The Demand for Private Health Insurance in Malawi

This study investigates the determinants of demand for private health insurance among formal sector employees in Malawi, a poor country with heavy pressure on under-funded free government health services. The study is based on membership in the Medical Aid Society of Malawi’s (MASM), three schemes, namely: the VIP, the best; the Executive, the intermediate; and the Econoplan, the minimum. The results indicate that formal sector employees prefer to receive medical treatment from private fee-charging health facilities, where health insurance would be relevant. The study finds that the probability of enrolling in any of MASM’s schemes increases with income and with age for the top and minimum schemes. More children and good health status reduce the probability of enrolling into the two lower schemes. The results suggest the potentially important roles that can be played by information and interventions that address the affordability factor such as through employer contributions that take into consideration income and family size.Health insurance; MASM; Multinomial logit

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity and phytochemical profile of Croton menyharthii plant from Tana River County Kenya

Croton menyharthii root bark is used tomanage female reproductive ailments inTana River County, Kenya. The planttreats dysmenorrhea, prevents abortion,stops post-partum hemorrhage and is alsoa contraceptive. Toxicological andphytochemical profile of the plant is stillunknown. Preliminary phytochemicalscreening of Dichloromethane-Methanoland aqueous Croton menyharthii root barkextracts was carried out as per method used by Kisianan et al., 2019. Acute oraltoxicity study was conducted using femalerats by using OECD 423 guidelineswhereas the sub-acute toxicity study wascarried out using OECD 407 guidelines.General behavior, adverse effects andmortality were keenly observed throughoutthe experimental period. Food intake,water intake, body weight, organ weight,hematological and biochemical parameterswere evaluated. Alkaloids, saponins,phenols, cardiac glycosides and tannins were present in both organic and aqueousextract. Both extracts had acute oraltoxicity greater than 2000 mg/kg. In thesub-acute toxicity study, there was asignificant dose-dependent decrease in thelevels of total protein in rats treated with200 (P<0.006), 400 (P<0.00) and 800mg/kg (P< 0.00) aqueous extract relativeto the control. None of the extracts causeda significant effect on haematologicalparameters. Long term administration ofCroton menyharthii root bark extract isassociated with significant alterations inrenal physiology. Given the finding, werecommend the judicious use of the rootbark extracts of Croton menyharthiiparticularly when long term use is beingconsidered

Competition, regulation and banking industry pricing conduct in Malawi

This study investigates the nature of competitiveness among banks in Malawi where the industry is concentrated and the institutional base is weak. The study uses a model incorporating bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic determinants of conduct and performance, based on monthly data from January 2005 to March 2014. Key findings are asymmetric conduct with collusive price leadership in lending rates and competitiveness in deposit rates and overall high spreads. Apart from dominance, collusive price leadership was facilitated by regulatory stipulations in pricing in banks’ core and non-core business and an economic environment resulting in banks’ high profitability and diminished competitive pressure in lending rates. Further, monopolistic competition via outreach also put upward pressure on spreads most likely via costs as the literature suggests.Keywords: Collusive Pricing; Banks’ Risk Position; Banking Industry; Conduct and Performance; Malaw

Market liberalization and food security in Malawi

A conference paper on market liberalization to avert food insecurity in Malawi.Since independence, Malawi has emphasised the smallholder and estate sectors. They differ in terms of land tenure, type of crops grown, credit institutions, market access, and availability of extension service rather than in farm size. Farmers under communal land tenure cannot grow burley tobacco, are serviced by the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), and have access to government extension services. On the other hand, estate farmers under freehold or leasehold can obtain commercial bank credit. Hence, the smallholder sector produces food and a limited number of export crops while the estate sector has concentrated on tobacco, tea, and sugar. During the 1960s and 1970s, estate production grew much faster than smallholder output. Exports from estates expanded at an annual rate of 15% while smallholder exports recorded very little growth. The estate’s share of exports increased from 32% in 1967 to 65% in 1979 and reached 80% in 1981- 82.The research supporting the preparation the proceedings papers was financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau of Science and Technology; Bureau for Africa; and the Southern Africa Regional Programme

Malaria Laboratory Diagnostic Performance: Case studies of two health centers in Zomba, Malawi

