The biophysical dynamics of the Lower Shire River Floodplain fisheries in Malawi

Fishes of African floodplains typically comprise populations having short life cycles, relatively few age groups, more generalised feeding behaviour, and which experience spawning success that is strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as hydrological regime of the river, climatic seasonality and habitat characteristics. In addition, African river-floodplain ecosystems do not have appropriate predictive models for estimating yield in these ecosystems. While most predictive models developed to date for floodplain fisheries have taken into account morpho-edaphic factors, they have generally excluded climatic factors as a mega-determinant of the variability of floodplain fisheries. The principle aim of this thesis has been to develop a predictive management model that incorporates data on essential biological aspects of the target species, characteristics of the habitat as well as overall climatic factors, and thus allow for adaptive management of the fisheries in a continuously fluctuating floodplain environment. Lower Shire Floodplain (34 ⁰ 45’ – 35 ⁰ E and 16 ⁰ 00’-17 ⁰ 15’ S) in Malawi, one of the major rivers-floodplains in the Zambezi Basin, was used to test this type of model. The major hypothesis tested in this study was that “the dynamics of the fishery of Lower Shire Floodplain are driven by and adapted to the seasonal, but predictable, hydro-climatic regime of the floodplain”. The specific objectives were: to describe the floodplain’s climate and hydrological pattern; to develop a quantitative characterisation of the major habitats of the Lower Shire Floodplain; to assess the fishery in terms of size, gear utilisation, gear selectivity and yield; to assess the biological parameters of the target species, necessary for the management of the fishery; to analyse how water fluctuation in the floodplain affects the recruitment and life history of the two target species; and to develop of a predictive hydro-climatic model to benefit the management of the fisheries. The climate of the floodplain was characterised by low (765 ± 198 mm) and fairly variable (Cv = 27%) rainfall, which largely occurred between December and January. The area was generally humid (mean RH 68%), with mild to hot (25- 33ºC) and variable monthly mean diurnal (12ºC) temperature. Four quarterly hydro-climatic seasons were identified and comprised: Quarter 1 (Jul-Sep) characterised by hot, dry weather with a low flood regime; Quarter 2 (Oct-Dec) hot, windy, wet weather with low-but-rising flood regime; Quarter 3 (Jan-Mar) hot humid, wet weather with the flood regime at peak; and Quarter 4 (Apr-Jun) humid and cool weather with receding flood regime. The annual hydrograph of the floodplain was represented by four categories of flood regime as: low (Jul-Sept), low-but-rising (Oct-Dec), peak (Jan- Mar), and falling (Apr-Jun). The floodplain experienced a water deficit of 95.1 mm.year⁻¹, and it was hypothesised that ground water recharge maintained water in the floodplain the rest of the year. Three major habitats were identified in the floodplain. The river-floodplain, characterised by deep fast-flowing water, sandy substrate and little emergent vegetation; the permanently connected lagoons, were shallow (≤ 2 m) with sandymud bottom and slow flowing water; and the seasonally connected lagoons had slowflowing stagnant water, with comparatively more emergent and floating vegetation. Physicochemical characteristics of the habitats varied significantly with hydroclimatic seasons (one-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05), indicating the influence of flood regime, which joined the habitats in a non-equilibrial spatial distribution. Consequently, during receding and low flood regimes river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons exhibited similar characteristics while all three habitats had similar characteristics during the rising and peak flood regimes. It was, therefore, concluded that in floodplains, habitats shift horizontally and vertically according to the water level. Gill nets, cast nets, long line, and fish traps accounted for 99% of the total count of gears, and hence considered the major fishing sectors. Two principal species in the floodplain were the catfish Clarias gariepinus and the cichlid Oreochromis mossambicus. Length-at-maximum-selectivity (ø) and length-at-50%-sexual-maturity (Lm₅₀) for each of the two species showed that although they were selected into the four fishing sectors at lengths above maturity, maximum selectivity into the long line occurred at a length before maturity for O. mossambicus. In addition, the width of the gamma selectivity function (σ) indicated that a considerable proportion of juveniles of the two species were also selected. Therefore, it was decided that management for the floodplain be centred on controlling over-fishing and preserving the spawner stock, by banning seine and mosquito nets, and closing river-floodplain and permanently connected lagoons to fishing during the low flood regime. There were significant seasonal variations in CPUE, lowest in the low flood, and highest during the peak flood regime. Sectioned otoliths were used to determine the age and growth of the two principal species in the floodplain. Marginal zone analysis revealed that annulus formation in all the species occurred during the period of low air and water temperatures, high evaporation and receding water levels, hence a high rate of desiccation and negative water budget. For O. mossambicus, maximum age reached was 6 years while in C. gariepinus it was 9 years. The 3-parameter von Bertalanffy growth model adequately described growth as lt = 177.6(1-e⁻·⁴⁴⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁴³⁾) mm TL for O. mossambicus and lt = 502.9(1-e⁻°·³¹⁽t ⁺ ¹·⁹²⁾) mm TL for C. gariepinus. Female O. mossambicus reached 50%-sexual-maturity at 109 mm SL, while males matured at 105 mm, and both male and female C. gariepinus reached Lm₅₀ at 249 mm SL. The breeding seasons of both O. mossambicus and Clarias gariepinus were between September and March, with modal peaks in January and November, respectively. The annual total mortality rates (Z) were 0.62 ± 0.18 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.93 ± 0.47 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The mean empirical estimates of natural mortality (M) were 0.46 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.50 year⁻¹ for C. gariepinus, and fishing mortality (F) was calculated as 0.16 yr⁻¹ for O. mossambicus and 0.43 yr⁻¹ for C. gariepinus. The overall exploitation level (Z/K) was 1.41 for O. mossambicus and 3.01 for C. gariepinus. Given that the Z/K ratio was >1, it was asserted that both O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus were mortality-dominated and fairly heavily exploited. However, potential for sustainable exploitation existed since both species showed signs of resilience due short longevity and high rate of natural mortality. Given the limitation of simple exponential models of fish mortality and growth under the situation of seasonal fluctuation of water levels, a simple predictive hydroclimatic- fisheries model was developed. The model predicted the life-history and production parameters fairly accurately (0.53 ≤ r² ≥ 0.98, p ≤ 0.05), and showed that environmental and biological events in the floodplain significantly (0.43 ≤ r² ≥ 0.91, p ≤ 0.05) followed the periodic function of time (day-of-the-year), hence, strongly seasonal. In addition, the flood-pulse preceded all the major biological events, with predicted phase lags established at 55.6º for peak flood, 157.2º, 260.1º, 334.6º and 341.4º for condition factor for O. mossambicus, recruitment, spawning period for O. mossambicus and C. gariepinus, respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that water obstruction on the Shire River must ensure sufficient water flow during the peak flood and spawning period to allow flooding and inundation of the floodplain in order to create habitat favourable for spawning and feeding as well as improve recruitment

