Adoption of Information Communication Technologies (ICTS) for effective Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) surveillience: A case of Livestock Health and Entomology Department - Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries(MAAIF), Uganda.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for effective Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) surveillance by the Livestock Health and Entomology Department of Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. The study adopted a cross sectional design which was quantitative in nature. It involved descriptive and analytical research designs. The data was collected using questionnaires from 81 respondents off study population of 102 using simple random sampling. The data was tested for validity and reliability, analyzed using SPSS and results presented based on the study objectives. Results revealed a significant a positive relationship between ICTs and effective FMD surveillance. This means that the use of ICTs will improve the effectiveness of FMD surveillance. The results from the study indicated that there is a moderate positive relationship (r=.335**, P≤ 0.01) between ICTs (mobile phones) for data collection and effective FMD surveillance. The results show usage of ICTs (mobile phones) for data collection could improve FMD surveillance. They also showed that there is a moderate positive relationship (r=.335**, P≤ 0.01) between use of ICTs (software) for data processing and FMD surveillance. This means that use of software with ICTs to help in data processing for analysis can greatly improve FMD surveillance. The results obtained also showed that there is a moderate positive relationship (r=0.394**, p≤ 0.01) between use of ICTs (mobile phones, Internet) for information dissemination and FMD surveillance. This means that the ability to use ICTs to collect process and disseminate information could promote and aid the FMD surveillance system. The study concluded that the adoption of ICTs can significantly improve FMD surveillance. Therefore the researcher recommended that future studies should explore other potential factors and sustainable strategies that may improve the FMD surveillance system.