Global assessment of manure management policies and practices

In 2014 an assessment of livestock manure policies was performed in 34 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, followed by an in-depth assessment of manure management practices in Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Ethiopia, Malawi, Argentina and Costa Rica. The assessments revealed the key barriers for improving integrated manure management and identified six opportunities for actual practice changes to improve manure related policies as well as farm practices with the overall objective of improving food security while mitigating methane emissions at the same tim

Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background In transitioning from the Millennium Development Goal to the Sustainable Development Goal era, it is imperative to comprehensively assess progress toward reducing maternal mortality to identify areas of success, remaining challenges, and frame policy discussions. We aimed to quantify maternal mortality throughout the world by underlying cause and age from 1990 to 2015. Methods We estimated maternal mortality at the global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2015 for ages 10–54 years by systematically compiling and processing all available data sources from 186 of 195 countries and territories, 11 of which were analysed at the subnational level. We quantifi ed eight underlying causes of maternal death and four timing categories, improving estimation methods since GBD 2013 for adult all-cause mortality, HIVrelated maternal mortality, and late maternal death. Secondary analyses then allowed systematic examination of drivers of trends, including the relation between maternal mortality and coverage of specifi c reproductive health-care services as well as assessment of observed versus expected maternal mortality as a function of Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary indicator derived from measures of income per capita, educational attainment, and fertility. Findings Only ten countries achieved MDG 5, but 122 of 195 countries have already met SDG 3.1. Geographical disparities widened between 1990 and 2015 and, in 2015, 24 countries still had a maternal mortality ratio greater than 400. The proportion of all maternal deaths occurring in the bottom two SDI quintiles, where haemorrhage is the dominant cause of maternal death, increased from roughly 68% in 1990 to more than 80% in 2015. The middle SDI quintile improved the most from 1990 to 2015, but also has the most complicated causal profi le. Maternal mortality in the highest SDI quintile is mostly due to other direct maternal disorders, indirect maternal disorders, and abortion, ectopic pregnancy, and/or miscarriage. Historical patterns suggest achievement of SDG 3.1 will require 91% coverage of one antenatal care visit, 78% of four antenatal care visits, 81% of in-facility delivery, and 87% of skilled birth attendance. Interpretation Several challenges to improving reproductive health lie ahead in the SDG era. Countries should establish or renew systems for collection and timely dissemination of health data; expand coverage and improve quality of family planning services, including access to contraception and safe abortion to address high adolescent fertility; invest in improving health system capacity, including coverage of routine reproductive health care and of more advanced obstetric care—including EmOC; adapt health systems and data collection systems to monitor and reverse the increase in indirect, other direct, and late maternal deaths, especially in high SDI locations; and examine their own performance with respect to their SDI level, using that information to formulate strategies to improve performance and ensure optimum reproductive health of their population.GBD 2015 Maternal Mortality Collaborators ...Nicholas J Kassebaum ... Azmeraw T Amare ... Liliana G Ciobanu ... James Hancock ... Ratilal Lalloo ... Yohannes Adama Melaku ... John Nelson Opio ... G A Tessema ... et.al

Heterogeneity of HIV incidence : a comparative analysis between fishing communities and in a neighbouring rural general population, Uganda, and implications for HIV control

Objectives To describe HIV heterogeneity in rural Uganda using incidence data collected between January 2012 and December 2014 among fishing cohort (FC) and in an adjacent rural general population cohort (GPC). Methods In the FC, eligible HIV high-risk adults aged 18+ years were enrolled, followed and HIV tested every 3 months. Demographic and sexual behaviour data were also collected. The GPC, approximately 47 km away from the FC, was followed through annual surveys, and sociodemographic and behavioural data collected. A subset of GPC with comparable risk profiles to the FC was selected. We presented sociodemographic and risk profiles and also computed stratified HIV incidence. Cox regression was used to assess factors associated with HIV incidence. Results Overall HIV incidence was higher in the FC than in the ‘high-risk’ GPC, 6.04 and 0.56 per 100 person years at risk, respectively, with a rate ratio (RR) of 10.83 (95% CI 6.11 to 19.76). This was higher among those aged 18–24 years, unmarried and those with more than two sex partners in the past year, RR of 15.44, 22.99 and 19.29, respectively. In the FC, factors associated with high incidence in multivariate analysis were duration in the community and unprotected sex. The factors in the GPC were ethnicity, marital status and duration in the community. Conclusions We have observed a substantial heterogeneity in HIV incidence. The high incidence in fishing communities is contributing greatly to the overall HIV burden in Uganda, and thus urgent combination prevention efforts are needed towards national goal to reduce HIV epidemic

