INFLUENCE OF TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS ON LEARNING READINESS AMONG 5-6 YEARS OLD IN PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOLS IN KIMILILI-BUNGOMA SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Learner readiness enhances academic achievement and predicts children’s performance in the near future. Children who are ready are less likely to experience behavioural and emotional problems and score higher in reading, mathematics and fine motor skills than those who are not ready. However, teachers are still struggling with learners from preschool who are not well prepared for grade one. This paper provides empirical evidence of the influence of teacher characteristics on learning readiness among 5-6 years old using data obtained from 356 pre-schoolers and 55 preschool teachers in public pre-schools in Kimilili-Bungoma Sub County, Kenya. The multiple regression analysis results indicate that selected teacher characteristics variables (age, years of schooling and number of workshops attended) are statistically significant in explaining variations in learning readiness among pre-schoolers. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education, County and Sub-County Education office and public preschools should ensure that preschool teachers managing learners are qualified and attend more in service training.  Article visualizations

Distribution of common bacterial blight disease under different agroecologies in Uganda

Common bacterial blight disease (CBB) causes severe yield and seed quality losses on common bean worldwide. Information about CBB distribution is important in designing effective control strategies. This disease has been managed using intergraded strategies, involving use of certified seed produced in areas of low disease pressure. Unfortunately, areas of low CBB pressure have not been mapped in Uganda. This study was conducted to determine the distribution and intensity of CBB in Uganda, in order to establish low pressure areas for multiplication of clean certified seed. A survey was conducted in farmers\u2019 fields in18 locations found in four rainfalls-based agroecology in Uganda, for two seasons of 2016. The Victoria Cresent and Mbale farmland had the highest disease intensity index (29%); followed by Central woodland savannah (21%). The Northwest farm land and South west grass farm lands had low CBB intensity index of 2.5 and 7.8%, respectively. Thus, The Northwest farm land (Arua, Amuru, Nwoya) and South west grass farm lands (Rakai, Ntungamo Lwengo and Bukomansimbi), are recommended for production of CBB free bean seeds.La maladie bact\ue9rienne commune (MBC) provoque de graves pertes de rendement et de qualit\ue9 des semences de haricot commun dans le monde entier. Les informations sur la distribution du MBC sont importantes pour la conception de strat\ue9gies de contr\uf4le efficaces. Cette maladie a \ue9t\ue9 g\ue9r\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019aide de strat\ue9gies intercal\ue9es, impliquant l\u2019utilisation de semences certifi\ue9es produites dans des zones de faible pression de la maladie. Malheureusement, les zones de faible pression du CBB n\u2019ont pas \ue9t\ue9 cartographi\ue9es en Ouganda. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 faite pour d\ue9terminer la distribution et l\u2019intensit\ue9 du CBB en Ouganda, afin d\u2019\ue9tablir des zones de basse pression pour la multiplication de semences certifies qui sont propres. Une enqu\ueate a \ue9t\ue9 faite dans les champs d\u2019agriculteurs dans 18 localit\ue9s situ\ue9es dans quatre agro\ue9cologies en Ouganda bas\ue9es sur les pr\ue9cipitations, pendant les deux saisons de 2016. Les terres agricoles de Victoria Cresent et de Mbale pr\ue9sentaient l\u2019indice d\u2019intensit\ue9 de maladie le plus \ue9lev\ue9 (29%); suivi de la savane bois\ue9e centrale (21%). Les terres agricoles du nord-ouest et celles du sud-ouest avaient un indice d\u2019intensit\ue9 de CBB faible de 2,5 et 7,8%, respectivement. Ainsi, les terres agricoles du Nord-Ouest (Arua, Amuru, Nwoya) et celles du Sud-Ouest (Rakai, Ntungamo Lwengo et Bukomansimbi) sont recommand\ue9es pour la production de semences de haricot exemptes de CBB

Rapid assessment of sweetpotato seed and root production and markets in Kamuli and Iganga districts, near Eastern Uganda

The International Potato Center (CIP) and National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) under the supervision of National Agricultural Research Organization are implementing a three-year project entitled, ‘Sweetpotato Genetic Advances and Innovative Seed Systems (SweetGAINS)’ funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The project aims to modernize the current Sweetpotato breeding systems and early generation seed production. SweetGAINS project is structured into work packages (WP1 - WP4) for effective and efficient implementation. As part of work package 4, a detailed rapid assessment of the sweetpotato seed system was conducted. The main objective of the study was to generate bench information to support the implementation of the sweetpotato system

