred hanging targets (Figure 5.3) since there was an abundance of suitable trees and bushes from which to suspend the targets.

Participants in both villages were enthusiastic about the planning meetings and were willing to disseminate information about the tsetse control intervention to other nearby villages. Women generally shared information during normal daily interactions with their neighbours: they would ‘just talk about it

Figure 5.2: A participant submitting a bundle of sticks after measurement of river length

86 anytime, wherever we meet [with other community members]’; but some women specifically visited households to inform them about the programme. Women who missed a mentoring meeting were also briefed about the discussions and activities planned by other participants. In addition to their efforts to sensitize other community members, participants said that the news spread by word-of-mouth to neighbouring villages. On one occasion, a village chief made an announcement regarding the tsetse control intervention during a wedding ceremony that was attended by villagers from other communities. Before target deployment, all participants were confident that villagers were sufficiently informed and that consequently, nobody would tamper with the deployed targets.

Box 5.1: Women demonstrated competence in planning target deployment

“Keci, Arimbajo, most of the water bodies here even Peletu is where we see tsetse (...). We would like to place targets along most of the rivers we named; we get bitten by tsetse along all of them” (FGD 3b).

“Along the way, while I walk, when I reach hundred steps, I will just make some sort of mark on the ground; next time [when we deploy targets] I will show other women where to put the target. And also on the small paper for every hundred step I will make a small line” (FGD 3a).

“The grass was too long, the area bushy, there were even thorns [where we walked to measure rivers]” (FGD4b).

“We experienced difficulties measuring the length of the rivers. It was bushy, so it was hard for us, and we stepped on thorns so there were many challenges” (FGD 4a).

“There are [enough] trees there... So mine bunch of targets should be mixed [with ground and hanging], but mostly there should be hanging type” (FGD 4b).

“Sometimes, if it rains, like at night, sometimes the water level is very much [increased]; it comes even up to some [flooding] extent so that we will even find it very difficult to get to these targets; we may find them already swept away by the water. It’s better this one [hanging type] so that we tie it up [and keep it safe]” (FGD 4a).

“Yes, people from this village know, every household knows what we are planning to do (...). When we start deploying targets around, when someone comes and sees them; someone who heard an information about it, they will know! They will know that, it’s targets which have been given to prevent sleeping sickness (...). Nobody will remove them, as people have information about it and they are happy about it” (FGD 4a).

Target deployment and maintenance process

After the preparation phase was complete, women were given the appropriate number of targets, as estimated through use of river stretch measurements. Figure 5.4. shows images of participation on the

87 first day of deployment16_{. The research team accompanied the participants to the designated site and} demonstrated two target deployments. The women then took charge and further organized themselves to proceed with target deployment and maintenance for the next six months (demonstrative video in Appendix D1). Women were instructed to keep targets in an upright position and ensure that they were clear of vegetation so as to position them in a manner fully visible to the tsetse.

Details on the efficacy of target deployment, target maintenance and women experiences during deployment are presented in sections 5.3 and 5.4.