Women were put on the back-end: COVID-19 mobility constraints and their lessons and implications for gender-equity in sub-Saharan africa

Disasters and pandemics of all types tend to exacerbate gender inequity and threaten progress for women. COVID-19 emerged into an existing inequitable environment, where women already lived with gender-based transport disadvantage and its implications. This paper draws from and revises a larger research report, ‘Gaining or Losing Ground: ensuring that “post-COVID-19” transportation serves the needs of women with low-income in Sub-Saharan African cities’, a qualitative study in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa. Through a series of in-depth interviews and the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this paper presents findings that demonstrate the interdependence between the numerous direct and indirect impacts of mobility options and restrictions on women, particularly with regard to access to health-care, education, livelihoods, personal safety, individual agency and independence, and the inequitable financial burden of unpaid work. The study confirms the precariousness of women in Sub-Saharan Africa, and makes explicit the links between COVID-19 containment impacts, prevailing transport-related disadvantages, and the social exclusion experienced especially by women with low incomes.Papers presented virtually at the 39th International Southern African Transport Conference on 05 -07 July 202

Occurrence of cucumber mosaic virus within tomato seed lots

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important crop whose fruit is widely consumed globally. However, its yield is affected by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and can cause total crop failure. The virus is mainly transmitted by aphid vectors, but data on its spread via seeds are limited. Thus, the occurrence of CMV within tomato seed lots obtained from different sources was investigated. Seven tomato accessions and varieties were collected from five sources and evaluated for seed transmission of CMV. One hundred seeds each were sown in a plastic tray, and germination rates were recorded. The incidence and severity of virus symptoms were observed at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after sowing (WAS), while leaves were tested for CMV using antigen-coated plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACP-ELISA). The germination percentage ranged from 60% in accession 'V4' to 92% in 'UC-82B'. Infection rates were 100%, 71.74%, 70.31%, 45.90%, and 8.33% in 'Roma-VF', 'UC-82B', 'NG/AA/SQ/09/053', 'V2', and 'V4', respectively. 'Kerewa' and 'Alausa-Long' exhibited zero infection rates and tested negative for CMV using ACP-ELISA. Eighty percent of test plants became symptomatic at 6 and 9 WAS, although accession 'NG/AA/SQ/09/053' tested positive for CMV despite showing no symptoms. Tomato seeds from commercial stores, research institutes, and farmers' fields tested positive for CMV, while seeds from the market were negative at 9 WAS. The results from this study confirm the transmissibility of CMV through seeds in tomatoes, although the rate of seed transmission is cultivar dependent

ACTwatch 2009 Supply Chain Survey Results, Nigeria

In Nigeria, as in many low-income countries, private commercial providers play an important role in the treatment of malaria. To design effective interventions for improved access to accurate diagnosis and effective malaria treatment, there is a need to understand retailer behaviour and identify the factors that influence their stocking and pricing decisions. Private commercial retailers are the last link in a chain of manufacturers, importers and wholesalers and their supply sources are likely to have an important influence on the price and quality of malaria treatment that consumers can access. However, there is limited rigorous evidence on the structure and operation of the distribution chain for antimalarial drugs that serves the retail sector. The ACTwatch Supply Chain Study, one of the ACTwatch project components, aims to address this gap by conducting quantitative and qualitative studies on distribution chains for antimalarials in the ACTwatch countries (Nigeria, Cambodia, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Uganda and Zambia). Other elements of ACTwatch include Retail Outlet and Household Surveys led by Population Services International (PSI). This report presents the results of a cross-sectional survey of antimalarial drug wholesalers conducted in Nigeria between July and September 2009

A Qualitative Assessment of the Private Sector Antimalarial Distribution Chain in Nigeria, 2009

