Livelihood Strategies in African Cities: The Case of Residents in Bamenda, Cameroon

This paper analyses the livelihood strategies of residents in the city of Bamenda, Cameroon. It argues that the informal economy is not the preserve of the poor. Middle income households also play a crucial role. Informal economic activities permit the middle class to diversify their sources of income as well as accumulate capital. It examines the role of class in the informal economy and analyses the impact of policy on those involved in informal economic activities. The paper reveals that formality, informality and policy are intertwined, thus making livelihood strategies in cities complex. Key words: City, Livelihood, Bamenda, Informal, Incom

Engaged scholarship: encouraging interactionism in entrepreneurship and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) research

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce a multi-layered theoretical framework to enable engaged scholarship to develop as a practice in entrepreneurship and small business research. To do so, it illuminates the salient features of engaged scholarship, collaborative learning and actor-network theory (ANT). Design/methodology/approach: The paper follows a narrative or traditional literature review design. Specifically, it adopts a thematic approach for summarising and synthesising a body of literature on engaged scholarship, collaborative learning and ANT with the view to develop a new multi-layered theoretical framework. Findings: Applying the theory of engaged scholarship to pivot entrepreneurship/SME research provides scholars with an opportunity to unlock the theory vs practice paradox. Moreover, engaged scholarship offers valuable instructions for encouraging interactionism between entrepreneurship researchers and practitioners as well as reconcile their polarised views. Co-production and co-creation of knowledge addresses the concerns often raised by the practitioner community regarding the relevance and applicability of academic research to practice. Practical implications: The proposed multi-layered framework provides entrepreneurship researchers, and the practitioner community with a taxonomy to use to encourage a joint approach to research. Developing deep partnerships between academics and practitioners can produce outcomes that satisfy the twin imperatives of scholarship that can be of high quality as well as a value to society. Originality/value: The paper advances the theory and practice of engaged scholarship in new ways that are not common in entrepreneurship/SME research. This enables engaged scholarship to develop as a practice in entrepreneurship and small firms’ research. Through applying the proposed multi-layered framework in research, academics can deliver fully developed solutions for practical problems. The framework is useful in the theory vs practice and entrepreneurship researchers vs practitioner debates

Bricolage and MSEs in emerging economies

This conceptual paper focuses on bricolage and it pays particular attention on the context of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in resource-constrained environments – a common feature of most emerging economies. Knowledge about the underlying factors that determine bricolage as a common practice among MSEs operating in emerging economies is yet to advance and develop within the mainstream entrepreneurship literature. Much of this scholarship tends to focus on multi-national enterprises (MNEs) in advanced economies and it discusses bricolage as their strategic choice. Such an approach has led to a lack of meaningful theoretical paradigms for defining the business approaches MSEs adopt as a way of mitigating their perennial operational issues inherent in their environment. Thus, in this conceptual paper, which adopts a scoping review approach, we study the constructs of bricolage particularly their application in MSEs operating in emerging economies. From our analysis a fresh deterministic model mapping out the causal factors that give rise to bricolage behaviour in MSEs that operate in difficult conditions emerged. Thus, we contribute to entrepreneurial behaviour theories by identifying distinctive business methods MSEs adopt to withstand operational difficulties inherent in their environments

Trust-building mechanisms in group-based microfinance: a Cameroonian perspective

While trust is critical to microlending groups, much less is known about the vital factors and mechanisms that foster its emergence in microlending groups. This paper examines the practices of trust building and use in microlending groups. The results suggest that trust is produced and developed in microlending groups through a combination of calculative, prediction, intentionality, capability and transference mechanisms. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive but act together to build trust. Though trust has general characteristics, whether and how it is formed and developed in microlending groups depends on contextspecific factors such as informal debt relations. Trust among group members is bolstered by multiplex relations of social events, neighbourhood, and friendship. The paper suggests that the unbanked population has a rich informal credit history

Fostering micro-entrepreneurs' structural and relational social capital through microfinance

This paper uses a multi-dimensional perspective on social capital to investigate how a microfinance institution can enhance the social capital of poor entrepreneurs. Findings show that by creating an environment that encourages frequent meetings and interactions between borrowers, group-based microfinance facilitates the development of relational trust and expansion of the network size of micro-entrepreneurs. An increase in levels of structural and relational social capital, in turn, leads to numerous advantages in terms of the flow of a diversity of resources. Ensuring access to financial capital, creating an enabling environment that fosters structural and relational social capital, and providing training would constitute a much better approach to helping poor entrepreneurs

