Examining the correlates of gender equality and the empowerment of married women in Zambia

This paper is an analysis of the factors that predict the involvement of women in decision-making within households in Zambia. It is a study at the micro-level of some of the indicators used in calculating the Gender Status Index, which reflects women empowerment and gender equality. Using the 2007 Zambia Demographic Health Survey and complementary log–log models, the study investigates the determinants of women empowerment and gender equality. At the multivariate level, wealth, education, and employment significantly influence women’s involvement in household decision-making. Older women were however, more likely to be involved in decision-making concerning daily household purchases. Interestingly, married women from the Northwestern and Western parts of the country were more likely to engage in a patriarchal bargain and negotiate spaces of power and decision-making than those from the Lusaka province (the capital). These findings will be beneficial for programme and policy formulation with regard to women empowerment and gender equality in Zambia. Women’s involvement in decision-making with their partners and within the household will spill over into their integration and representation on civil–political platforms, with a potential to increase productivity and improve development outcomes in context

Obesity and the burden of health risks among the elderly in Ghana: A population study.

BACKGROUND:The causes and health risks associated with obesity in young people have been extensively documented, but elderly obesity is less well understood, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the relationship between obesity and the risk of chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, and functional disability among the elderly in Ghana. It highlights the social and cultural dimensions of elderly obesity and discusses the implications of related health risks using a socio-ecological model. METHODOLOGY:We used data from wave 1 of the Ghana Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) survey-2007/8, with a restricted sample of 2,091 for those 65 years and older. Using random effects multinomial, ordered, and binary logit models, we examined the relationship between obesity and the risk of stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension, arthritis, difficulties with recall and learning new tasks, and deficiencies with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. FINDINGS:Elderly Ghanaians who were overweight and obese had a higher risk of stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension, and were more likely to be diagnosed with arthritis and report severe deficiencies with instrumental activities of daily living. Those who were underweight were 1.71 times more likely to report severe difficulties with activities of daily living. A sub analysis using waist circumference as a measure of body fat showed elderly females with abdominal adiposity were relatively more likely to have stage 2 hypertension. CONCLUSIONS:These findings call for urgent policy initiatives geared towards reducing obesity among working adults given the potentially detrimental consequences in late adulthood. Future research should explore the gendered pathways leading to health disadvantages among Ghanaian women in late adulthood

Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit model of arthritis on elderly obesity.

<p>Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit model of arthritis on elderly obesity.</p

Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit model of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) on elderly obesity.

<p>Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit model of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) on elderly obesity.</p

Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect ordinal logit models of difficulties with recall on elderly obesity.

<p>Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect ordinal logit models of difficulties with recall on elderly obesity.</p

The ecological model: A framework for understanding the effects of health risks among the elderly.

<p>The ecological model: A framework for understanding the effects of health risks among the elderly.</p

Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit models of activities of daily living (ADLs) on elderly obesity.

<p>Univariate, bivariate and adjusted results of generalized linear mixed effect logit models of activities of daily living (ADLs) on elderly obesity.</p

Univariate and bivariate results of elderly obesity and its association with hypertension.

<p>Univariate and bivariate results of elderly obesity and its association with hypertension.</p

Multilevel multinomial logit model of elderly obesity and its effect on stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension using systolic and diastolic unordered measures.

<p>Multilevel multinomial logit model of elderly obesity and its effect on stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension using systolic and diastolic unordered measures.</p

Participatory Agroecological Research on Climate Change Adaptation Improves Smallholder Farmer Household Food Security and Dietary Diversity in Malawi

This study examines whether agroecological farming practices, when employed by highly vulnerable households in sub-Saharan Africa, can improve food security and dietary diversity. The research involved a four-year study with 425 smallholder households, selected purposively based on high levels of food insecurity and/or positive HIV status. The households carried out agroecological experiments of their own choosing over a four-year period. Baseline (n = 306) and follow-up (n = 352) surveys were conducted in 2011 and 2013 respectively to assess changes in farming practices, food security, crop diversity and dietary diversity. Longitudinal mixed effects models were used with 203 matched households to estimate determinants of change in food security and dietary diversity at the population level. Qualitative interviews and focus groups were also conducted to provide depth to the survey findings. The findings show that participatory agroecology experimentation increased intercropping, legume diversification and the addition of compost, manure and crop residue amendments to the soil. Intercropping was associated with food security and the use of organic soil amendments was associated with gains in dietary diversity in bivariate analysis. Household food security and dietary diversity increased significantly over a 2-year period. Importantly, multivariate models showed that spousal discussion about farming was strongly associated with increased household food security and dietary diversity. Households who discussed farming with their spouse were 2.4 times more likely to be food secure and have diverse diets. Addition of compost or manure to the soil significantly influenced dietary diversity. These findings indicate that poor, vulnerable farmers can use agroecological methods to effectively improve food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also highlights how linking agroecology to participatory research approaches that promote farmer experimentation and gender equity also lead to greater health and well-being. The study sheds light on how agroecological approaches can rapidly improve food security and dietary diversity, even under conditions of acute social, health or ecological stress. It draws attention to issues of equity and farmer-led approaches in addressing food security and nutrition