PATIENT’S PERCEPTIONS OF ANTI-CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY SIDE EFFECTS AND ADHERENCE ON TREATMENT AT MBARARA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL.

Background: Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatment modalities for cancer. However, despite the benefits of indicated chemotherapy, the side effects and toxicities of the treatment frequently affect the patient’s quality of life (QOL) and hence adherence to the treatment.  The aim of the study was to examine the patient’s perception of the anti-cancer chemotherapy side effects and adherence to treatment at MRRH Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive qualitative design. It involved 40-60 minute in-depth interviews with 10 participants who had undergone chemotherapy treatment to understand their perceptions and their adherence to treatment. Inductive thematic data analysis was used to generate themes and categories. Results: The following themes and categories emerged:  Benefits [helpful, feeling good, believed getting better], and perceived severity [chemotherapy side effects, frustration, pain and fear of death]. Conclusion: The perceived severity of the chemotherapy had a considerable impact on patients' quality of life. Despite these side effects experienced by most of the participants, the benefits of chemotherapy and considerable support from staff influenced the participants to adhere to treatment. Recommendations: There is a need for health workers to continue providing the necessary information about the disease, the drugs, the course of treatment, and the prognosis to improve patient acceptance of the chemotherapy

Frozen strawberry quality enhancement using high hydrostatic pressure and vacuum infusion with pectin methylesterase and calcium chloride solution

Fresh strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a delicious fruit that is an excellent source of micronutrients and an array of beneficial phytochemicals. Emerging technologies like high pressure freezing and thawing have gained interest recently due to their ability to preserve the structure of the food during storage, albeit the possible shortcomings of degradation of texture and sensory quality.  In this study, the effects of high hydrostatic pressure freezing and thawing on the physical quality attributes (texture, drip loss and Degree of Methylation (DM)) of strawberry were investigated. Strawberry samples were infused in a vacuum using pectin methyl esterase (PME) and CaCl2 solution at 170 hPa pressure for 5 min at room temperature to improve textural integrity; infused with distilled water; and another group of samples further incubated at 40°C for 20 min. Fresh samples and non-pretreated samples were also studied. All the samples were subjected to high pressure freezing and thawing processes at 200 MPa and the effect of the processing conditions on texture were evaluated. The high pressure processed samples were compared with conventionally frozen and thawed samples. Pectin methyl esterase, CaCl2 infusion and incubation gave a relative hardness of 1.5 pretreatment compared to water only infused at 0.5. The CaCl2and PME-infused samples had a higher relative hardness after one day of storage at -18°C compared to non-pretreated and water-infused samples at 0.3 compared to 0.1, respectively. Pretreated, water-infused, and PME with CaCl2-infused samples showed no significant difference in hardness when measured immediately after conventional thawing and high pressure induced thawing HPIT but are the former are a third less hard compared to the latter upon storage after 3 hours and three months. Galacturonic acid per mg of Alcohol insoluble residues AIR sample for the fresh strawberry was 0.002±2.699E-05 and 0.002±1.070E-05moles for the one-day vs. three months storage, respectively, for samples conventionally frozen and thawed in duplicate experiments. Therefore, a combination of high-pressure shift freezing (HPSF) with PME and CaCl2infusion improved the texture of the strawberry compared to those that were not pretreated, and gained weight by 15%. The PME and CaCl2-infused strawberry showed less degradation than the non-pretreated and water-infused during both long- and short-time frozen storage. Conventional freezing processes caused more degradation compared to HPSF. Degradation of 3 months conventional freezing was comparable to 1-day storage. For frozen storage, enzyme pretreatment combined with high pressure freezing can be used to enhance the quality of strawberry

Production efficiency and economic potential of different soil fertility management strategies among groundnut farmers of Kenya

This paper provides the economic evaluation of different soil fertility replenishing technologies (use of inorganic fertilizers, organic manure, and rhizobium inoculant) that were tested during field studies and recommended to groundnut farmers. Data on soil fertility technologies used by households, groundnut yields, and resource use and farm and farmers characteristics were collected through administration of a questionnaire to a sample of 332 farmers from three districts of western Kenya. The data was analyzed to determine whether adoption of the technologies would increase household incomes and production efficiency. Benefits and costs of each technology were computed through the use of budgets. Technical and allocative inefficiencies are investigated by fitting a Cobb-Douglas production function. The technical efficiency of the farmers varied between 0.56 and 0.69 while labor allocative efficiency varied between 0.81 and 0.93. Farmers applying organic fertilizers only were technically more efficient but had lower potential yield compared to farmers who applied inorganic or a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Use of inorganic fertilizers lead to a benefit cost ratio of up to 3:1. Organic manure had the lowest benefit-cost ratio (2.2:1) even when compared with that obtained when farmers did not apply any fertility replenishing input resulting from high cost of labor required to use this technology. There is a high potential for farmers to increase their groundnut yields and incomes by improving on production efficiency and by fertilizing their groundnut farms. Key words: Cost-Benefit ratios, Groundnuts, Kenya, Production efficiency, Production functio

