The diversity of smallholder farmers and their adoption of the sustainable intensification practices in Malawi

Low agricultural productivity and the associated poverty caused by the rapid degradation of soil fertility have negatively affected agricultural based livelihoods in Malawi. As a result, sustainable improved practices (SIPs) such as improved maize and legume seeds and conservation agriculture packages, among others, have been developed and promoted as suitable options to reverse the issue of low food production. Although there have been strong-minded efforts by scientists and agriculture extension staff to improve the adoption of these technologies, questions remain regarding their uptake among smallholder farmers. Furthermore, even in places where the technologies have been in practice, this process has been very slow, with big variations of adoption across all smallholder farmers. This study draws its empirical data from two sources: Firstly, from collaborative work between the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and the Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS)in Malawi. Secondly from the data collected by Western Sydney University in collaboration with assistance of Bunda College of Agriculture under the University of Malawi (now LUARNAR). Data collection was mainly through farmer household surveys and farmer focus group discussions conducted between 2011 and 2013. The research took place in 6 target districts on a total of 1293 (891 and 402) farmers in the north, central and southern Malawi. Therefore, this study sought to address three main objectives by administering and evaluating a structured questionnaire specifically to capture farm household data on: a) the diversity that exist among the smallholder farmers which influences their use of sustainable intensification practices, b) opportunities and constraints for the intensifications of improved maize-legume varieties among smallholder farmers for dietary intensification and ecological intensification, c) the stepwise adoption and factors that influence farmers decision to adopt the individual components of the adapted conservation agriculture package in Malawi. Three standalone empirical chapters are merged to form the core of this thesis which has been integrated and synthesised in the final chapter. Overall, this thesis contributes both to literature and methodology. Overall, this thesis contributes both to literature and methodology. Results from principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) technics consistently indicated that there is diversity among the smallholder farmers revealing four different farmer classes which influenced their adoption of the improved soil fertility technologies. These farm types were: a) type 1 farms (35.13%) were classed as ‗small subsistence-oriented family farms‘ practiced crop residue retention and crop rotation, b) type 2 (31.43%) were ‗small semi-subsistence family farms‘, type 3 (25.36%) were ‗survivalist‘ (small, independent, semi-specialized family farms whose main objective was family sustenance) and, c) type 4 (7.52%) were ‗production-oriented, small, dependent, semi-specialized family farms‘. Farm typologies indicated that farm types 1 and 2 practiced crop residue retention and crop rotation by intercropping of maize–legumes improved varieties, potentially making them the possible adopters of improved farm technologies among the rest of the farm types. Minimum tillage adoptions remained sparse. Type 3 farms, in addition to being family sustenance-oriented, specialised in a cash crop such as tobacco, cotton, legume which made them party commercial, which had a negative impact on practicing of improved farm technology. Type 4 farms were like type 3 but different high level of specialization as tenants in tobacco growing largely dictated by their landlords, which limited their adoption of improved farm technology. Evaluation of the opportunities and constraints for maize-legume intensification among the smallholder farmers for dietary fortification and ecological intensification was done by comparing results of three random effects regression models using multilevel logistic analysis. Two different methods - first multivariate and second econometric technics were applied to correct for potential bias in estimating the factors that influenced adoption of maize-legume intensification. The results of the models indicated that farmers who had a shorter distance to walk to the farm inputs market and village market, had a higher participation in the intensification of maize-legume by 72 % of the farmers. The thesis indicated that farmers decision to adopt or not to adopt each component combination from the adapted CA package (residue retention, minimum tillage, crop rotation and use of herbicides) was considered to be sequential and incremental. The results also revealed that the households‘ decision to adopt the individual component depended on farmers experience in growing cowpeas, soil depth and the households‘ food availability throughout the year. However, crop residue retention was the highest adopted (85%), followed by minimum tillage ate 70% and use of herbicide at 69%, with crop rotation the least at 30%

Theory-driven evaluation of a Financial Services Provider's (FSP) induction programme

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-46).Many contemporary organisations implement programmes to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. Such organisations invest money and human capital into such programmes and this has given rise to the need for accountability of these programmes. The field of programme evaluation makes use of social science research methods to investigate the effectiveness of programmes and to offer guidance on how best to improve these programmes. Programme evaluation has different approaches and theory-driven evaluation is one such approach. This dissertation makes use of the theory-driven evaluation approach to develop a programme theory for a Financial Services Provider (FSP)'s induction programme. The induction programme that is implemented by the FSP is targeted at new employees and aims to improve their knowledge and skill and in the long term to retain these new employees

