The political and cultural inclusion of intra-state ethnic minorities in Ethiopia: The case of the Qimant of Amhara state

Conflicts between the Qimant community – an intrastate minority ethnic group endogenous to Amhara state in the Ethiopian federation – and the state’s special police forces have caused hundreds of deaths and the internal displacement of close to 50,000 people. Linked to these conflicts are the Qimants’ demands for recognition as a distinct ethnic community and the establishment of local government in the territories they inhabit; demands which have not received a satisfactory response from the federal or Amhara state government and which officials view with disdain. The situation raises several questions. Do the federal and regional-state constitutions provide the necessary framework for accommodating intra-state ethnic minorities such as the Qimant

Emotional Resilience Emerges as Novel Aspect of Meta-Mood Experience: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Accounting for Data Censoring

Meta-mood experience refers to the thoughts and feelings that serve to monitor, evaluate, and at times change mood. The Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS) was designed to gauge meta-mood experience along three factors: Attention, Clarity, and Repair. Previous factor analyses have verified this three-factor structure. However, one study by Palmer and colleagues found strong support for a four-factor structure. In light of this discrepancy, the present study aimed to replicate Palmer and colleagues’ study in a new sample, comparing the models they used to determine which is best-fitting. We also aimed to correct the effect of data point censoring when estimating the factor models. Data point censoring occurs when researchers have only partial information about the value of a variable. Because no previous research has explored the TMMS while accounting for potential censoring, we aimed to test this idea in the current sample. A total of 202 undergraduates completed the TMMS during an online study. To compare the models, we relied on Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). Results revealed that the four-factor model fit the data better than the three- and one-factor models tested. In the four-factor model, the first three factors corresponded to the previous Attention, Clarity, and Repair factors. We named the fourth factor Emotional Resilience because the items loading on this factor suggested resistance to negative emotional experiences. We suggest TMMS users calculate scale scores based on all four of these factors to provide a more detailed description of meta-mood experience

Metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents in low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, which is rising in the low and middle income countries (LMICs). There are various studies with inconsistent findings that are inconclusive for policy makers and program planners. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at estimating the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMICs.MethodsElectronic searches were conducted in international databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (Elsevier), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science direct (Elsevier), Food Science and Technology Abstracts (FSTA), Global Health and Medline, and other sources (World Cat, Google Scholar, and Google). The pooled estimates were computed in the random effect model. The pooled prevalence was computed using the three diagnostic methods (IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti). Publication bias was verified using funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to identify the possible sources of heterogeneity among the included studies.ResultIn this study, 142,142 children and adolescents from 76 eligible articles were included to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMCIs. MeTs among overweight and obese population was computed from 20 articles with the pooled prevalence of 24.09%, 36.5%, and 56.32% in IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti criteria, respectively. Similarly, a total of 56 articles were eligible to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS in the general population of children and adolescents. Hence, Mets was found in 3.98% (IDF), 6.71% (ATP III) and 8.91% (de Ferranti) of study subjects. Regarding the components of MetS, abdominal obesity was the major component in overweight and obese population and low HDL-C was the most common component in the general population. This study also revealed that males were highly affected by MetS than females.ConclusionThis study illustrates that MetS among children and adolescents is an emerging public health challenge in LMICs, where the prevalence of obesity is on the move. Preventive strategies such as community and school based intervention need to be designed. Promoting physical activities and healthy eating behaviors could avert this problem

Multi-stakeholder Platforms Strengthening Selection and use of Fodder Options in Ethiopia: Lessons and Challenges

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceAlthough existing literature eloquently elaborates the role of an “innovation systems perspective” in rural development and provides theoretical insights into the concepts of the approach, there are few practical lessons emerging from application of the approach in research for development projects in various contexts. This paper analyzes a project designed to strengthen the ability of smallholders to innovate in ways that improved the returns to fodder use in Ethiopia. The paper applies an innovation systems perspective to the innovation process as a means of describing the contribution of a project-driven multi-stakeholder platform. A number of key lessons were gleaned from our research. Participatory selection of technologies that addressed farmers' priority problems and demonstrating tangible economic benefits were found to be effective in winning the trust of farmers and drawing the attention of a wider group of stakeholders. The benefits from the technologies needed to carry limited risk and accrue early economic gains to be attractive to farmers. Linking forage technologies with a range of value chain issues in livestock enterprises was essential for successful adoption of forage technologies by farmers. Engaging diverse actors in stakeholder platforms, including local decision makers, along the dairy/fattening value chain was found to be instrumental in turning the wealth of knowledge surrounding fodder technologies and practices into action and creating immediate benefits to poor livestock keepers. On the other hand we found that nurturing collective capacity of a network of organizations and individuals was a major challenge for small projects with limited mandate and resources. For sustainability, organizations with a long term commitment and strong decision-making power need to play a leading role in facilitating innovation processes. An effective agricultural innovation system requires a cadre of professionals with a new skill set and mind set (markets, agribusiness, rural institutions, rural microfinance, facilitation, system analysis, conflict management, etc.). This implies the need for research and development organizations to re-skill, and the need for the reform of university curricula to include skills in agribusiness, communication and partnership facilitation. Large scale institutional and policy change requires piloting of the concept and practices of facilitating innovation through stakeholder platforms in different contexts, documenting and sharing experiences, building on successes and engaging policy makers in the research process