The Demand for Fish Products in Malawi: An Almost Ideal Demand System Estimation

The study analyzed the demand for fish products and the factors that affect the consumption of various fish products in Malawi. Considering four fish products, namely dried fish, smoked fish, fresh fish and tinned fish, the study employed a multivariate probit model and an Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model to analyze factors affecting consumption and demand for fish products respectively. Results indicate that consumption of various fish products in Malawi is affected by age, education, gender, marital status, area of residence (Urban versus rural), distance to nearest market, household annual expenditure and occupation of the household head. With regard to demand for fish products, the study found that the demand for dried fish, smoked fish, fresh fish and tinned fish is inelastic and the various fish products were found to be substitutes. It was also noticed that households would increase their expenditure on fish products if their income increases. The results are an important step in designing policies that will increase fish production and ultimately increase fish consumption. The results also show the importance of value chain development by, among others, building the capacity of the fish processors in order to help them better respond to the market and consumer needs. Keywords: Multivariate probit, Fish, Consumption, AIDS model, Deman

Scoping review of acute stroke care management and rehabilitation in low and middle-income countries

Stroke is a major public health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. Care of the condition however, remain inconsistent in developing countries. The purpose of this scoping review was to document evidence of stroke care and service delivery in low and middle-income countries to better inform development of a context-fit stroke model of care

Contextual model for in-patient stroke care and rehabilitation in Malawi

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDStroke is a known health challenge for the public as it is both incapacitating and fatal to many people world over. Malawi, one of the developing countries has stroke as the fourth leading cause of death, and is fast becoming even more significant due, primarily, to lifestyle changes and nature of healthcare practices. For these reasons, and particularly, the negative impact on quality of life, the management of people with stroke is a critical area of interest. While research activity throughout the world has advanced acute stroke-care interventions, patients in Low to Middle Income Countries (LMICs) benefit less from evidence-based stroke care practices due to less conventional applicability to the setting and continuing medical care and rehabilitation challenges. This doctoral project applied the results of a Diagnostic and Solution Phases to the development of a contextual model for in-patient stroke care and rehabilitation (MoC) in Malawi

Barriers to reintegration experienced by stroke clients post discharge from a rehabilitation center in Malawi