Adequacy of Rifampin Absorption after Jejunostomy Tube Administration

It is not always possible to administer antituberculosis pharmacotherapy orally for reasons that may be a direct consequence of tuberculosis itself. To our knowledge, no published literature is available regarding antituberculosis drug absorption via feeding tube. We present the case of a patient with tuberculosis meningitis who required medication administration via percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube. Blood samples were collected during the continuation phase of antituberculosis therapy, immediately before dose administration, and then at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after dose administration for quantification of serum rifampin concentrations. Assaying these concentrations by high‐pressure liquid chromatography demonstrated a peak serum rifampin level (C(max)) of 18 μg/ml and total rifampin exposure (area under the curve from 0–6 hours [AUC (0–6)]) of 50.1 μg/ml. These are high compared with rifampin C(max) and AUC (0–6) values reported in patients after oral rifampin administration; C(max) tends to range between 4.0–10.5 μg/ml and AUC (0–6) 7.0–52.9 μg/ml after oral administration of 600 mg at steady state. Based on our patient's results, therefore, rifampin administered by PEJ tube appears to be well absorbed, with preservation of adequate C(max) and AUC values. It is worth noting that this was in the context of drug administration in the fasted state. In the absence of any published evidence of adequate absorption via jejunal feeding tube in the nonfasted state, it would seem prudent to ensure that patients are fasted when rifampin is administered via PEJ tube, just as patients are when oral rifampin is administered. This report represents the first documented evidence, to our knowledge, of adequate rifampin absorption when administered via PEJ tube and provides important reassurance for health care providers, patients, and families facing similar clinical scenarios

ADOLESCENT FATHERS: EXPLORING THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR ROLE AS PARENT

Teenage pregnancy is one of the socio-economic challenges which South Africa faces, with 35% of young women under the age of 20 falling pregnant or having had at least one child (Jewkes, Vundule, Maforah & Jordaan, 2001:733). Research has also highlighted that African youths lack access to sexual health information and services, and this makes them more vulnerable to engaging in risky sexual activity (Ashford, 2000; Bezuidenhout, 2004; Osei-Hwedi & Namutosi, 2004). In trying to address this challenge most of the focus has been on adolescent mothers, while the needs and experiences of adolescent fathers have been neglected. Adolescent fathers, like their female counterparts, also have to work through their developmental tasks while at the same time trying to adjust to their role of being a father. It is essential that the experiences and perceptions of adolescent fathers be understood as this knowledge can be utilised in the design of appropriate support programmes or measures for these father

Philanthropy for a Multiracial Democracy: How Investing in Pluralism Can Open the Aperture for Democracy Funders

American Democracy has always been an ambitious and complicated experiment. While questions about what philanthropy can do to strengthen democracy in the United States may be particularly salient in the wake of a contentious US election season, these issues predate this moment and would have been pressing regardless of the outcome in November 2024.Still, The Bridgespan Group is increasingly hearing from donors wrestling with the questions: What kind of contributions matter? Where to go from here? We have spent months—before and after the election—talking to donors, field leaders, and advisors, reading what others have written, and reflecting on our own work to try to provide insight into those questions.Many others have written about the challenges we face—pointing out problems with the ways our media, education, economic, electoral, lobbying, judicial, and philanthropic funding systems work. In this brief, we are going to focus on some of the things that are working and what donors can learn from them

Private joint-stock companies and government relations in the Cape Colony, 1892-1902

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.In the nineteenth century, civil servants, and politicians in various parts of the world pursued their self-interests through public and private companies, leading to politically connected companies obtaining government contracts, monopolies, and special legislation. The introduction of the Cape Joint-Stock Company Act 25 of 1892, in the Cape Colony made provisions for limited liability which allowed for individuals to invest in companies without risking the loss of their assets. Despite regulations prohibiting civil servants and politicians from engaging in for-profit activities at the time, there was a complete disregard for the rules. This study investigates how the government and private joint-stock companies incorporated after the 1892 Act interacted during the first ten years until the end of the South African War in 1902. It is the first study to use both quantitative and qualitative methods to identify the government officials who invested in these private companies – by using private company records and the Cape of Good Hope civil service lists during that period. It also examines the industries they invested in and the capital they committed. The findings show that 46 civil servants and 49 politicians invested in 62 private joint-stock companies from a sample of 263 companies with 6 883 shareholders. They invested in diverse industries such as recreation, hospitality, merchants, trusts, railways, prospecting, mining, manufacturing, cold storage, and real estate among others. The study illustrates their innovative investment approaches as entrepreneurs and how they contributed to the Cape private market. Politicians invested more capital than civil servants as they were wealthier. On the other hand, their self-interests led to the provision of government contracts and monopolies in industries such as merchants and cold storage which distorted market fairness at the time. Overall, the dissertation adds to global business and economic history literature that focuses on how government officials pursued their self-interests during the late nineteenth-century period with a special focus on the Cape Colony from an African perspective and its impact through the private companies that incorporated under the Cape Joint-Stock Company Act 25 of 1892.Doctora

Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning. METHODS: Data were collected from N = 214 youths (mean age at baseline: M = 17.81 (SD = .71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in June–October 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence. RESULTS: Self-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1–86.1% “most of the time”, except for “coughing/sneezing into one’s elbow” at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4–57.8% “most of the time”). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (β = .14, p = .041) but not social distancing behaviours (β = −.02, p = .82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (β = .14, p = .047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (β = −.13, p = .073). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Slow Response to Tuberculosis Treatment in a State Control Program, Virginia, USA

TOC summary: Diabetes was associated with increased risk for slow response and low rifampin levels

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following exposure to acute psychological trauma in children aged 8-16 years in South Africa: protocol for the Sinethemba longitudinal study

Introduction: Children exposed to trauma are vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other adverse mental health outcomes. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), children are at increased risk of exposure to severe trauma and co-occurring adversities. However, relative to high-income countries, there is limited evidence of the factors that predict good versus poor psychological recovery following trauma exposure in LMIC children, and the role of caregiver support in these high-adversity communities. Methods and analysis: We will conduct a longitudinal, observational study of 250 children aged 8–16 years and their caregivers in South Africa, following child exposure to acute trauma. Dyads will be recruited from community hospitals following a potentially traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident or assault. Potential participants will be identified during their hospital visit, and if they agree, will subsequently be contacted by study researchers. Assessments will take place within 4 weeks of the traumatic event, with 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessments. Participants will provide a narrative description of the traumatic event and complete questionnaires designed to give information about social and psychological risk factors. Child PTSD symptoms will be the primary outcome, and wider trauma-related mental health (depression, anxiety, behavioural problems) will be secondary outcomes. Regression-based methods will be used to examine the association of psychosocial factors in the acute phase following trauma, including caregiver support and responding, with child PTSD and wider mental health outcomes. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approvals have been granted by Stellenbosch University and the University of Bath, with additional approvals to recruit via hospitals and healthcare clinics being granted by the University of Cape Town, the Department of Health and the City of Cape Town. Study findings will be disseminated via publication in journals, workshops for practitioners and policy-makers, and public engagement events

Adolescent condom use in Southern Africa : narrative systematic review and conceptual model of multilevel barriers and facilitators

Background: Adolescent HIV and pregnancy rates in Southern Africa are amongst the highest in the world. Despite decades of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programming targeting adolescents, recent trends suggest there is a continued need for interventions targeting condom use for this age group. Methods: This review synthesises evidence from qualitative studies that describe the determinants of condom use among adolescents in Southern Africa. We conducted systematic searches in four databases. Data were extracted, appraised for quality and analysed using a ‘best-fit’ framework synthesis approach. Results: We coded deductively findings from 23 original studies using an a priori framework and subsequently conducted thematic analysis. Synthesised findings produced six key themes relating to: 1) pervasive unequal gender norms and restrictive masculinities favouring male sexual decision-making and stigmatising condom use in committed relationships; 2) other social norms reflecting negative constructions of adolescent sexuality and non-traditional family planning; 3) economic and political barriers including poverty and a lack of policy support for condom use; 4) service-level barriers including a lack of youth-friendly SRH services and comprehensive sex education in schools; 5) interpersonal barriers and facilitators including unequal power dynamics in sexual partnerships, peer influences and encouraging condoning condom use, and inadequate communication about SRH from parents/caregivers; and 6) negative attitudes and beliefs about condoms and condom use among adolescents. A conceptual model was generated to describe determinants of condom use, illustrating individual-, interpersonal- and structural-level barriers and facilitating factors. Conclusion: SRH programming targeting barriers and facilitators of condom use at multiple levels is recommended in Southern Africa. We present a multilevel integrated model of barriers and facilitators to guide adolescent SRH decision-making, programme planning and evaluation. Given the existence of multilevel barriers and facilitators, interventions should, likewise, take a multilevel approach that incorporates locally relevant understanding of the individual-, interpersonal- and structural-level barriers and facilitators to condom use among adolescents in the region