Data resource profile: network for analysing longitudinal population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA Network)

The Network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA Network, http://alpha.lshtm.ac.uk/) brings together ten population-based HIV surveillance sites in eastern and southern Africa, and is coordinated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). It was established in 2005 and aims to (i) broaden the evidence base on HIV epidemiology for informing policy, (ii) strengthen the analytical capacity for HIV research, and (iii) foster collaboration between network members. All study sites, some starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, conduct demographic surveillance in populations that range from approximately 20 to 220 thousand individuals. In addition, they conduct population-based surveys with HIV testing, and verbal autopsy interviews with relatives of deceased residents. ALPHA Network datasets have been used for studying HIV incidence, sexual behaviour and the effects of HIV on mortality, fertility, and household composition. One of the network’s substantive focus areas is the monitoring of AIDS mortality and HIV services coverage in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Service use data are retrospectively recorded in interviews and supplemented by information from record linkage with medical facilities in the surveillance areas. Data access is at the discretion of each of the participating sites, but can be coordinated by the network

Incident type 2 diabetes attributable to suboptimal diet in 184 countries

The global burden of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well established. This risk assessment model estimated T2D incidence among adults attributable to direct and body weight-mediated effects of 11 dietary factors in 184 countries in 1990 and 2018. In 2018, suboptimal intake of these dietary factors was estimated to be attributable to 14.1 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI), 13.814.4 million) incident T2D cases, representing 70.3% (68.871.8%) of new cases globally. Largest T2D burdens were attributable to insufficient whole-grain intake (26.1% (25.027.1%)), excess refined rice and wheat intake (24.6% (22.327.2%)) and excess processed meat intake (20.3% (18.323.5%)). Across regions, highest proportional burdens were in central and eastern Europe and central Asia (85.6% (83.487.7%)) and Latin America and the Caribbean (81.8% (80.183.4%)); and lowest proportional burdens were in South Asia (55.4% (52.160.7%)). Proportions of diet-attributable T2D were generally larger in men than in women and were inversely correlated with age. Diet-attributable T2D was generally larger among urban versus rural residents and higher versus lower educated individuals, except in high-income countries, central and eastern Europe and central Asia, where burdens were larger in rural residents and in lower educated individuals. Compared with 1990, global diet-attributable T2D increased by 2.6 absolute percentage points (8.6 million more cases) in 2018, with variation in these trends by world region and dietary factor. These findings inform nutritional priorities and clinical and public health planning to improve dietary quality and reduce T2D globally. (c) 2023, The Author(s)

Children's and adolescents' rising animal-source food intakes in 1990-2018 were impacted by age, region, parental education and urbanicity

Animal-source foods (ASF) provide nutrition for children and adolescents physical and cognitive development. Here, we use data from the Global Dietary Database and Bayesian hierarchical models to quantify global, regional and national ASF intakes between 1990 and 2018 by age group across 185 countries, representing 93% of the worlds child population. Mean ASF intake was 1.9 servings per day, representing 16% of children consuming at least three daily servings. Intake was similar between boys and girls, but higher among urban children with educated parents. Consumption varied by age from 0.6 at <1 year to 2.5 servings per day at 1519 years. Between 1990 and 2018, mean ASF intake increased by 0.5 servings per week, with increases in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa. In 2018, total ASF consumption was highest in Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey, and lowest in Uganda, India, Kenya and Bangladesh. These findings can inform policy to address malnutrition through targeted ASF consumption programmes. (c) 2023, The Author(s)

Letters and Viewpoints Potentials of Using Waste Burnt Clay as a Pozzolanic Material in Kenya

Samples of waste burnt clay were collected from various parts of the country to study their pozzolanic properties. The samples were ground into fine powder and taken for chemical tests. Results from the chemical tests on all the samples showed high silica content. In fact the combined percentages of Silica (SiO2), Alumina (Al2O3) and Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) was more than 70%, a requirement by the Kenyan standard for a suitable pozzolanic material. One sample from a major factory (being a large quantity) was mixed with various proportions of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and used for physical tests. Results showed compressive strengths way above the recommended for masonry cement when up to 50% OPC was replaced with burnt clay. For masonry works 50% OPC replacement with burnt clay will still give satisfactory results and reduce cost of binder by at least 20%. Discovery and Innovation Vol. 13 no. 3/4 December (2001) pp. 114-118 KEY WORDS: waste burnt clay, pozzolanic material, masonry clement, building standard