In Cambodia, as in many low‐income countries, private commercial providers play an important role in the treatment of malaria.  To design effective interventions for improved access to accurate diagnosis and effective malaria treatment, there is a need to understand retailers' behaviour and identify the factors that influence their stocking and pricing decisions.  Private commercial retailers are the last link in a chain of manufacturers, importers and wholesalers, and their supply sources are likely to have an important influence on the price and quality of malaria treatment that consumers can access.  However, there is limited rigorous evidence on the structure and operation of the distribution chain for antimalarial drugs that serves the retail sector. The ACTwatch Supply Chain Study, one of the ACTwatch project components, aims to address this gap by conducting quantitative and qualitative studies on distribution chains for antimalarials in the ACTwatch countries (Cambodia, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia).   This report presents the results from qualitative interviews with antimalarial drug wholesalers, retailers and other key stakeholders conducted in Cambodia between April and November 2009. A summary of the key findings is given below.  To provide a complete description of the supply chain for antimalarial drugs, this report should be read in conjunction with the report on the results of the structured supply chain survey also conducted as part of this study [1], available at www.actwatch.info. • As the bulk of antimalarial treatment is manufactured outside of the country, pharmaceutical importers, including PSI/Cambodia, constitute a critical component of Cambodia’s private sector distribution chain for antimalarials by ensuring a regular national supply of antimalarials and also by facilitating their distribution throughout the country. Non‐importing wholesalers also play a role in distributing antimalarials, particularly to more remote areas and to retail outlet types not targeted by importers, including more informal types such as drug shops, grocery stores, etc.   • The degree of competition varied by level in the distribution chain: at import level, competition was restrained by sole distributor and like agreements between foreign manufacturers and domestic importers, and also by a number of barriers to entry, including the costs of importing, the limited size of the overall market and lack of access to capital. Competition was less restrained at lower levels of the chain where the key barrier in theory to market entry was the difficulty of securing a license to operate, though many believed it was a barrier easily circumvented. • Commodities for malaria treatment, including ACTs and RDTs, were perceived to be generally available in the private sector distribution chain; however, availability of ACTs and RDTs at lower levels of the chain was poorer. At both wholesale and retail levels, stocking decisions were driven by perceived drug quality, which was in turn affected by factors such as media promotion and social marketing targeting wholesalers, retailers and consumers, as in the case of Malarine (the ACT brand socially marketed by PSI/Cambodia). However, supplier stock outs of Malarine combined with its perceived side effects led some providers to continue stocking alternatives treatments, including artemisinin monotherapies, even though they were aware that sales of such products were prohibited.   • Most wholesalers and retailers purchased new stock from either one or two suppliers. When choosing a supplier, factors considered were supplier selling prices, availability of delivery services, and perceived knowledge/expertise of the supplier in the treatment of malaria. Offering credit facilities was also cited as a strategy to attract custom, but access to supplier credit was perceived to be restricted to customers known to suppliers. 2 • Retailers and wholesalers had similar price setting behaviours. Providers reported setting their price on the basis of antimalarial purchase price and their price mark‐ups on the basis of transport costs. At the top of the chain, importers considered a broader range of costs when setting prices, including overhead and promotion costs among others. In addition, most providers admitted seeking profits, although many argued that their pricing decision was constrained by the price set by other shops. Second and third‐ degree price discrimination strategies were commonly reported by both retailers and wholesalers who varied prices on the basis of volume purchased and customer characteristics. • Retailers employed a wide range of tactics to gain competitive advantage over other businesses, attract consumers and generate demand. A retailer’s reputation for delivering high quality treatment, reflected in their length of operation in a market, positive consumer experiences, and through the provision of ‘cocktail’ therapies, was viewed as crucial to achieving this; however, providing added value services, such as of blood diagnostic testing, was not. Nevertheless, RDTs were available from many outlets and were perceived to be easy to use, although less precise than microscopy for confirming malaria infection

Poverty and trade liberalization: empirical evidence from 21 African countries

The study investigated the possible nexus between trade liberalization and poverty in 21 African countries covering the period 2005–2014. The study deployed the following econometric tests: descriptive statistics; the correlation matrix and variance inflator; the panel unit root test; the pooled OLS technique; and the panel co-integration test (Johansen co-integration test). In order to confirm the robustness and validity of the regression model result, Ramsey RESET, cross dependence, autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity tests were conducted. The findings reveal that foreign direct investment and inflation rate had a positive relationship with the human development index while exchange rates and trade openness were negatively related to poverty level at the 5 percent level. The study recommended urgent policy measures aimed at revamping the poverty alleviation programmes. The study recommended that in a bid to diversify export market, developing countries should target other developing countries in the spirit of South–South cooperation. Such countries should also consider the joining or strengthening of regional economic integration. Incentives for production and human capacity building in the export-oriented sector should be emplaced. Social and economic policies are required to protect any country against the adverse effects of lowered trade barriers

Entrepreneurship education as human capital: implications for youth self-employment and conflict mitigation in sub-Saharan Africa

Previous research has focused on stable developed economies to predict that human capital and entrepreneurship education (EE) provision at the higher education (HE) level will positively affect entrepreneurial success. This article draws on the outcome of recent EE projects in two HE institutions in a conflict-torn northern Nigeria as a proxy to advocate the introduction of entrepreneurship as a compulsory component into the secondary school curriculum in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using semi-structured interview data, it is found that the provision of EE at secondary education level could help to facilitate human capital development and assist efforts to curb youth unemployment. Specifically, the study suggests that EE comprises both generic and specific human capital that increases an individual’s ability to identify and exploit opportunities, particularly for young people, and in doing so helps to reduce their vulnerability to poverty and involvement in armed conflict. Suggestions for future research and policy considerations are provided

