Impacts of Climate Change on the Plant Water Interactions

Climate change has an impact on ecosystem structure and function globally by altering the relationships between plants and soil organisms. Despite the fact that water is the most plentiful molecule on Earth's surface, water scarcity is the element that most severely limits global terrestrial plant production. Little is known about the climatic factors that drive phenological responses to climate change, and less attention has been paid to the fact that phenology is also responsive to other climatic. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of climate change on plant water interactions. This study was guided by the specific objectives, which included examining the relationship between climate change and plant function; finding out the impacts of climate change on plant water interactions; and assessing how plants handle water scarcity. It was found that there was a linkage between climate change and plant function. The evaporation of water molecules from the outer surfaces of the mesophyll cells initiates the upward transpiration pull in the leaves, and respiring starches and sugars are created during photosynthetic processes using sunlight energy. Climate change enhanced the most enormous movement of species that has occurred without direct human intervention. It was also found that precipitation was a key driver of phenological changes in desert ecosystems. It was also found that drought was one of the most significant biotic challenges faced by plants, with considerable genetic variation in water deficit responses. There is a need for research on climate change to ease biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Climate change, Plant water interactions, Plant, Water DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/87-01 Publication date:September 30th 202

Prevalence and Predictors of elder abuse in Mafikeng Local Municipality in South Africa

Elder abuse is widespread in South Africa and is a serious public health problem.  This paper estimated the prevalence and identified the forms and predictors of elder abuse.  The paper used cross-sectional data on 506 elderly people from Mafikeng Local Municipality in South Africa, and used the chi-square statistic and the logistic regression model to analyse the data.  Overall 64.3% of men and 60.3% of women experienced elder abuse.  Physical abuse was more common among men while emotional, financial and sexual abuses were more common among women.  Having no working children, being currently single, living in elderly couple family, living in rural areas, having a poor self-perception of health and having a disability were significantly associated with elder abuse.  We conclude that the prevalence of elder abuse is high and common, which calls for strategies to prevent the vice

Rates and predictors of school pregnancy among black women in the North West province, South Africa

Learner pregnancy is one of the challenges impeding the unlocking of the potentials of women in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper estimated the prevalence of learner pregnancy and identified its predictors in the North West province of South Africa. The paper used cross-sectional data on 582 black women and the nested logistic regression model to analyse the data. The study found that 38% of the women become pregnant at school. Learner pregnancy was significantly higher for women who had sexual debut at <18 years; were in grades 8 and 9 or higher at age 14; attained <grade 8; had previously dropout of school; had mothers who attained <grade 8; and lived in rural neighbourhoods. We conclude that the prevalence of learner pregnancy is high in the North West province of South Africa, and an integrated approach involving individual, school, family and neighbourhood level strategies are needed to address the problem.

Male involvement in utilization of emergency obstetric care and averting of deaths for maternal near misses in Rakai district in Central Uganda

Although studies have assessed male involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness, little is known about their involvement after the onset of maternal near miss complications. This information is important in developing appropriate strategies for male involvement in accessing emergency obstetric care (EmOC) in order to reduce Uganda’s high maternal mortality ratio. The study examined the roles played by men after the onset of maternal near miss complications in Uganda. A qualitative study using narratives of 40 purposively selected maternal near misses and in-depth interviews of 10 randomly selected men was conducted. Results showed that men were involved in postpartum uptake of long term contraceptive methods, management of obstetric complications, decision making, social support, transport arrangements and provision of financial support to access EmOC. Therefore, men should be sensitized on the recommended haemorrhage medication during home births, the need for supervised deliveries and prompt referral of their wives to health facilities

Predictors of school reintegration of black women who previously dropped out of school in the North West province of South Africa

Despite policies being in place, school re-entry of the girl child after school dropout continues to be low in sub-Saharan Africa.  This paper estimated the school re-entry of girls who dropped out of school and identified the predictors affecting school re-entry. The paper used cross-sectional data on 306 black women who dropped out of school in the North West Province of South Africa and the logistic regression model to analyse the data.  The result shows that only 28.1% of the women returned to school.  School pregnancy, dropping out of school at 17-19 and 20 years of age, perceiving that neighbourhood peers were not in school and residing in rural neighbourhoods, significantly reduced school re-entry.  We conclude that school re-entry after school dropped out is low in the North West province, which calls for programmes to address factors impeding school re-entry of the girl child

Rates and Predictors of Consistent Condom-use by People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Treatment in Uganda