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio)Stroke is a worldwide medical emergency, and the trend in its incidence is rising. Stroke leads to activity limitation and participation restriction among stroke clients. However rehabilitation of stroke disability has been found as lacking emphasis on reintegration issues, resulting into stroke clients facing different barriers to reintegration in the community after discharge. There is limited information about experiences of stroke clients in the communities after discharge from rehabilitation centers in Malawi. The current study was conducted to explore the barriers to reintegration experienced by the clients post discharge from a rehabilitation center in Malawi. A qualitative research was adopted to explore the perceived barriers to reintegration at Malawi Against Physical Disabilities (MAP) Kachere rehabilitation centre in Blantyre. In-depth interviews were utilized to capture data from perspectives of eight stroke clients, eight caregivers and seven service providers. The data was analyzed by means of content analysis. The findings of this study show key barriers that challenge community reintegration at two levels: individual and environmental. At individual level the barriers include impairments mainly depression and anxiety and physical weakness; and personal characteristics such as denial, gender and comorbidity. At the environmental level stroke clients experience attitudinal barriers by people in different settings of the community, poor terrain, long distance to places of interest, inaccessible structures and poverty. From the findings, therefore, stroke client experience wide range of barriers in both the activity and participation domains of community reintegration.Based on the key findings, recommendations have been made along three broad lines. To decrease barriers to reintegration, service providers could use the findings to consider equally addressing the potential negative contextual factors to reintegration when managing stroke clients, a shift from purely medical model approach to management of stroke. To increase rehabilitation services the government of Malawi could address the problem of limited funding to rehabilitation organizations and put measures to increase number of rehabilitation personnel at community, district and national levels. Further research in the area of community reintegration and development of a model of stroke care and rehabilitation in the country has also been recommended with view to improving stroke care and enhanced community reintegration post stroke in the country

Women’s participation in fish value chains and value chain governance in Malawi: A case of Msaka (Lake Malawi) and Kachulu (Lake Chilwa)

This paper helps to fill an important gap that exists in gender responsive fish value chains by analysing the factors that influence women’s participation in fish value chains and value chain governance in Malawi. The study was based on the premise that there is limited information on how fish trade contributes to the livelihoods of specific groups within communities dependent on fisheries. In trying to assess the situation on the ground a value chain analysis framework was adopted and focus group interviews, key informant interviews and gender transformative approaches were used to analyse (a) value chain participation by men and women; (b) institutional arrangements in the value chain; and (c) perceptions and experiences of men and women in the value chain processes. In addition, relevant documents were reviewed to determine to which extent gender is considered in fish value chains and their governance. The study findings show that women are relatively integrated in all the nodes and activities of the value chain, even though their participation in leadership positions is limited because men dominate leadership and decision-making positions. From a governance point of view, the patterns of interactions identified are characterised by special proximity and family ties. The study also identified an intermediary node of auxiliary actors who play a critical role of brokering trade at the production and processing levels. It found that this role is not adequately recognised by external support and government as there are no support services targeted for such actors. The study contributed to a deeper understanding of women-specific issues in the fisheries sector in Malawi, hence providing further opportunities for gaining support for women’s empowerment in the fisheries sector

Women’s engagement in and outcomes from small-scale fisheries value chains in Malawi: Effects of social relations

Women play an important role within small-scale fishing communities in sub-Saharan Africa through engaging in fish value chain activities and contributing to household food security and income. There is, however, little empirical information about the nature of women’s engagement in small-scale fishery value chains and the outcomes of that engagement especially in Malawi, our study country. This study addresses the gap by examining (1) the ways in which women participate in fish value chains; (2) the outcomes of their participation at individual, household, and community level; and (3) how social relations influence the participation and the outcomes obtained. The study adopted a case study approach and draws upon qualitative data from the two small-scale fisheries in Msaka on Lake Malawi and Kachulu on Lake Chilwa. The research applies a social relations approach in the line of Kabeer, in examining women’s participation and outcomes of participation within the small-scale fisheries. Our study reveals that women provide significant social and economic benefits to their families and the broader community as they participate as processors and traders with a few participating at the production node as gear owners. The study also finds that women encounter challenges that may have potential to negatively affect their engagement in the small-scale value chains including gender-based discrimination as some women are restricted by their husbands to engage in the intermediary role especially at Kachulu; the few women who join the crew fishing face social exclusions, poor working conditions, care burden that limits women’s time to actively participate in value chain activities. The study highlights the social norms associated with hierarchical husband-wife relationships have negative effects on women’s participation and the outcomes derived in the value chain activities. This research adds to the body of work that examines issues of social relations and their impacts on the well-being and roles of women in small-scale fisheries

Stroke patients’ outcomes and satisfaction with care at discharge from four referral hospitals in Malawi: A cross-sectional descriptive study in limited resource

