Factors Associated with Belief in Conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among HIV-Positive African-American Patients

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine factors associated with belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among HIV-Positive African American patients. Survey data were collected from 256 African American patients living with HIV/AIDS attending two HIV clinics in Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama. The study used multiple regression analysis to examine how sociodemographic factors contribute to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS. Education and age were significantly related to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among men and women. Beliefs in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS may be a barrier to HIV prevention among African Americans. Public health officials should work toward obtaining the trust of African Americans by addressing the existing discrimination within the health care system and acknowledging the existence of HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs. Conspiracies about HIV/AIDS may be a manifestation to African Americans’ mistrust of the U.S. government and the health system. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, African Americans, Conspiracy Belief

Food Insecurity and Psychological Well-Being Among Women Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Therapy in the Alabama Black Belt

The objective of this research was to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and determine if food insecurity is associated with psychological well-being among women living with HIV/AIDS. Survey data were collected from 268 women living with HIV/AIDS attending two clinics that provide medical and social support services to HIV-positive patients who live in 23 counties in Southeast Alabama. The results indicated that, using USDA food security scale, 54% of the women were food insecure. Multiple regression analysis results indicated that income, depressive symptoms, race, and participation in SNAP were significant predictors of food insecurity; employment and education were not statistically significant predictors. The overall model was significant at the 5% level reflecting the validity of the model. Based on these results, programs that address food insecurity should be a critical component of HIV/AIDS treatment in the Alabama Black Belt

Socio-Economic and Profitability Analysis of Honey Marketing in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Honey marketing can generate up to 10 billion USD, since the cumulative values are a function of it and other hive products. Considering its current domestic consumption rate in Nigeria being 380, 000 tonnes with a global price of about 4.5 billion dollars, less of it has been offered into the market against the heavy demand for it taking into consideration that the competition for it is increasingly becoming intense. There is therefore no significant reduction in the demand for honey.  Hence, the essence of the study is to analyse the profitability of marketing honey in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study therefore, examined the socio-economic characteristics of honey marketers; measured the profitability analysis of the honey marketers; identified as well as the honey marketing channels; determined the effect of the socio-economic characteristics on the profitability of honey marketing; and ascertained the constraints to honey marketing in the study area. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 honey marketers. Data were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distribution, budgetary (or gross margin) analysis and regression Analysis. The results indicated that 68% of the marketers were female, 92% received formal education and 39% of the respondents were between the ages of 31 – 40. Majority (48%) of the respondents had household size between 1–5 persons. The highest marketing experience was between 11 – 15years at 45%. Majority (44%) of the respondents indicated that they were married, while 33% started with capital ranging from N 21, 000 to N30, 000. Results show that majority (100%) of the respondents were confronted with the problem of inadequate honey supply. More so, majority (67%) of the respondents were retailers. The study further indicated that honey marketing enterprise was profitable with an average gross margin of N18, 223.3 per month. Regression analysis results showed that variables such as start-up capital, marketing experience, age and household size had significant influence on the profitability of honey marketing.  It was recommended that the government should ensure that road networks become efficient and pliable through the construction of new roads and rehabilitation of bad roads to better facilitates honey marketing mechanism. Keywords: Honey, marketing, margins, profitability, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-6-01 Publication date:March 31st 202

Consumer Demand and Willingness to Purchase Asian Fruits and Vegetables in Selected Korean Communities in Alabama and Georgia

This research analyzed the demand for fresh Asian fruits and vegetables by Korean immigrants in central and east Alabama and west Georgia. The growth of the Korean population in these two areas is due to the opening of two automobile manufacturing plants: Kia in West Point, Georgia in 2009 and Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama in 2005.The study’s objectives were to: 1) establish what demand exists for fresh Asian fruits and vegetables among Korean immigrants in central and east Alabama and west Georgia; and 2) examine the opportunity for a niche market in ethnic vegetables for small and medium-sized farmers. This was accomplished by collecting socio-economic data on Korean residents in central and east Alabama and west Georgia; estimating consumer buying patterns of Asian fruits and vegetables; and developing a list of Asian fruits and vegetables for potential local farm production as a niche market.A survey instrument was developed and used to collect data on consumer preferences, socio-economic factors, willingness to pay, and buying patterns. The instrument was translated into Korean to be more attractive to the respondents, and images of selected fruits and vegetables were attached. The survey was administered at Korean churches in Lee and Montgomery counties in Alabama, and Muscogee and Troup counties in Georgia. The results demonstrated that 81% of respondents were willing to buy Asian/Korean fruits and vegetables grown locally, and that 82% of the participants were willing to pay (5 or > 20%) more for the produce   grown by local farmers. A list of preferred fruits and vegetables by the customers was also established. Keywords: Asian fruits and vegetables, Korean community, locally grown produce. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-22-13 Publication date: November 30th 201

