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Conference abstract2015

ANIMAL WELFARE EDUCATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF LILONGWE, MALAWI

Gyllenhammar, Anna; Alvåsen, Karin

Abstract

Animal welfare issues are not considered as high priority in Malawi due to other problems affecting the human population. In Lilongwe, the capital city, education programs are used to increase the awareness of animal welfare issues among primary school children. A study was undertaken to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of animal welfare in primary school children. Two different teaching methods for animal welfare 1) humane lessons (HL) and 2) Animal Kindness Clubs (AKC) were evaluated. The gender perspective was explored and also domestic and animal violence. The study was performed in collaboration with Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA). A questionnaire of multiple choice character was handed out to 157 children aged between 9 and 15 from six different schools. Three schools received HLs and the other three AKCs. The children filled in the questionnaire, participated in the intervention (either three HLs or three AKCs), and filled in the questionnaire again. In total, 146 children filled in both the pre- and post-intervention questionnaire, another 92 children did only fill in the post-intervention questionnaire. All children, regardless of the gender, slightly increased their knowledge about animal welfare when attending the education programs. The HLs, however, was more efficient than the AKCs. Many children had a good knowledge in some animal welfare areas before the intervention. A high proportion (93 %) of the children had experienced violence against animals. About half of the children had experienced domestic violence or both domestic violence and violence against animals. There seem to be a link between domestic and animal violence but further studies are recommended to penetrate the subject. The conclusion was that the level of animal welfare knowledge is good regardless of gender in primary school children in Lilongwe. The education programs only improve the animal welfare knowledge to some extent. Further studies are recommended to identify ways to improve the animal welfare education programs and to reduce the knowing-doing gap.

Keywords

animal welfare, knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP)

Published in

Title: Animal Populations - World Resources and Animal Welfare
Publisher: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Conference

UFAW International Animal Welfare Science Symposium