Prevalence and components of metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients at the Tiko Central Clinic and Cottage Hospital in Cameroon

Background: HAART and HIV related metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in aging HIV patients. This study was aimed at comparing the prevalence of MS between HIV-infected patients on HAART and apparently healthy HIV-uninfected individuals and identifying key MS components in these groups of subjects.Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control study. The cases were HIV sero-positive individuals on HAART for at least 6 months and controls were HIV sero-negative individuals.Results: 74/135 (54.8%) participants were females amongst which 53/75 (70.7%) and 21/60 (35%) were in the test and control groups respectively. The prevalence of MS was insignificantly higher in HIV-infected patients on HAART than in control subjects according to the IDF (22.7% versus 20%, p=0.834) and NCEP ATP III criteria (18.7% versus 18.3%, p=1.000) respectively. The most prevalent components of MS in HIV-infected patients on HAART were low HDL-c (100%), abdominal obesity (IDF: 68%, ATP III: 32%), and hypertension (28%). Multivariate analysis of MS components in HIV-infected patients on HAART revealed that hypertension (OR: 15.996, 95% CI: 3.385-75.585; p≤0.001) and high blood glucose (OR: 10.760, 95% CI: 1.642-70.505; p=0.013) were associated with MS. Significantly more HIV-infected females were seen with abdominal obesity than HIV-infected males (86.8% versus 4.5%, p≤0.001).Conclusions: Abdominal obesity is a driving component of MS in HIV-infected patients particularly among females and hypertension is a prevalent and predictor component of MS among HIV patients

Determinants of Job Satisfaction among Nurse / Midwife Educators in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Background: Job satisfaction represents an important element of Nurse Educators' survival which has implications for performance, retention, dedication to the institution, the nursing profession itself and preparing nursing students who are capable of providing high quality patient care. The purpose of the study was to assess overall level of job satisfaction and satisfaction with nine facets of job satisfaction among Nurse/Midwife Educators in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.   Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was used for the study. A total population study of Nurse /Midwife Educators in Calabar was undertaken. A self-administered structured questionnaire adapted from the standardized “Employee Opinion Survey” with a reliability of 0.60 to 0.90 coefficient was used for data collection. Data were computer analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for Windows. Logistic regression was used to verify association between overall job satisfaction and facets/subscales of job satisfaction scale.   Results: A total of 50 respondents participated in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 46.9±6.9 while the mean years of working experience was 24.9±6.1.  The respondents were made up of (40) 90.0% female and (10) 10.0% male. The mean overall job satisfaction score was 2.63±0.62. The results also revealed that majority of the respondents 41(82.0%) were moderately satisfied with their work while 9(18.0%) were slightly satisfied. Most of the respondents 47(94.0%) were satisfied with the job itself subscale with a mean score of 3.27±0.59, while the least satisfying facet was communication subscale with a mean of 2.50 ± 0.90. Safety and working relationships were significantly related to overall job satisfaction.   Conclusion: The study has shown that the few but experienced Nurse/Midwife Educators in Calabar were not fully satisfied with most facets of their work which could have adverse effect on their work output and overall performance. Therefore in order to address the adverse effect of dissatisfaction, it is recommended that all sub-scales of job satisfaction be addressed by employers of Nurse Educators and the Professional Nursing Association with emphasis on safety and working relationships.   Keywords: Job satisfaction, Working relationships, Nurse /Midwife Educator, Nigeri