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been recognized as one of the methods for reducing the risk of HIV transmission, and access to this is being rapidly expanded. However, in a generalized HIV epidemic, ART could increase unprotected sex by people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). This paper assessed the rates and predictors of consistent condom-use by sexually-active PHAs after initiating ART. The study used crosssectional data on sexual behaviour of 269 sexually-active ART-experienced individuals (95 males and 174 females) aged 18 years and above. The results revealed that 65% (70% of men and 61% of women) used condom consistently after initiating ART. Consistent use of condom was more likely if PHAs had secondary- or tertiary-level education and had more than one sex partner in the 12 months preceding the study. However, PHAs were less likely to have used condom consistently if they worked in the informal and formal sectors, belonged to the medium- and high-income groups, and were married. PHAs, who were on ART for less than 1 year and 1-2 year(s), had a good self-perception of health, had a sexual partner who was HIV-negative or a partner with unknown HIV status, and desired to bear children, were also less likely to have used condom consistently. The paper concluded that, although the majority of PHAs consistently used condom, there was potential for unprotected sex by PHAs on ART

Prevalence of maternal near miss and community‐based risk factors in Central Uganda

ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of maternal near‐miss (MNM) and its associated risk factors in a community setting in Central Uganda.MethodsA cross‐sectional research design employing multi‐stage sampling collected data from women aged 15–49 years in Rakai, Uganda, who had been pregnant in the 3 years preceding the survey, conducted between August 10 and December 31, 2013. Additionally, in‐depth interviews were conducted. WHO‐based disease and management criteria were used to identify MNM. Binary logistic regression was used to predict MNM risk factors. Content analysis was performed for qualitative data.ResultsSurvey data were collected from 1557 women and 40 in‐depth interviews were conducted. The MNM prevalence was 287.7 per 1000 pregnancies; the majority of MNMs resulted from hemorrhage. Unwanted pregnancies, a history of MNM, primipara, pregnancy danger signs, Banyakore ethnicity, and a partner who had completed primary education only were associated with increased odds of MNM (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsMNM morbidity is a significant burden in Central Uganda. The present study demonstrated higher MNM rates compared with studies employing organ‐failure MNM‐diagnostic criteria. These findings illustrate the need to look beyond mortality statistics when assessing maternal health outcomes. Concerted efforts to increase supervised deliveries, access to emergency obstetric care, and access to contraceptives are warranted.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135484/1/ijgo214.pd

Patterns of substance use and its predictors among North-West University students Mafikeng campus

The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of substance use among university students in South Africa. A cross-sectional study of randomly selected 416 students was conducted. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The result of the study indicated that current alcohol use was reported by 67.5%, Cigarette, 21.4%, cannabis, 17.3% and glue 2.9%. Alcohol consumption was associated with sex, age, religious affiliation, home language, family influence, and substance experimentation. Sex and substance experimentation were predictors of cigarette smoking. Cannabis use was associated with respondent’s sociocultural group and family influence. There is need to strengthen the family structure of homes as present substance use is rooted in family influences. Educational programmes that emphasise the dangers of experimenting with substance to young people may have great potential in minimizing substance use.Keywords: pattern, psychoactive, substance use, peer pressure, experimentin

Understanding socio-economic determinants of childhood mortality: a retrospective analysis in Uganda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Teso sub-region of Eastern Uganda had superior indices of childhood survival during the period 1959 to 1969 compared to the national average. We analysed the reasons that could explain this situation with a view of suggesting strategies for reducing childhood mortality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared the childhood mortalities and their average annual reduction rate (AARR) of Teso sub-region with those of Uganda for the period 1959 to 1969. We also compared indicators of social economic well being (such as livestock per capita and per capita intake of protein/energy). In addition data was compared on other important determinants of child survival such as level of education and rate of urbanisation.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In 1969 the infant mortality rate (IMR) for Teso was 94 per 1000 live births compared to the 120 for Uganda. Between 1959 and 1969 the AARR for IMR for Teso was 4.57% compared to 3% for Uganda. It was interesting that the AARR for Teso was higher than that that of 4.4.% required to achieve millennium development goal number four (MDG4). The rate of urbanisation and the level of education were higher in Uganda compared to Teso during the same period. Teso had a per capita ownership of cattle of 1.12 compared to Uganda's 0.44. Teso sub region had about 3 times the amount of protein and about 2 times the amount of calories compared to Uganda.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We surmise that higher ownership of cattle and growing of high protein and energy foods might have been responsible for better childhood survival in Teso compared to Uganda.</p