Adaptive strategies and local innovations of smallholder farmers in selected agri-food systems of central Kenya

Food production in Kenya is closely related to smallholder agricultural production. Paradoxically, many smallholders suffer extended periods of food crises. This underscores the importance of understanding the multiple pathways smallholders use to deal with food insecurity. Participatory action research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken to identify adaptation strategies and innovations used to address food insecurity vulnerabilities. A sample of 360 households was drawn randomly from 18 farmers\u2019 groups living under acute food and livelihood crisis (Mbeere South district); experiencing borderline food insecurity (Kirinyaga West District) and those with low resilience (Nyandarua North District) all in Kenya. Results showed that smallholders in these areas use and perpetuate diverse adaptive strategies and innovations for coping with vulnerability, for risk avoidance and for livelihoods insurance enhancement. These strategies and innovations ought to be recognised by research, development and policy actors and should inform interventions intended to strengthen smallholder agri-food systems in Kenya.La production vivri\ue8re au Kenya est \ue9troitement li\ue9e \ue0 la production de petits exploitants agricoles. Paradoxalement, laplupart de ces exploitants souffrent de longues p\ue9riodes de crises alimentaires. Ceci souligne l\u2019importance de la compr\ue9hension de multiples voies et moyens qu\u2019ils utilisent pour faire face \ue0 l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire. Une action de recherche participative par des m\ue9thodes qualitatives et quantitatives \ue9tait enterprise pour identifier les strat\ue9gies d\u2019adaptation et innovations utilis\ue9es afin d\u2019adresser les probl\ue8mes li\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire. Un \ue9chantillon de 360 m\ue9nages \ue9tait al\ue9atoirement tir\ue9 de 18 groupes de fermiers vivant sous une crise alimentaire aigue (Mbeere South district); ceux vivant en situation proche de l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire (Kirinyaga West District) ainsi que ceux \ue0 faible flexibilit\ue9 \ue0 la situation de famine(Nyandarua North District) au Kenya. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les petits exploitants des r\ue9gions pr\ue9cit\ue9es utilisent et perp\ue9tuent diverses strat\ue9gies d\u2019adaptation et innovations pour faire face \ue0 la vuln\ue9rabilit\ue9 pour \ue9viter le risque et promouvoir l\u2019assurance quant au gagne-pain quotidien. Ces strat\ue9gies et innovations devraient \ueatre reconnues par la recherche, ainsi que des des acteurs politiques et de d\ue9veloppement et s\u2019en inspirer pour initier des interventions visant \ue0 consolider des syst\ue8mes agro-alimentaires de petits exploitants au Kenya

The lived experiences of experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Research into the effects and mechanisms of mindfulness training draws predominantly on quantitative research. There is a lack of understanding about the subjective experiences of experienced mindfulness meditators, which may provide additional insights into the effects, processes and context of mindfulness training. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of a novel group of experienced mindfulness meditators who practise Vipassana Mahasi (VM) meditation. The study aimed to understand how experienced VM practitioners make sense of the effects of practice and what processes they ascribe to it. Participants attended semistructured interviews, and their responses were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results yielded overarching themes including (a) improvements in hedonic and eudaimonic well-being; (b) insights into self, others and perception of reality; (c) attaining equanimity; and (d) physical and interpersonal difficulties. Participants perceived VM as a ‘cleansing’ process whereby maladaptive responses were eliminated through mindfulness, other supportive mental qualities, decentering and nonattachment. The findings revealed a complex and dynamic set of interdependent outcomes and processes, which are reinforced by Buddhist teachings and ethical practices. This study highlights the need for additional interdisciplinary research into topics such as insight generation and supportive mental qualities cultivated during VM, novel states of well-being informed by Buddhist constructs and interpersonal difficulties related to long-term practice. Findings also suggest that incorporating Buddhist teachings and ethics into mindfulness-based interventions may enhance practitioner understanding and implementation of meditation techniques.N/

Epidemiology of Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in HIV Infected Women in Kenya: a cross-Sectional Study

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its related immunosuppression are associated with an increased risk of prevalent, incident, and persistent squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) of the cervix. The objective of the study was to describe the prevalence and predictors of high-risk HPV and cervical cancer to support the need for strengthening cervical cancer screening programs for HIV infected women in Kenya. A cross sectional study was conducted in a hospital in Central Kenya, Kiambu district. The study population constituted of HIV positive women attending the ART treatment clinic. A total of 715 HIV positive women initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) were enrolled in this study. About 359 (52.1%) were less than 40 years of age and 644 (90.3%) of the patients were widowed. About 642 (92.6%) of the HIV infected women were in follow-up period of ≥ 1 year. The outcome/prognosis of the patients undergoing ICC was 3 cured, 5 good and 4 poor respectively. In a multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that for a one-unit decrease of CD4, we expect 1.23 log odds of increasing the severity of cervical cancer (B=1.23, P<0.015), given that all of the other variables in the model are held constant. In conclusion screening of all HIV infected women, who are under HIV care and treatment, enrolling patients on HAART with higher CD4 counts is recommended to see the net effect of HAART response. Keywords: Cancer screening, ART, SILs, Women, CD

Adaptive strategies and local innovations of smallholder farmers in selected agri-food systems of central Kenya

Food production in Kenya is closely related to smallholder agricultural production. Paradoxically, many smallholders suffer extended periods of food crises. This underscores the importance of understanding the multiple pathways smallholders use to deal with food insecurity. Participatory action research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken to identify adaptation strategies and innovations used to address food insecurity vulnerabilities. A sample of 360 households was drawn randomly from 18 farmers’ groups living under acute food and livelihood crisis (Mbeere South district); experiencing borderline food insecurity (Kirinyaga West District) and those with low resilience (Nyandarua North District) all in Kenya. Results showed that smallholders in these areas use and perpetuate diverse adaptive strategies and innovations for coping with vulnerability, for risk avoidance and for livelihoods insurance enhancement. These strategies and innovations ought to be recognised by research, development and policy actors and should inform interventions intended to strengthen smallholder agri-food systems in Kenya.La production vivrière au Kenya est étroitement liée à la production de petits exploitants agricoles. Paradoxalement, laplupart de ces exploitants souffrent de longues périodes de crises alimentaires. Ceci souligne l’importance de la compréhension de multiples voies et moyens qu’ils utilisent pour faire face à l’insécurité alimentaire. Une action de recherche participative par des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives était enterprise pour identifier les stratégies d’adaptation et innovations utilisées afin d’adresser les problèmes liés à l’insécurité alimentaire. Un échantillon de 360 ménages était aléatoirement tiré de 18 groupes de fermiers vivant sous une crise alimentaire aigue (Mbeere South district); ceux vivant en situation proche de l’insécurité alimentaire (Kirinyaga West District) ainsi que ceux à faible flexibilité à la situation de famine(Nyandarua North District) au Kenya. Les résultats ont montré que les petits exploitants des régions précitées utilisent et perpétuent diverses stratégies d’adaptation et innovations pour faire face à la vulnérabilité pour éviter le risque et promouvoir l’assurance quant au gagne-pain quotidien. Ces stratégies et innovations devraient être reconnues par la recherche, ainsi que des des acteurs politiques et de développement et s’en inspirer pour initier des interventions visant à consolider des systèmes agro-alimentaires de petits exploitants au Kenya