2.3 Data collection with questionnaire
A structured questionnaire was designed and contained mostly close-ended questions to improve response precision, ease data processing, and minimize variation (Thrusfield, 2009). The questions elicited farmers’ socio-demographic characteristics; farm information; practices of AMU on cattle; and risk pathways for antimicrobial residues and resistance dissemination; and drivers of antimicrobial misuse. Enumerators were recruited and trained for interviewer-administer questionnaire conduct, with each farm exercise lasting for about an hour.
Respondents were verbally informed about the study objectives and their informed consent also obtained verbally before commencement of each farm exercise. In accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (WMADH, 2001), participants were informed of their responses confidentiality and withdrawal opportunity without prejudice. Advocacy visits were made to the farmers few days prior to each proposed interview segment and necessary permission obtained.