Determinants of Choice of Marketing Outlets for African Indigenous Vegetables among the Agro-Pastoral Maasai of Narok and Kajiado Counties of Kenya

The Maasai of Narok and Kajiado counties have started embracing agro-pastoralism as a livelihood diversification strategy. Among the crop enterprises they have incorporated are African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) in a bid to take advantage of their resilience to the changing environment. Literature on market outlet choices has been thin, especially in developing countries where significant frictions make this question most salient. It is prudent to note that none of past studies identified factors affecting vegetable market outlet choices in Narok and Kajiado despite the high potential of vegetable production and marketing. However, for AIVs to be beneficial, it requires efficient marketing. An AIVs marketing analysis study was conducted in Narok and Kajiado counties to established the factors influencing the choice of AIVs marketing outlets among the agro-pastoral Maasai. Data was collected from 200 respondents using structured questionnaires. Purposive sampling method was used to select the sub counties and locations while a list from the extension offices was obtained and systematic sampling technique was used to select the households for the data collection. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to establish the factors influencing the choice of marketing outlets of AIVs. The results of the logistic regression model revealed that the choice of marketing outlet of the sampled agro-pastoral Maasai is influenced by quantity of AIVs sold, distance to the agricultural market, sex of the household, education level, household size, levels of value addition, farming experience in agro-pastoralism, off-farm income and marketing costs. In view of the research findings, it is imperative to enhance AIVs marketing in the studied areas to contribute to improved livelihoods among the agro-pastoral Maasai communities. Keywords: Agro-pastoralism, marketing outlets, choice of marketing outlets, livelihood

The efficacy of blended learning in a Pediatric Spine Deformity management program in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction: Our study assessed the efficacy of blended learning, which combines in-person learning and e-learning, in a pediatric scoliosis training program through an international collaborative effort. Methods: The course comprised two parts: the online portion, where participants reviewed educational materials for 3 weeks and met with faculty once/week for discussion, and the in-person session, where participants reviewed cases in a team-based approach and came to a consensus on treatment strategy, followed by discussion with an international expert. All participants completed a needs assessment (NA) and clinical quiz at three points: before the course, after the online session, and after the in-person session, which covered various topics in pediatric spine deformity. Results: Thirty-six surgeons enrolled in the course from 13 College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa countries. The NA assessment scores improved significantly over the course of the surveys from 67.3, to 90.9, to 94.0 (P = 0.02). The clinical quiz scores also improved from 9.91, to 11.9, to 12.3 (P = 0.002). Conclusion: The blended learning approach in a pediatric spine deformity program is effective and feasible and shows a statistically significant change in participants\u27 confidence and knowledge base in these complex pathologies. This approach should be explored further with larger numbers and/or other spinal pathologies

Prevalence of spine surgery navigation techniques and availability in Africa: A cross-sectional study

Background: Africa has a large burden of spine pathology but has limited and insufficient infrastructure to manage these spine disorders. Therefore, we conducted this e-survey to assess the prevalence and identify the determinants of the availability of spine surgery navigation techniques in Africa. Materials and methods: A two-part questionnaire was disseminated amongst African neurological and orthopedic surgery consultants and trainees from January 24 to February 23, 2021. The Chi-Square, Fisher Exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate bivariable relationships, and a p-value \u3c0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We had 113 respondents from all regions of Africa. Most (86.7 %) participants who practiced or trained in public centers and centers had an annual median spine case surgery volume of 200 (IQR = 190) interventions. Fluoroscopy was the most prevalent spine surgery navigation technique (96.5 %), followed by freehand (55.8 %), stereotactic without intraoperative CT scan (31.9 %), robotic with intraoperative CT scan (29.2 %), stereotactic with intraoperative CT scan (8.8 %), and robotic without intraoperative CT scan (6.2 %). Cost of equipment (94.7 %), lack of trained staff to service (63.7 %), or run the equipment (60.2 %) were the most common barriers to the availability of spine instrumentation navigation. In addition, there were significant regional differences in access to trained staff to run and service the equipment (P = 0.001). Conclusion: There is a need to increase access to more advanced navigation techniques, and we identified the determinants of availability

Prevalence of spine surgery navigation techniques and availability in Africa: A cross-sectional study

