A Scoping Review of Deworming Livestock for Human Health: Quantifying Impacts on Child Growth and Anaemia in the Karamoja Agro-Pastoralist Context, 2001

In agro-pastoralist communities such as those in Karamoja, Uganda, livestock are integral to livelihoods and nutrition. Zoonotic helminths transmitted from animals pose a health risk, and deworming livestock is a proposed One Health intervention to improve human health, particularly child growth and anaemia. Evidence quantifying this impact in the Karamoja context has not been comprehensively synthesised. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise available evidence that quantifies the impact of livestock deworming interventions on child growth and anaemia indicators within the agro-pastoralist communities of the Karamoja region, Uganda. A systematic scoping review methodology was employed. Multiple electronic databases and grey literature sources were searched. Studies were included if they reported on livestock deworming interventions and measured child anthropometry or haemoglobin levels in Karamoja. Relevant data were charted and analysed thematically. The search identified a limited body of directly relevant, quantitative evidence. A predominant theme was the substantial logistical and socio-cultural challenges inherent in implementing and evaluating community-wide livestock deworming programmes within a mobile pastoralist system. Reported impacts on child health outcomes were inconsistent; where measured, effects on growth indicators were not statistically significant. There is a scarcity of robust evidence directly quantifying a link between livestock deworming and improved child growth or anaemia outcomes in Karamoja. The available literature primarily underscores significant implementation barriers and the complexity of attributing health impacts in this setting. Future research should employ longitudinal, controlled study designs with detailed intervention protocols. Programmes require co-design with communities to ensure logistical feasibility and cultural acceptability. Integrated monitoring of animal and human health parameters is needed to properly evaluate the One Health impact. scoping review, livestock deworming, child growth, anaemia, agro-pastoralist, Karamoja, One Health This review clarifies the current evidence gap and identifies critical implementation challenges, providing a foundation for designing more effective livestock deworming programmes and targeted research in the Karamoja context.