Genebanks and market participation: evidence from groundnut farmers in Malawi

Background: Genebanks contribute to poverty reduction as well as food and nutritional security by being one of the main sources of diversity for the development of improved crop varieties. While the welfare implications of adopting improved varieties have been documented in many rural settings, little attention has been placed on genebanks that often supply key traits and genetic diversity to plant breeders by providing seed samples. In this study, we examined the contribution of the genebank housed by the International Crops Research Institute (ICRISAT) to the development of improved groundnut varieties used by farmers in Malawi. We then related this apportioned genebank contribution to market outcomes, such as market participation and the quantity of groundnut sold in markets. Methods: Pedigree data obtained through consultations with genebank scientists and breeders were used in combination with a three-wave balanced household-level panel dataset of 447 smallholder farmers in Malawi. Different econometric techniques were used, including a double hurdle model to understand market participation and quantity of groundnuts sold. Results: We found households to be using six improved groundnut varieties, four of which were traced to the ICRISAT genebank. We analyzed pedigrees of the varieties and apportioned the ancestral contribution of the genebank accessions. Linking the improved varieties grown by farmers with genebank ancestry to market outcomes, we observed a positive association between the ICRISAT genebank and market participation. We could not establish a robust effect on the quantity of groundnuts sold conditional on participation. We found the results to be driven by the area under improved groundnuts. Conclusion: The ICRISAT genebank has provided accessions that confer useful traits to improved varieties of groundnut adopted by farmers in Malawi. Our analysis indicates that access to genetic resources from genebanks has resulted in the development of improved varieties with traits that are preferred by farmers such as higher yields and resistance to diseases. The adoption of these improved varieties led to increased production surplus and reduced transaction costs, allowing farmers to better participate in local groundnut markets. The study points to the crucial role of genebanks as important sources of crop diversity for improved food security and incomes of smallholder farmers

Designing and implementing interventions to change clinicians' practice in the management of uncomplicated malaria: lessons from Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Effective case management of uncomplicated malaria is a fundamental pillar of malaria control. Little is known about the various steps in designing interventions to accompany the roll out of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). This study documents the process of designing and implementing interventions to change clinicians' practice in the management of uncomplicated malaria. METHODS: A literature review combined with formative quantitative and qualitative research were carried out to determine patterns of malaria diagnosis and treatment and to understand how malaria and its treatment are enacted by clinicians. These findings were used, alongside a comprehensive review of previous interventions, to identify possible strategies for changing the behaviour of clinicians when diagnosing and treating uncomplicated malaria. These strategies were discussed with ministry of health representatives and other stakeholders. Two intervention packages - a basic and an enhanced training were outlined, together with logic model to show how each was hypothesized to increase testing for malaria, improve adherence to test results and increase appropriate use of ACT. The basic training targeted clinicians' knowledge of malaria diagnosis, rapid diagnostic testing and malaria treatment. The enhanced training included additional modules on adapting to change, professionalism and communicating effectively. Modules were delivered using small-group work, card games, drama and role play. Interventions were piloted, adapted and trainers were trained before final implementation. RESULTS: Ninety-six clinicians from 37 health facilities in Bamenda and Yaounde sites attended either 1-day basic or 3-day enhanced training. The trained clinicians then trained 632 of their peers at their health facilities. Evaluation of the training revealed that 68% of participants receiving the basic and 92% of those receiving the enhanced training strongly agreed that it is not appropriate to prescribe anti-malarials to a patient if they have a negative RDT result. CONCLUSION: Formative research was an important first step, and it was valuable to engage stakeholders early in the process. A logic model and literature reviews were useful to identify key elements and mechanisms for behaviour change intervention. An iterative process with feedback loops allowed appropriate development and implementation of the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01350752

Π-Π interactions stabilize PeptoMicelle-based formulations of Pretomanid derivatives leading to promising therapy against tuberculosis in zebrafish and mouse models

Tuberculosis is the deadliest bacterial disease globally, threatening the lives of millions every year. New antibiotic therapies that can shorten the duration of treatment, improve cure rates, and impede the development of drug resistance are desperately needed. Here, we used polymeric micelles to encapsulate four second-generation derivatives of the antitubercular drug pretomanid that had previously displayed much better in vivo activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis than pretomanid itself. Because these compounds were relatively hydrophobic and had limited bioavailability, we expected that their micellar formulations would overcome these limitations, reduce toxicities, and improve therapeutic outcomes. The polymeric micelles were based on polypept(o)ides (PeptoMicelles) and were stabilized in their hydrophobic core by π-π interactions, allowing the efficient encapsulation of aromatic pretomanid derivatives. The stability of these π-π-stabilized PeptoMicelles was demonstrated in water, blood plasma, and lung surfactant by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy and was further supported by prolonged circulation times of several days in the vasculature of zebrafish larvae. The most efficacious PeptoMicelle formulation tested in the zebrafish larvae infection model almost completely eradicated the bacteria at non-toxic doses. This lead formulation was further assessed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the susceptible C3HeB/FeJ mouse model, which develops human-like necrotic granulomas. Following intravenous administration, the drug-loaded PeptoMicelles significantly reduced bacterial burden and inflammatory responses in the lungs and spleens of infected mice.Drug Delivery Technolog