Socio–economic benefits and pollution levels of water resources, Pece Wetland, Gulu Municipality - Uganda

Communities are dependent on wetlands resources for income generation. However, anthropogenic activities that result into pollution of water are one of the major public health problems. Assessment of socio–economic activities and pollution levels of domestic water sources in Gulu Municipality, Pece wetland was done. The technique for socio–economic data collection was an exploratory method using transect walk along the wetland. Questionnaires and interviews were used. Domestic water sources around the wetland were sampled and analyzed according to APHA (1992). The major activities in the wetland were edge gardening, waste disposal, petty business center called ‘Owino’ market, water collection for sale, livestock grazing, agro–forestry, brick laying, papyrus harvesting and vehicle washing. The climax of some of the activities was affected by seasons. Over all, the activities contributed to > 50% of the monthly income of the respondents. A section of the wetland seems to be sacrificed for socio–economic activities due to the prevailing insecurity as evidenced in the unclear coordination and monitoring plan for conservation of the wetland. Temperature was not significantly different (p = 0.672) and pH was significantly different (p = 0.000). The values ranged from 23.4 to 26.0°C and 5.37 to 5.83 for all the water sources respectively. There was significant difference (p = 0.00 and p = 0.03) in EC and TSS that ranged from 52 to 330 μScm-1 and 0.89 to 2.93 mgL-1 respectively. Spring water had higher EC and TSS than the boreholes. Faecal coliforms ranged from 14 to 50 CFU/100 ml and was significantly higher (p = 0.006) for the spring water than the boreholes. The chloride ion concentration was significantly different (p = 0.000) in the water sources and ranged from 89.2 to 331.1 mgL-1. The correlation for faecal coliforms and chloride ions was positive (r = 0.3577). The domestic water sources were contaminated, although the assumption in the community is that, boreholes are clean and safe. The communities should be sensitized to treat water before drinking. This could reduce the chances of infection by the pathogenic organisms.Key words: Benefits, pollution, water sources, wetlands, socio–economics

Current status and progress of research on the management of bean root rot complex in south western Uganda

Bean root rot is the most important disease affecting beans in South Western Uganda. The disease has resulted incomplete loss oft he crop in some areas. At the moment there is urgent need to look for means of reducing the diseaseand revitalizing bean prod uctiou. Them a in ohj ective of this study was to identify control measures that can reduce thedisease on farmers field s. A rapid rural appraisal was carried out to determine the incidence of the disease andidentify the disease causing organisms. Experiments set up included (i) integrated disease management, (ii) varietalresistance and (iii) combination of(i) and (ii). The experimental design in (i) and (iii) was a split plot while in (ii) thedesign was a randomized block design. The disease incidence in the district ranged between 80-100% on farmersfields. It was noted that 75% of the attacked crops were attached by Pytltium spp atone. The other 25% was acombination of Pytlriwn spp with one or both of the following: Fu.mrium so/ani and R!Jizoctonia spp. The use of soilorganic amendments such as farm yard manure, green manure and earthing up was only effective where the diseasewas not very severe when a susceptible variety was used. Where the incidence was high, then these treatments werenot effective. The most tolerant varieties identified were RWR 179, MLB 49/89A, G2333, Flora and Vuninkingi. Acombination offarm yard manure, earthing up and tolerant varieties \\'ith seed dressing with fungicide and insecticidegave the highest yield of 2 tons per hactare as com pared to tolerant va ric ties and green manure that gave a yield of 0. 7tons per ha only. It was therefore concluded that an integrated disease management st~IWO~Ierantvarieties, farm yard manure and earthing up be adopted in order to reduce the disease in South Western Uganda

Learning Environment and Inclusion of learners in Secondary Education in Uganda: Analysis of the Moderating role of Self-Efficacy and Disability Status

