26 research outputs found

    Attracting and retaining health workers in rural areas: investigating nurses’ views on rural posts and policy interventions

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kenya has bold plans for scaling up priority interventions nationwide, but faces major human resource challenges, with a lack of skilled workers especially in the most disadvantaged rural areas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated reasons for poor recruitment and retention in rural areas and potential policy interventions through quantitative and qualitative data collection with nursing trainees. We interviewed 345 trainees from four purposively selected Medical Training Colleges (MTCs) (166 pre-service and 179 upgrading trainees with prior work experience). Each interviewee completed a self-administered questionnaire including likert scale responses to statements about rural areas and interventions, and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted at each MTC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Likert scale responses indicated mixed perceptions of both living and working in rural areas, with a range of positive, negative and indifferent views expressed on average across different statements. The analysis showed that attitudes to working in rural areas were significantly positively affected by being older, but negatively affected by being an upgrading student. Attitudes to living in rural areas were significantly positively affected by being a student at the MTC furthest from Nairobi.</p> <p>During FGDs trainees raised both positive and negative aspects of rural life. Positive aspects included lower costs of living and more autonomy at work. Negative issues included poor infrastructure, inadequate education facilities and opportunities, higher workloads, and inadequate supplies and supervision. Particular concern was expressed about working in communities dominated by other tribes, reflecting Kenya’s recent election-related violence.</p> <p>Quantitative and qualitative data indicated that students believed several strategies could improve rural recruitment and retention, with particular emphasis on substantial rural allowances and the ability to choose their rural location. Other interventions highlighted included provision of decent housing, and more rapid career advancement. However, recently introduced short term contracts in named locations were not favoured due to their lack of pension plans and job security.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study identified a range of potential interventions to increase rural recruitment and retention, with those most favored by nursing students being additional rural allowances, and allowing choice of rural location. Greater investment is needed in information systems to evaluate the impact of such policies.</p

    International Nonregimes: A Research Agenda1

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    Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146934/1/j.1468-2486.2007.00672.x.pd

    Dissection of the multigenic wheat stem rust resistance present in the Montenegrin spring wheat accession PI 362698

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    Abstract Background Research to identify and characterize stem rust resistance genes in common wheat, Triticum aestivum, has been stimulated by the emergence of Ug99-lineage races of the wheat stem rust pathogen, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), in Eastern Africa. The Montenegrin spring wheat landrace PI 362698 was identified as a source of Pgt resistance. This accession exhibits resistance to multiple Ug99-lineage and North American Pgt races at seedling and adult-plant stages. A recombinant inbred population was developed by crossing the susceptible line LMPG-6 with a single plant selection of PI 362698. A genetic map was constructed using the Illumina iSelect 90 K wheat assay and the markers csLv34, NB-LRR3, and wMAS000003 and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed. Results QTL analysis identified five significant QTLs (α = 0.05) on chromosomes 2B, 3B, 6A, 6D, and 7A associated with wheat stem rust resistance. The QTL on chromosome 3B was identified using both field data from Kenya (Pgt Ug99-lineage races) and seedling data from Pgt race MCCF. This QTL potentially corresponds to Sr12 or a new allele of Sr12. The multi-pathogen resistance gene Sr57 located on chromosome 7D is present in PI 362698 according to the diagnostic markers csLv34 and wMAS000003, however a significant QTL was not detected at this locus. The QTLs on chromosomes 2B, 6A, and 6D were identified during seedling trials and are thought to correspond to Sr16, Sr8a, and Sr5, respectively. The QTL identified on chromosome 7A was detected using MCCF seedling data and may be Sr15 or a potentially novel allele of recently detected Ug99 resistance QTLs. Conclusions The combination of resistance QTLs found in PI 362698 is like the resistance gene combination present in the broadly resistant cultivar Thatcher. As such, PI 362698 may not be a landrace as previously thought. PI 362698 has been crossed with North Dakota wheat germplasm for future breeding efforts. Additional work is needed to fully understand why the combination of genes present in PI 362698 and ‘Thatcher’ provide such durable resistance
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