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.