Relationships Regarding Incentives, Recordkeeping Propensity, and Selected Factors of Small Producers in Alabama Back Belt and Surrounding Counties

The study assessed the relationships regarding incentives, recordkeeping propensity, and selected factors of small producers. The data were collected from a selected group of small producers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that a majority were part-time producers, males, Blacks, and older. They had below a four-year college education and an annual household income of less than $40,000. The correlation analyses revealed that farming status and recordkeeping propensity had statistically significant relationships with the incentives. Despite this, the relationships were negative for farming status and positive for recordkeeping propensity. The findings suggest that some demographic characteristics may have “important” relationships with incentives, though only farming status had a significant relationship. However, this could not be effectively ascertained as several producers did not respond to the questions. Moreover, incentives may have relationships with recordkeeping propensity, which has been established to an extent in this study

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BELIEF IN CONSPIRACIES ABOUT HIV/AIDS AMONG HIV-POSITIVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATIENTS

The purpose of this study is to examine factors associated with belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among HIV-Positive African American patients. Survey data were collected from 256 African American patients living with HIV/AIDS attending two HIV clinics in Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama. The study used multiple regression analysis to examine how sociodemographic factors contribute to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS. Education and age were significantly related to belief in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS among men and women. Beliefs in conspiracies about HIV/AIDS may be a barrier to HIV prevention among African Americans. Public health officials should work toward obtaining the trust of African Americans by addressing the existing discrimination within the health care system and acknowledging the existence of HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs. Conspiracies about HIV/AIDS may be a manifestation to African Americans’ mistrust of the U.S. government and the health system

FOOD INSECURITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN THE ALABAMA BLACK BELT

The objective of this research was to estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and determine if food insecurity is associated with psychological well-being among women living with HIV/AIDS. Survey data were collected from 268 women living with HIV/AIDS attending two clinics that provide medical and social support services to HIV-positive patients who live in 23 counties in Southeast Alabama. The results indicated that, using USDA food security scale, 54% of the women were food insecure. Multiple regression analysis results indicated that income, depressive symptoms, race, and participation in SNAP were significant predictors of food insecurity; employment and education were not statistically significant predictors. The overall model was significant at the 5% level reflecting the validity of the model. Based on these results, programs that address food insecurity should be a critical component of HIV/AIDS treatment in the Alabama Black Belt

Relationships Regarding Incentives, Recordkeeping Propensity, and Selected Factors of Small Producers in Alabama Back Belt and Surrounding Counties

The study assessed the relationships regarding incentives, recordkeeping propensity, and selected factors of small producers. The data were collected from a selected group of small producers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that a majority were part-time producers, males, Blacks, and older. They had below a four-year college education and an annual household income of less than $40,000. The correlation analyses revealed that farming status and recordkeeping propensity had statistically significant relationships with the incentives. Despite this, the relationships were negative for farming status and positive for recordkeeping propensity. The findings suggest that some demographic characteristics may have “important” relationships with incentives, though only farming status had a significant relationship. However, this could not be effectively ascertained as several producers did not respond to the questions. Moreover, incentives may have relationships with recordkeeping propensity, which has been established to an extent in this study

Relationships Regarding Incentives, Recordkeeping Propensity, and Selected Factors of Small Producers in Alabama Back Belt and Surrounding Counties

The study assessed the relationships regarding incentives, recordkeeping propensity, and selected factors of small producers. The data were collected from a selected group of small producers and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that a majority were part-time producers, males, Blacks, and older. They had below a four-year college education and an annual household income of less than $40,000. The correlation analyses revealed that farming status and recordkeeping propensity had statistically significant relationships with the incentives. Despite this, the relationships were negative for farming status and positive for recordkeeping propensity. The findings suggest that some demographic characteristics may have “important” relationships with incentives, though only farming status had a significant relationship. However, this could not be effectively ascertained as several producers did not respond to the questions. Moreover, incentives may have relationships with recordkeeping propensity, which has been established to an extent in this study