The perceived role of innovation platforms in addressing the agricultural value chain collective problems: an empirical application of transaction cost theory

Agricultural innovation platforms are increasingly seen as a panacea for mitigating the agricultural value chain challenges through enabling the co-evolution of different elements in the innovation process. A number of previous studies on IPs show processes for their formation and contribution to innovations. Very few studies have attempted to investigate the perceived benefits from platforms as important determinants for actor participation. Using a sample of 319 randomly selected farmers from one innovation platform in Uganda, it was established that the uncertain markets for the agricultural output, sources of inputs and agricultural information were perceived to be the key motivators for the formation of the platform. The study found a positive significant relationship between transaction cost challenges of environmental uncertainty and structural embeddedness (p<0.01) and frequency of interaction and structural embeddedness (p<0.05). On the other hand, environmental uncertainty, asset specificity and frequency of interactions were significantly correlated with relational embeddedness (p<0.05). However, the complexity of tasks in the value chain was not significantly correlated with structural and relational embeddedness (p≥0.05). It therefore means that to ensure effective participation and implementation of platform activities, efforts ought to be placed on fulfilling the platform’s promise as a forum for mitigation of transaction cost challenges such as inadequate markets for both output and inputs, customized products and inputs and lack of valuable agricultural information. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (2): 1-12, December, 201

Characterizing Land Use Systems within Awoja Watershed

This manuscript analyses trends in land use changes in Awoja Watershed with the aim of exploring the underlying causes of degradation in this watershed within the context of frequent draughts and floods. Changing trends of land use characteristics were used as indicators of ineffectiveness of control of access to resource use in the watershed. The study was carried out in the districts of Katakwi, Amuria and Sorotiin Eastern Uganda where the watershed is experiencing increasing trends of degradation despite the presence of elaborate watershed management institutions. The study used Remote Sensing, and focus group discussions to acquire relevant data on land use changes and their perceived causes. Perceptions of respondents on the effectiveness of the local governance processes were generated. The findings show increase in built-up areas from 0.21% between 1986-1996; to 3.28 between 2006 and 2016 and a notable decrease in forest cover from 107.48 Km2 in 1,986 to 6.94 Km2 by 2016. The results also show a dramatic increase in small scale farming area from 629.44 Km2 to 2,376.64 Km2 from 1986-2016 while the area of wetland reduced from 2,810.47 Km2 to 1,355 Km2over the same period. Results from focus group discussions revealed that although climatic and demographic factors were responsible for land use changes in Awoja, control of access to natural resources was inadequate to stop degradation. Climatic factors mentioned included increased frequency of floods and draughts that were perceived to have been responsible for changes in vegetation cover, water levels and infrastructure. Socio economic factors driving the changes in land use included increased cultivation of wetlands and communal land, increased sale of fuel wood, charcoal and sand, increased migration of cattle herders into the watershed during draughts and out of it during floods and increased fishing. While climatic factors were important, socio political factors such as displacements of communities, resettlements in the fragile environment brought about by government efforts to demarcate wetlands and wild life conservation areas were cited as drivers of degradation. The study concludes that besides climatic factors, inadequate management of access to resources was contributing to degradation of the watershed

Integrating climate and nutrition risk planning for improved food and nutrition security in Mbale district

This info note summarizes findings of climate risk and nutrition profiling conducted by researchers from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) as part of a situation analysis for the second phase of the CCAFS project on Policy Action for Climate Change Adaptation (PACCA), which seeks to stimulate adoption of gender- and nutrition-sensitive climate-smart agriculture by aligning the national level agenda with implementation

EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY BASED SEED MULTIPLICATION IN ENHANCING FARMERS\u2019 KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO IMPROVED BEAN SEEDS IN WESTERN UGANDA