Background: Africa has a large burden of spine pathology but has limited and insufficient infrastructure to manage these spine disorders. Therefore, we conducted this e-survey to assess the prevalence and identify the determinants of the availability of spine surgery navigation techniques in Africa. Materials and methods: A two-part questionnaire was disseminated amongst African neurological and orthopedic surgery consultants and trainees from January 24 to February 23, 2021. The Chi-Square, Fisher Exact, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate bivariable relationships, and a p-value \u3c0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We had 113 respondents from all regions of Africa. Most (86.7 %) participants who practiced or trained in public centers and centers had an annual median spine case surgery volume of 200 (IQR = 190) interventions. Fluoroscopy was the most prevalent spine surgery navigation technique (96.5 %), followed by freehand (55.8 %), stereotactic without intraoperative CT scan (31.9 %), robotic with intraoperative CT scan (29.2 %), stereotactic with intraoperative CT scan (8.8 %), and robotic without intraoperative CT scan (6.2 %). Cost of equipment (94.7 %), lack of trained staff to service (63.7 %), or run the equipment (60.2 %) were the most common barriers to the availability of spine instrumentation navigation. In addition, there were significant regional differences in access to trained staff to run and service the equipment (P = 0.001). Conclusion: There is a need to increase access to more advanced navigation techniques, and we identified the determinants of availability

Entrepreneurial Education in Middle-Level Tertiary Colleges in the Rift Valley of Kenya

This study adds to the knowledge base of Entrepreneurial Education (EE)in selected technical training institutes in Kenya.Using qualitative research inquiry, semi-structured interviews were conducted with aquestionguidebookand follow-up questioning. Data were collected from students, instructors,and administratorsselected through purposive sampling.Open and axial coding wasused to categorize the transcribed interview responses. Peer review was used to ensurecredibility and confirmability. The results reveals that the learning institutions prepared students as entrepreneurs through coursework, mandatory field internships, internal projects, participation inagricultural and business fairs, and providing startup capital for cooperative shops.EE delivery facesnumerous constraints including inadequate start-up capital, inadequate access to land, and output and input market resulting from poor infrastructure, competition, lack of marketing skills, and exam-oriented curricula.Dairy, horticulture, poultry, and apiculture enterprises were identified as the most promisingand viable enterprises for graduates of middle-level tertiary institutions. In conclusion, EE was being offeredin these institutions as certificate coursesor integratedas a topic in their existing curricula. In order to improve upon the delivery of the programs, the institutions needed to upgrade learning facilities, incorporating ICT in the curricula, enhancepractical learning, conduct rigorous follow-up evaluations of graduates, and establish business incubators for providing start-up capital to graduate

Adoptive Behaviors of Farmers After Training and Their Subsequent Diffusive Behaviors In Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

This study focused on Kenyan farmers in the Moiben area who participated in three agricultural seminars at Twiga demonstration farm. The problem of interest was the need for increased dissemination of improved agricultural practices to enhance production and processing of crops related to food security and socio-economic well-being. The study investigated associations between adoptive behaviors of participants and their subsequent behavior related to diffusing improved practices to others. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and two structured interview schedules. Correlational analysis was conducted on post-training behavior variables, using Kendall’s tau calculations. The study found that farmers across the samples who exhibited higher levels of adoption of workshop-recommended innovations also had a moderate to strong likelihood of showing correspondingly higher levels of diffusion-related behavior. It was concluded that these findings align well with Rogers’ (2003) discussion of change-agent credibility, and also with Bandura’s (2006) work on social modeling and perceived self-efficacy. It was recommended that offering community-based agricultural seminars such as those in this study be continued and expanded, as an important component in a pluralistic model of agricultural extension methodology for Sub-Saharan Africa. It was further recommended that farmers who adopt improved practices learned in training be identified specifically for further interventions related to implementation and diffusion of agricultural innovations

Evaluating the feasibility and outcomes of a scoliosis surgical camp in a resource-limited setting in sub-saharan Africa

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the estimated prevalence of scoliosis ranges from 3.3% to 5.5%. The management of these deformities is restricted due to lack of infrastructure and access to deformity spine surgeons. Utilizing surgical camps has been demonstrated to be efficient in transferring skills to low-resource environments; however, this has not been documented concerning deformity surgery. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. The scoliosis camp was held at a major referral spine center in East Africa. We documented information about the organization of the course. We also collected clinical and demographic patient data. Finally, we assessed the knowledge and confidence among surgeon participants on the management scoliosis. Results: The camp lasted 5 days and consisted of lectures and case discussions, followed by casting and surgical sessions. Five patients were operated during the camp. All the patients in the study were diagnosed with AIS, except one with a congenital deformity. The primary curve in the spine was in the thoracic region for all patients. Six months postoperative Scoliosis Research Society-22R Scoring System (SRS-22R) score ranged from 3.3–4.5/5. 87.5% of the participants found the course content satisfactory. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time an African scoliosis camp has been established. The study highlights the difficulty of conducting such a course and illustrates the feasibility of executing these complex surgeries in a resource-limited environment