The inclusion of learners in secondary education has been fundamentally associated with the learning environment. However, little is known about the relationships between types of learning environments and inclusion when moderated by self-efficacy and mediated by disability status. This study measured whether different types of learning environments were associated with inclusion differently and if self-efficacy and disability status mediated the relationships between learning environment and inclusion. In a cross-sectional study, 309 learners with and without disabilities were assessed for inclusion in secondary education, Self-efficacy, Disability status and Learning environment. Regression Analyses were used to measure the association between different types of Learning environment and inclusion and the moderating role of learner’s self-efficacy and disability status in the relationship between learning environment and inclusion in secondary education. The findings yielded that physical and social learning environments are the types of learning environments that significantly and independently predicted inclusion in secondary education. The physical learning environment was significantly correlated with social efficacy (B=. 18, P<. 001) and all four facets of inclusion: access (B=. 19, P<. 001), Presence (B=. 12, P<. 001), Participation (B=. 14, P<. 001) and Achievement (B=. 10, P<. 001). While Social environment also had appositive and stronger effect on social efficacy (B=. 27, P = .001) and facets of inclusion; access (B=. 33, P<. 001), presence (B=. 22, P<. 001), Participation (B=. 26, P<. 001), and achievement (B=. 20, P<. 001). Disability status was found not to relate significantly to self-efficacy and inclusion, but self-efficacy was positively associated with inclusion. The direct relation between learning environment and inclusion remained significant (B=. 33, P<. 001). However, self-efficacy and disability status did not mediate the relationship between learning environment and inclusion. Types of learning environments should be considered when implementing inclusion in secondary education. Psycho-educational intervention should consider the development of social efficacy as a key determinant of the inclusion of all learners in secondary education

The Interface Between Self-Determination Attributes and Inclusion: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Secondary School Students in Uganda

This study examined the interface between self-determination attributes and inclusion in secondary education in Uganda. We examined the interface between the attributes of self-determination (perceived autonomy, Competence and relatedness) and inclusion of learners with and without special educational needs in secondary education. Data was collected using closed ended self-administered questionnaires from 309 students. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social scientist (SPSS) version 25.0. Results showed that there was a moderate positive statistically significant relationship between self-determination attributes and inclusion (r=. 409, P<0.01). The table also shows that all the attributes of self-determination had a moderate positive statistically significant relationship with inclusion; Perceived autonomy satisfaction (r=. 318, P<0.01), Perceived competence satisfaction (r=. 346, P<0.01) and Perceived Relatedness satisfaction (r=. 336,P<0.01). This implies that there is a positive interface between all the attributes of self-determination and inclusion of learners in secondary education in Uganda. Results of multiple regression analysis show that 57% of the variance on inclusion could be attributed to the elements of self-determination namely; perceived autonomy satisfaction (P=. 002 B=. 523 t=2.263), Perceived competence satisfaction (P=. 007 B=. 563 t= 2.263) and Perceived Relatedness satisfaction (P=. 004 B=. 693 t= 2.692). The above results show that perceived autonomy satisfaction and perceived relatedness satisfaction were the only statistically significant predictors of inclusion. Interventions aimed at improving inclusion should therefore emphasize development of autonomy and relatedness as psycho-educational interventions

Participatory evaluation of improved technologies with farmers: the case of bean technologies

The National Beans Program has carried out on-farm bean variety evaluation trials since 1986 to-date using the conventional approach in addition to using farmer participatory approach from 1992 with more farmer involvement as partners in the research process. In either approach, it was noted that farmer involvement was a key to successful technology evaluation. It was also noted that yield was not the only factor farmers consider in adopting new bean varieties. Yield had to be accompanied by other variety attributes like preference for seed colour and size, good taste, tolerance to insect pests and diseases and other adverse conditions, marketability, shorter cooking time and maturity period. Both approaches have their successes and limitations. Making both approaches very efficient requires more farmer involvement in technology development and testing. There is need for training of farmers and extension agents in on-farm management and technology testing. Dedication and devotion of all parties involved in technology development and testing is important. There is need for increased funding for technology testing with more farmer involvement. The way forward is to make both approaches more participatory with more involvement of the farmers and all other stakeholders