‘THEY CALL US KILLERS’: AN EXPLORATION OF HERBAL, SPIRITUAL AND WESTERN MEDICAL PRACTICES IN MOMBASA, KENYA

Background: This paper attempts to describe the multi-dimensional perceptions of mganga/waganga (Kiswahili: traditional healers) by members of their constituencies, patients, government health officials and religious leaders in Mombasa, Kenya. It also seeks to investigate how these conceptions and perceptions influence the relationships between traditional healers and other stakeholders in the delivery of public healthcare services in Mombasa. Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach consisting of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was employed and 43 research participants were interviewed during the period of two months in the summer of 2010. Data were recorded (video and audio), transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparison method. Results: Findings indicate that varied opinions and interpretations of mganga influence both the decision-making process of the patient and the provision of healthcare by the healer. High tensions exist between mganga and other actors, and furthermore, such perceptions seem to evidence themselves in the government’s support for waganga, as well as the delineation of healthcare services—whereby certain stakeholders and participants are relegated to specific tasks. Conclusions: This research builds upon the growing body of knowledge on how African patients—in general and Kenya in particular—and healers inhabit a multifaceted arena of healing in order to effectively negotiate their positions and needs to make complex decisions involving care, contingent upon local economic, social, cultural, and religious factors

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Children and Adolescents in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Introduction. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an assemblage of interconnected cardiovascular risk factors that are prevalent among children and adolescents in high-income countries (HICs). Despite the presence of several studies on the issue, the study findings are incongruent due to the absence of a gold standard diagnostic method of MetS in children. Thus, the findings of the original studies are inconclusive for policy makers and other stakeholders. This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at giving conclusive evidence about MetS among children and adolescents in HICs. Methods. We conducted searches using electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), EMBASE (Elsevier), and Medline (EBSCOhost)) and other sources (Google Scholar and Google) up to September 2020. Observational studies reporting the prevalence of MetS were eligible in this study. The pooled estimates were computed in fixed and random effect models using six diagnostic methods (IDF, ATP III, de Ferranti et al., WHO, Weiss et al., and Cruz and Goran). Publication bias was verified using funnel plots and Egger’s regression tests. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed in case of higher heterogeneities among the included studies. Result. In this study, 77 studies with a total population of 125,445 children and adolescents were used in the final analysis. Metabolic syndrome among the overweight and obese population was computed from 28 studies with the pooled prevalence of 25.25%, 24.47%, 39.41%, 29.52%, and 33.36% in IDF, ATP III, de Ferranti et al., WHO, and Weiss et al. criteria, respectively. Likewise, 49 studies were eligible to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS in the general population of children and adolescents. Hence, MetS was found in 3.70% (IDF), 5.40% (ATP III), 14.78% (de Ferranti et al.), 3.90% (WHO), and, 4.66% (Cruz and Goran) of study participants. Regarding the components of MetS, abdominal obesity in the overweight and obese population, and low HDL-C in the general population were the most common components. Besides, the prevalence of Mets among males was higher than females. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that MetS among children and adolescents is undoubtedly high in HICs. The prevalence of MetS is higher among males than females. Community-based social and behavioral change communications need to be designed to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activities. Prospective cohort studies could also help to explore all possible risk factors of MetS and to design specific interventions accordingly

The Meta-Mood Experience: Exploring the One-, Three-, and Four-Factor Models of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale

The meta-mood experience involves thinking about mood, examining the relation between mood and thoughts, maintaining good moods, and altering bad moods (Mayer & Gaschke, 1988). Meta-mood can help individuals have a better grasp of what they are feeling at different times. The 30-item Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS; Salovey et al., 1995) measures the extent to which people attend to, distinguish among, and regulate their mood and emotions. Salovey et al. (1995) found three factors (Emotional Attention, Clarity, and Repair), while Palmer et al. (2003) found evidence for a fourth but left it unnamed. We named the fourth factor in our study Emotional Susceptibility because this factor looks at how easily influenced the participants are in regard to their mood and emotions. Censoring occurs when the value of a variable is only partially known (Gijbels, 2010). If there are a significant number of people that are scoring 1 on an item, there could be left-censoring. This is because low scores on the item fail to reflect low levels of the dimension that is being measured. Our study aimed to determine whether the one-factor, three-factor, or four-factor models fits the data the best when we assumed that participants may have censored values on some of the TMMS items.https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1083/thumbnail.jp