Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia

Kiflu Belete Zewdie

doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(1): 16-23

doi: 10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia

Kiflu Belete Zewdie.

Abstract
Background: The conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region has triggered a parallel collapse of veterinary services, threatening food security. This study measured veterinary vaccine hesitancy (VVH) and its conflict-related drivers in Amhara Sayint.
Results: A mixed-methods study (197 surveys; 29 interviews) found a VVH prevalence of 64.5%. Vaccine coverage plummeted to 36.0% for foot-and-mouth disease and 27.4% for peste des petits ruminants. Key drivers were logistical barriers (48.2%), mistrust in efficacy (46.2%), and conflict-specific fears like veterinarian kidnapping (57.5%). Significant predictors of hesitancy were illiteracy (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.39–5.41), rural residence (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.20–4.45), distance >15 km to a clinic (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.33–4.78), and high perceived insecurity (aOR 2.22, 95% CI 1.19–3.09). Hesitant households reported more disease outbreaks (2.44 vs. 1.11/year, p<.001) and higher livestock mortality (32.9% vs. 13.8%, p<.001).
Conclusions: Conflict has severely disrupted veterinary services in Amhara Sayint. VVH is a survival strategy driven by pervasive insecurity and politicized access to care. Strengthening community-based animal health networks and ensuring the protection of veterinary infrastructure are critical for recovery.

Key words: veterinary vaccine hesitancy; conflict; Ethiopia; One Health; livestock; public health

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(1): 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Web Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jphcm/?mno=296844 [Access: June 07, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. J Pub Health Comm Med. 2026; 5(1): 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. J Pub Health Comm Med. (2026), [cited June 07, 2026]; 5(1): 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Harvard Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie (2026) Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. J Pub Health Comm Med, 5 (1), 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Turabian Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. 2026. Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (1), 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

Chicago Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. "Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5 (2026), 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie. "Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia." Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine 5.1 (2026), 16-23. Print. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Kiflu Belete Zewdie (2026) Conflict-driven veterinary vaccine hesitancy and professional immobilization in Amhara Sayint, Ethiopia. Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine, 5 (1), 16-23. doi:10.5455/JPHCM.20251115105930