The objective of the study was to establish the performance of malaria laboratory diagnostics in routine clinical setting of health facilities in Zomba, Malawi. 246 suspected malaria cases in Matawale and Domasi Health Centers in October-November 2009 and 2010 were tested using two diagnostics methods(rapid diagnostic test ( RDT )and Microscopy 144 patients who reported fever in 2009, 52% were referred to the laboratory for malaria test. The positive predictive value for microscopy in this study was 0.86. The study revealed that microscopy missed (30%) and (28%) in 2009 and 2010 respectively and this attributed to challenges with microscopy. RDT missed only 2 of malaria cases results between the two tests performed in the study among the microscopy positives. Microscopy had a lower sensitivity of 70% while Paracheck PfHRP-2 rapid test 91.3%. In conclusion, microscopy produced a low sensitivity when compared to rapid diagnostic test

Experiences of African women in STEM careers: A systematic literature review.

The discourse on women\u27s underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mainly centres on the global north, leaving a gap in understanding the perspectives of African women in STEM. To address this, a systematic literature review was conducted to explore African women\u27s experiences in STEM careers and education. After applying inclusion and criteria, 18 published articles were analysed. 8 key issues emerge: work environment, education system, work-life balance, gender-based stereotypes, racial bias, sexual harassment, inadequate support/mentorship, and self-imposed limits. These themes intertwine, with some aspects influencing others. Grasping the complexities and interactions of these factors provides insights into challenges along the \u27demand side\u27 of the leaky pipeline. By addressing these challenges stakeholders can develop more targeted interventions to create a more inclusive environment and sustain the participation of African women in STEM fields. This research contributes to ongoing efforts to promote gender equality in STEM disciplines in Africa

Administrative law and governance in East Africa project case study : taxation in Malawi

This case study focuses on the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), to establish the nature of public participation in rule making, application and adjudication of disputes; and to determine the role and impact of judicial review, alongside parliamentary and presidential oversight on agency functions. The attainment of democratic governance requires that institutions of governance abide by principles that further transparency, openness, accountability, and the rule of law. Analysis shows there are a multiplicity of adjudicating bodies under revenue laws. Most of the bodies have not been constituted and those that are operational are not accessible to members of the general public

Potential of Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extracts as female Novel contraceptives.

Objective: The aim of the study was to validate the traditional fertility regulating claims by investigating the effect of root bark extract of both plants on ovarian and uterine structures.Materials and Methods: Twenty five mature normocyclic female winstar rats were used. Group 1 consisted of 5 animals that acted as control. Group 2 and 3 with 5 animals each; received 500 and 800mg/ Kg Croton menyharthii respectively on alternative days for 28 days through intra- abdominal gavage. Group 4 and 5 were treated in a similar manner but received Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. Left ovaries and uterus were harvested and processed for histomorphology.Results: Croton menyharthii and Uvariodendron kirkii extracts caused a reduction in primordial and antral follicles, disrupted granulosa and theca cells with significant degeneration of ova.  Croton menyharthii caused a disruption of uterine endothelial structure and loss of villi. Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract caused a significant uterine gland vacuolation and a thickened endothelial lining with an intact endothelial cell layer and its invaginations. Disrupted ovarian and uterine structure possibly led to compromised fertility and implantation.Conclusion: The study validates the traditional use of the plant in fertility regulation. We suggest further investigation on these potential plants to address the call for novel contraceptive drugs.Â

Education Sector Foreign Aid and Economic Growth in Africa

This paper explores whether education sector foreign aid influences economic growth in Africa based on a panel of 32 countries over the period 2005 – 2017. The major novelty of the study is that on the supply side the major dependent variable, education aid flows, are disaggregated by education level. On the demand side, the recipient economies are accorded their income groups to account for capacities that complement the effects of human capital development on economic growth as well as the benevolent complementary or destabilizing effects of different political systems of government. The key findings are that: (i) education aid in aggregate form and primary education aid both enhance economic growth in low income countries; (ii) in middle income countries higher education aid is more important for economic growth than primary and secondary education foreign aid; (iii) democracies have a stronger tendency to allocate more education sector foreign aid to primary education, while in autocracies the orientation is towards higher education. The findings imply that low-income autocracies that allocate more education sector foreign aid to higher education than to primary education do so at the expense of economic growth. The same applies to middle-income democracies whose allocation orientation is more towards primary education compared to higher education