Evaluation of Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Peanut Protein Hydrolysate

Peanut protein and its hydrolysate were compared with a view to their use as food additives. The effects of pH, temperature and protein concentration on some of their key physicochemical properties were investigated. Compared with peanut protein, peanut peptides exhibited a significantly higher solubility and significantly lower turbidity at pH values 2–12 and temperature between 30 and 80°C. Peanut peptide showed better emulsifying capacity, foam capacity and foam stability, but had lower water holding and fat adsorption capacities over a wide range of protein concentrations (2–5 g/100 ml) than peanut protein isolate. In addition, peanut peptide exhibited in vitro antioxidant properties measured in terms of reducing power, scavenging of hydroxyl radical, and scavenging of DPPH radical. These results suggest that peanut peptide appeared to have better functional and antioxidant properties and hence has a good potential as a food additive

Monitoring fever treatment behaviour and equitable access to effective medicines in the context of initiatives to improve ACT access: baseline results and implications for programming in six African countries

BACKGROUND: Access to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) remains limited in high malaria-burden countries, and there are concerns that the poorest people are particularly disadvantaged. This paper presents new evidence on household treatment-seeking behaviour in six African countries. These data provide a baseline for monitoring interventions to increase ACT coverage, such as the Affordable Medicines Facility for malaria (AMFm). METHODS: Nationally representative household surveys were conducted in Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia between 2008 and 2010. Caregivers responded to questions about management of recent fevers in children under five. Treatment indicators were tabulated across countries, and differences in case management provided by the public versus private sector were examined using chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to test for association between socioeconomic status and 1) malaria blood testing, and 2) ACT treatment. RESULTS: Fever treatment with an ACT is low in Benin (10%), the DRC (5%), Madagascar (3%) and Nigeria (5%), but higher in Uganda (21%) and Zambia (21%). The wealthiest children are significantly more likely to receive ACT compared to the poorest children in Benin (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.12-6.42); the DRC (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.12-4.24); Madagascar (OR = 5.37, 95% CI = 1.58-18.24); and Nigeria (OR = 6.59, 95% CI = 2.73-15.89). Most caregivers seek treatment outside of the home, and private sector outlets are commonly the sole external source of treatment (except in Zambia). However, children treated in the public sector are significantly more likely to receive ACT treatment than those treated in the private sector (except in Madagascar). Nonetheless, levels of testing and ACT treatment in the public sector are low. Few caregivers name the national first-line drug as most effective for treating malaria in Madagascar (2%), the DRC (2%), Nigeria (4%) and Benin (10%). Awareness is higher in Zambia (49%) and Uganda (33%). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of effective fever treatment are low and inequitable in many contexts. The private sector is frequently accessed however case management practices are relatively poor in comparison with the public sector. Supporting interventions to inform caregiver demand for ACT and to improve provider behaviour in both the public and private sectors are needed to achieve maximum gains in the context of improved access to effective treatment

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease among people living with HIV/AIDS in Burundi: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since little is known about chronic kidney disease (CKD) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence and nature of CKD were assessed in Burundi through a multicenter cross-sectional study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients underwent assessments at baseline and 3 months later. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was estimated using abbreviated 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Diseases (MDRD) and Cockroft-Gault estimation methods. Patients were classified at month 3 into various CKD stages using the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) definition, which combines GFR and urinary abnormalities. Risk factors for presence of proteinuria (PRO) and aseptic leukocyturia (LEU) were further analyzed using multiple logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median age of the patients in the study (N = 300) was 40 years, 70.3% were female and 71.7% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Using the MDRD method, CKD prevalence in patients was 45.7%, 30.2% of whom being classified as stage 1 according to the NKF classification, 13.5% as stage 2 and 2% as stage 3. No patient was classified as stage 4 or 5. Among CKD patients with urinary abnormality, PRO accounted for 6.1% and LEU for 18.4%. Significant associations were found between LEU and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, previous history of tuberculosis, low body mass index and female gender and between PRO and high viral load.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study, using a very sensitive definition for CKD evaluation, suggests a potentially high prevalence of CKD among PLWHA in Burundi. Patients should be regularly monitored and preventative measures implemented, such as monitoring NSAID use and adjustment of drug dosages according to body weight. Urine dipsticks could be used as a screening tool to detect patients at risk of renal impairment.</p

Things fall into place

This paper is imperative. A response to an invitation/provocation to think about "things fall apart": the question mark inviting each respondent tio use the iconic title by the iconic author to launch our own musings. The authors choose to present a collage of a number of conversations and reflections that span both years and fleeting moments, that have taken place in person, over the phone, via facebook. Parts of these were presented at the 2013 Africa Day panel discussion,parts were left out and now have the chance to reach beyond ourselves.