Community Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM) approaches have been used by agricultural research and development actors to improve farmers\u2019 access to quality seed in many developing countries. CBSM can be private or public driven. However, ways of designing the CBSM for optimum effectiveness under public and private contexts are not well understood. This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of public sector driven CBSM and factors influencing farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seed. The study was conducted in Kamwenge District, western Uganda. An expost facto post-test only design was used to compare the knowledge and accesss outcomes for membership and non-membership farmers. Data were collected from 249 respondents, using a structured questionnaire. Ordered probit regression was used to assess factors which influenced farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seeds. Results indicated that Public sector driven CBSM had a significant positive effect (P=0.000) on farmers\u2019 knowledge at (P 640.05) and access to improved bean seeds. Farmers\u2019 access to improved bean seeds was positively influenced by income obtained from beans (P=0.011), distance from farm to the nearest bean market (P=0.036). The CBSM was more beneficial to membership farmers in remote areas compared to those closer to formal seed markets. We recommend that a public sector driven CBSM should target all farmers directly, most especially those in remote areas who lack access to commercial seed outlets.Les approches de la Multiplication Communautaire Des Graines (CBSM) ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9es par les acteurs de recherches agricoles et du d\ue9veloppement pour am\ue9liorer l\u2019acc\ue8s des agriculteurs aux semences de qualit\ue9 dans plusieurs pays en d\ue9veloppement. CBSM peut \ueatre priv\ue9es ou publiques. Cependant, les mani\ue8res de concevoir les CBSM pour une efficacit\ue9 optimale dans les contextes publics et priv\ue9s ne sont pas encore bien comprises. Cette \ue9tude \ue9tait conduite pour explorer l\u2019efficacit\ue9 du secteur public utilisant les CBSM et les facteurs influen\ue7ant l\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences des vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot. Cette \ue9tude \ue9tait conduite dans le district de Kamwenge, dans l\u2019Ouest d\u2019Ouganda. Le design bas\ue9 sur expost facto post-test \ue9tait utilis\ue9 pour comparer la connaissance et les revenus de l\u2019acc\ue8s pour les agriculteurs membres et non membres. Les donn\ue9es \ue9taient collect\ue9es sur 249 r\ue9pondants, en utilisant un questionnaire structur\ue9. La r\ue9gression ordonn\ue9e de Probit \ue9tait utilis\ue9e pour \ue9valuer les facteurs qui influencent l\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9. Les r\ue9sultats ont indiqu\ue9 que le secteur public utilisant les CBSM a un effet significatif positif (P=0,000) sur la connaissance des producteurs (P<0,05) et l\u2019acc\ue8s aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9. L\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs aux semences du haricot am\ue9lior\ue9 \ue9tait positivement influenc\ue9 par le revenu obtenu du haricot (P=0,011), la distance du champ au march\ue9 plus proche du haricot (P=0,036). Le CBSM \ue9tait plus b\ue9n\ue9fique aux producteurs membres des milieux recul\ue9s que ceux proches du march\ue9 formel de semences. Nous recommandons qu\u2019un secteur public conduisant CBSM se focalise sur tous les producteurs directement, plus sp\ue9cialement ceux-l\ue0 dans les milieux recul\ue9s qui manquent d\u2019acc\ue8s aux exutoires de semences commerciales

The epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in rural East Africa: A population-based study.

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) may be common among individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa due to the confluence of CKD risk factors and genetic predisposition.MethodsWe ascertained the prevalence of CKD and its risk factors among a sample of 3,686 participants of a population-based HIV trial in rural Uganda and Kenya. Prevalent CKD was defined as a serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m2 or proteinuria (urine dipstick ≥1+). We used inverse-weighting to estimate the population prevalence of CKD, and multivariable log-link Poisson models to assess the associations of potential risk factors with CKD.ResultsThe estimated CKD prevalence was 6.8% (95% CI 5.7-8.1%) overall and varied by region, being 12.5% (10.1-15.4%) in eastern Uganda, 3.9% (2.2-6.8%) in southwestern Uganda and 3.7% (2.7-5.1%) in western Kenya. Risk factors associated with greater CKD prevalence included age ≥60 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 3.5 [95% CI 1.9-6.5] compared with age 18-29 years), HIV infection (aPR 1.6 [1.1-2.2]), and residence in eastern Uganda (aPR 3.9 [2.6-5.9]). However, two-thirds of individuals with CKD did not have HIV, diabetes, or hypertension as risk factors. Furthermore, we noted many individuals who did not have proteinuria had dipstick positive leukocyturia or hematuria.ConclusionThe prevalence of CKD is appreciable in rural East Africa and there are considerable regional differences. Conventional risk factors appear to only explain a minority of cases, and leukocyturia and hematuria were common, highlighting the need for further research into understanding the nature of CKD in sub-Saharan Africa