BACKGROUND Stroke is the fourth leading cause of mortality and disability in Malawi. There is paucity of studies reporting on acute stroke functional outcomes, quality of life and satisfaction with care among patients with stroke. This study aimed to determine stroke outcomes and satisfaction with care in the country’s central hospitals. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study, recruiting 114 adult patients with stroke and their caregivers, was done. FIM, EQ-5D-5L, SASC and C-SASC were used to collect data. Univariate associations were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis Test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test for continuous variables. RESULTS With 79% of the original study sample taking part, there was improvement in patients’ functional status at discharge compared to on admission with notable improvement in self-care (p<0.001), sphincter control (p<0.001), locomotion (p<0.001), and social cognition (p<0.001), but no significant improvement in transfers (p=1.000), and communication (p=0.865). Satisfaction with care was high, with no significant differences between males and females (p=0.415), age in years (p=0.397), and distance to the clinic (p=0.615). Satisfaction ratings were also high from caregivers’ responses and their scores were not associated with age (p=0.663) or distance to the hospital (p=0.872). Quality of life was poor, most patients were either unable or had severe limitation in functional dimensions of mobility (22(28%), self-care (19(25%) and performance of usual activities (25(33%). Every additional year in age was associated with average of 0.36 decrease in quality of life score coefficient, -0.36 (95% CI: -0.63; -0.10); p=0.008. CONCLUSION Patients with stroke experience improvement in functional outcomes on discharge compared to on admission. Patients and caregivers were satisfied with care provision despite having poor quality of life post stroke treatment. There is need to focus proven interventions on areas of stroke care that can impact patients’ quality of life in resource limited settings

Putting Fisheries and Aquaculture on Nepad Agenda

Capture fisheries is a primary employment for inhabitants of coastal and inland aquatic ecosystems globally. However, historically, aquaculture has been well documented as an economic activity in Southeast Asia. Coastal marine fisheries and freshwater inland waters provided employment for inhabitants of these ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Aquaculture was started in Africa over four decades ago. Yet, the activities have not substantially contributed to domestic fish production, hence, the need for the hosting of the NEPAD Fish for All Summit by President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in Abuja, August 2005. The Summit ended with a unanimously adopted Abuja Declaration. This is a positive strategy for putting fisheries and aquaculture on NEPAD's Future Actions in the process of developing Agriculture in all 53 SSA countries. This paper examined the issues that will enhance the objectives of putting fisheries and aquaculture on the future agenda of NEPAD. Nigeria's fisheries and aquaculture was used as an example for the implementation of the Abuja Declaration as a follow-up action. The Private and Public Sector contributions to a successful action plan are extensively discussed. Recommendations hinge on the issues inhibiting farming Nigeria’s waters for economic growth as a nation and as a unique market for fisheries and aquaculture in West and Central Africa

Barriers affecting COVID‑19 vaccination in Phalombe District, Malawi: A qualitative study

Background. In Malawi, only 1 072 229 people out of a national target population of 13 546 324 had received at least one dose of the AstraZeneca COVID‑19 vaccine by 26 December 2021, and only 672 819 people were classified as fully vaccinated. Phalombe District in Malawi had particularly low COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, with only 4% (n=8 538) of 225 219 people being fully vaccinated by 26 December. Objectives. To explore reasons for vaccine hesitancy and refusal among people living in Phalombe District. Methods. This cross-sectional qualitative study employed six focus group discussions (FGDs) and 19 in-depth interviews (IDIs) to collect data. We purposefully selected two traditional authorities (TAs), Nazombe and Nkhumba, as study areas, and conducted FGDs and IDIs in 6 randomly selected villages in these two TAs. Participants were religious leaders, traditional leaders, youths, traditional healers and ordinary community members. We explored reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, how contextual cultural beliefs influenced people’s decision to receive the COVID‑19 vaccine, and which sources of information were trusted in the community. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results. We conducted 19 IDIs and six FGDs. Themes that emerged from the data were reasons for vaccine refusal and hesitancy, contextual cultural beliefs affecting the decision whether to be vaccinated, ways to improve COVID‑19 vaccine uptake, and means of communicating information about COVID‑19 vaccines. Participants mentioned that myths contributing to vaccine refusal and hesitancy circulated in the community through social media. With regard to contextual cultural beliefs, most participants believed that COVID‑19 was a disease of rich people, while others believed that it signalled the end of the world and that it could not be cured. Conclusion. Health systems should recognise and acknowledge the reasons leading to vaccine hesitancy and refusal and address these appropriately to improve vaccine uptake. Effective community sensitisation and engagement should be enhanced to clarify myths and address misinformation about the COVID‑19 vaccine