An Economic and Institutional Analysis of Maize Research in Kenya

Maize, the most important food crop in Kenya, contributes 44 percent of the per-capita, calorie intake. Increases in maize production over the past three decades have been attributed to the availability and adoption of modern maize techniques, especially fertilizer and hybrid seed. This paper estimates the rate of return to maize research to be 53 to 61 percent, and reveals that his impact was aided by complementary agricultural extension and seed multiplication and distribution programs. The paper describes the institutional framework that may have led to one of Kenya’s agricultural research success stories. It also poses challenges to the future of maize production in Kenya.food security, food policy, maize, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Downloads July 2008 - July 2009: 19, O18,

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSACTIONS COSTS, AND MARKETED SURPLUS IN KENYA

We develop a conceptual framework for quantifying fixed transactions costs facing semisubsistence households. Using household survey data from a sample of 324 Kenyan maize farmers, we generate estimates of household supply and demand schedules, as well as the price bands that they face. Our econometric results indicate that on average the ad valorem tax equivalent of the fixed transactions costs facing the households in our sample is 28%. Additional analysis indicates that both remoteness and infrastructure quality have significant impacts on the size of the transactions costs facing farm households. To the best of our knowledge, ours are the first empirical estimates of the magnitude of transactions costs.Marketing,

The reporting of adverse drug reactions by healthcare providers in Kenya

Background: Spontaneous and consistent reporting is the cornerstone of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting. Under reporting is an enormous obstacle to effective pharmacovigilance (PV).Objective: To determine factors affecting ADR reporting by healthcare providers in selected hospitals in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected hospitals. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was utilised to collect data. Stratified sampling was used to recruit 224 healthcare providers. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 analysed data. The Chi-squared test was used to determine association. Binary logistic regression assessed strength of association. Outcomes were considered significant at p-values of <0.05.Results: Of 224 questionnaires distributed 215 were completed, 159 (74%) healthcare providers had not reported ADRs to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) within the last 3 months. In total, 92 (42.8%) healthcare providers knew about reporting guidelines; 194 (90.2%) were not trained in ADR reporting. Those aware of the reporting guidelines and those trained were more likely to report ADRs. Continuing medical education was the preferred source of information about ADRs. The main barriers to ADR reporting include inadequate training, delayed feedback, not knowing where or to whom to report, lack of a PV centre in the county and inadequate  access to ADR forms and guidelines.Conclusion: ADR reporting among healthcare providers could be improved. Age, profession, level of education, knowledge and  training affected ADR reporting. Healthcare provider centred training and promotion of ADR reporting tools are necessary to boost ADR reporting and increase patient safety. Keywords: adverse drug reaction; spontaneous reporting; healthcare provider; pharmacovigilance, Kenya

Effects of Agricultural Commercialization on Food Crop Input Use and Productivity in Kenya

The objective of this report is to analyze the effects of smallholder commercialization on food crop input use and productivity in rural Kenya. The main research issues were: (1) To examine the determinants of smallholder fertilizer use on food crops, with a focus on the effects of household and regional agricultural commercialization; (2) To examine the determinants of food crop productivity, again with a focus on the effects of commercialization; and (3) To discuss the implications of the findings for policy and additional research necessary to improve the contribution of cash cropping to rural food productivity growth and food security. A main premise of the paper is that the effects of commercialization are not uniform and cannot be generalized. The effects are hypothesized to differ both according to differences in the institutional/contractual arrangements between firms and smallholders, management decisions, and the level of credit and extension support provided to smallholders by the various private and parastatal firms involved in promoting smallholder cash crops.food security, food policy, food crop productivity, food crop input, Crop Production/Industries, Productivity Analysis, Downloads May 2008 - July 2009: 78, Q18,

Effects of Agricultural Commercialization on Food Crop Input Use and Productivity in Kenya

Crop Production/Industries, Downloads July 2008 - July 2009: 23,

Influence of Exposure History on the Immunology and Development of Resistance to Human Schistosomiasis Mansoni

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic blood fluke infection of 200 million people worldwide. We have shown that humans can acquire immunity to reinfection after repeated exposures and cures with the drug praziquantel. The increase in resistance to reinfection was associated with an increase in schistosome-specific IgE. The ability to develop resistance and the rate at which resistance was acquired varied greatly in two cohorts of men within close geographic proximity and with similar occupational exposures to schistosomes. These differences are likely attributable to differences in history of exposure to Schistosoma mansoni infection and immunologic status at baseline, with those acquiring immunity faster having lifelong S. mansoni exposure and immunologic evidence of chronic S. mansoni infection. As many conflicting results have been reported in the literature regarding immunologic parameters associated with the development of resistance to schistosome infection, exposure history and prior immune status should be considered in the design of future immuno-epidemiologic studies

Effect of surgical experience and spine subspecialty on the reliability of the {AO} Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System

OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper was to determine the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System based on surgeon experience (< 5 years, 5–10 years, 10–20 years, and > 20 years) and surgical subspecialty (orthopedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, and "other" surgery). METHODS A total of 11,601 assessments of upper cervical spine injuries were evaluated based on the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System. Reliability and reproducibility scores were obtained twice, with a 3-week time interval. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the percentage of accurately classified injuries, and Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to screen for potentially relevant differences between study participants. Kappa coefficients (κ) determined the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. RESULTS The intraobserver reproducibility was substantial for surgeon experience level (< 5 years: 0.74 vs 5–10 years: 0.69 vs 10–20 years: 0.69 vs > 20 years: 0.70) and surgical subspecialty (orthopedic spine: 0.71 vs neurosurgery: 0.69 vs other: 0.68). Furthermore, the interobserver reliability was substantial for all surgical experience groups on assessment 1 (< 5 years: 0.67 vs 5–10 years: 0.62 vs 10–20 years: 0.61 vs > 20 years: 0.62), and only surgeons with > 20 years of experience did not have substantial reliability on assessment 2 (< 5 years: 0.62 vs 5–10 years: 0.61 vs 10–20 years: 0.61 vs > 20 years: 0.59). Orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons had substantial intraobserver reproducibility on both assessment 1 (0.64 vs 0.63) and assessment 2 (0.62 vs 0.63), while other surgeons had moderate reliability on assessment 1 (0.43) and fair reliability on assessment 2 (0.36). CONCLUSIONS The international reliability and reproducibility scores for the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System demonstrated substantial intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability regardless of surgical experience and spine subspecialty. These results support the global application of this classification system

An Economic and Institutional Analysis of Maize Research in Kenya

Maize, the most important food crop in Kenya, contributes 44 percent of the per-capita, calorie intake. Increases in maize production over the past three decades have been attributed to the availability and adoption of modern maize techniques, especially fertilizer and hybrid seed. This paper estimates the rate of return to maize research to be 53 to 61 percent, and reveals that his impact was aided by complementary agricultural extension and seed multiplication and distribution programs. The paper describes the institutional framework that may have led to one of Kenya’s agricultural research success stories. It also poses challenges to the future of maize production in Kenya