CLASSICAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL APPROACH VERSUS PARTICIPATORY METHODS:A COMPARISON OF TWO RESEARCH METHODS APPLIED TO IDENTIFICATION OFKEY HEALTH ISSUES FOR WORKING HORSES IN LESOTHO

摘要

Few reported studies have simultaneously applied quantitative and qualitative methodologies for the purpose of direct comparison of their findings. This study compared issues identified via a cross-sectional study of individual horses and their owners, utilising structured owner questionnaires, clinical examination and standardised tack examination with those identified and prioritised via participatory resource mapping and matrix ranking techniques in owner workshops. Some issues identified were common to both approaches; others differed in terms of their specification and relative importance. The quantitative approach provided objective measurement of issue frequency for comparison with owners' perceptions of their importance. Participatory methods enabled researchers to gain detailed understanding of local issues and appreciate how owners defined and prioritised problems affecting them and their animals. Without the vital components of developing community ownership of the process and grounded researcher appreciation of local circumstances, interventions based solely on epidemiological measures of frequency are less likely to succeed.