Caregiver attitudes and beliefs associated with compliance to childhood immunization in Bamenda, Cameroon

Children who are up-to-date on their immunization schedule have a good chance of resisting diseases that are vaccine-preventable. The proper use of vaccines is one of the most cost-effective methods that can be used to control the spread of infectious diseases.The factors associated with children being up-to-date on their immunization schedule are many. The decision to immunize children is made by the caregiver, because a child cannot make this decision. Caregivers\u27 attitudes and beliefs about immunization and vaccine-preventable diseases influence the decisions they make.The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of caregivers\u27 beliefs and attitudes to childhood immunization compliance in Bamenda, Cameroon. The current rate of childhood immunization in Cameroon is 36%. This rate is very low and so the urgency to determine factors influencing immunization compliance. It is important to know caregiver beliefs and attitudes associated with compliance to childhood immunization so these could be addressed if they would lead to an increase in immunization compliance. The Health Belief Model and self-efficacy constructs were used as the theoretical framework.To access caregiver beliefs and attitudes a survey instrument based on constructs of the Health Belief Model and self-efficacy was modified, pilot tested and validated for use in this study. Participants were present with their children for admission into class one at randomly selected primary schools in Bamenda,Cameroon. The data for this study are presented in a descriptive and analytical format. Logistic regression, MANOVA and chi-square techniques were used for analysis.The following major conclusions are drawn from this study:Location of residence and level of education were associated with compliance to childhood immunization. Caregivers whose level of education was higher than classes seven were more likely to be compliant to childhood immunization than those whose level were lower than class seven. Perceived susceptibility, severity, and self efficacy were associated with compliance to childhood immunization. Self-efficacy increased the predictive ability of the Health Belief Model.Developing health education interventions to address these issues may improve immunization compliance in Bamenda, Cameroon. Further research is needed to address designing programs to reduce childhood mortality by increasing childhood compliance with immunization policie

Assessing the cumulative environmental effects of marine renewable energy developments: establishing common ground

Assessing and managing the cumulative impacts of human activities on the environment remains a major challenge to sustainable development. This challenge is highlighted by the worldwide expansion of marine renewable energy developments (MREDs) in areas already subject to multiple activities and climate change. Cumulative effects assessments in theory provide decision makers with adequate information about how the environment will respond to the incremental effects of licensed activities and are a legal requirement in many nations. In practise, however, such assessments are beset by uncertainties resulting in substantial delays during the licensing process that reduce MRED investor confidence and limit progress towards meeting climate change targets. In light of these targets and ambitions to manage the marine environment sustainably, reducing the uncertainty surrounding MRED effects and cumulative effects assessment are timely and vital. This review investigates the origins and evolution of cumulative effects assessment to identify why the multitude of approaches and pertinent research have emerged, and discusses key considerations and challenges relevant to assessing the cumulative effects of MREDs and other activities on ecosystems. The review recommends a shift away from the current reliance on disparate environmental impact assessments and limited strategic environmental assessments, and a move towards establishing a common system of coordinated data and research relative to ecologically meaningful areas, focussed on the needs of decision makers tasked with protecting and conserving marine ecosystems and services

Reflections on the Role of Plantations in Development: Lessons from the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC)

Plantation agriculture under the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) registers an average annual turnover of over 50billion FCFA. The corporation is hailed as a major contributor to development in Cameroon. However, conceptualizing development in terms of inequality reduction through the increase in social benefits to disadvantaged groups paints a completely different picture of the corporation. Empirical work shows that although farm labourers are central to the corporation’s economic success, they are yet to fully benefit from the proceeds of plantation agriculture. The lack of significant improvements in residential and income standards of the multitude of the CDC farm labourers contradicts the view of the corporation as a “development” agent. The corporation has seemingly maintained a deplorable social responsibility record wherein farm labourers are the sacrificial lambs in the quest for increased economic output which is then proclaimed as “development”. This paper contradicts the praises sung by different authors to the CDC as an agent of development by giving an insight on the living conditions of a majority of the workers of this parastatal. It therefore looks beyond gross economic outputs by providing knowledge on what really trickles down to the underprivileged majority

Variations in salinity tolerance of malaria vectors of the Anopheles subpictus complex in Sri Lanka and the implications for malaria transmission

Abstract Background Anopheles subpictus sensu lato, a widespread vector of malaria in Asia, is reportedly composed of four sibling species A-D based on distinct cytogenetic and morphological characteristics. However An. subpictus species B specimens in Sri Lanka are termed An. subpictus B/ An. sundaicus because of recent genetic data. Differences in salinity tolerance and coastal/inland prevalence of An. subpictus sibling species that were not previously established in Sri Lanka are presented here. Results Specimens with morphological characteristics of all four Indian An. subpictus sibling species were found in Sri Lanka. Sibling species A, C and D tended to be predominant in inland, and An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus, in coastal localities. Sibling species C was predominant in both adult and larval inland collections. Larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus were found in inland and coastal sites, including a lagoon, with salinity varying from 0 to 30 ppt. An. subpictus sibling species A, C and D larvae were present in water of salinity between 0 to 4 ppt. An. subpictus C, D and An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae showed compatible differential salinity tolerance in laboratory tests. The first instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus showed 100% survival up to 15 ppt in comparison to species C and D where the corresponding values were 3 ppt and 6 ppt respectively. However all third instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus survived up to 30 ppt salinity whereas An. subpictus C and D tolerated up to 4 ppt and 8 ppt salinity respectively. Conclusions The results suggest that An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus breed in fresh, brackish and nearly saline water while An. subpictus species C and D do so in fresh and less brackish waters in Sri Lanka, as in India. Because of the established role of An. sundaicus s.l. and An. subpictus s.l. as malaria vectors, the findings indicate a need for greater monitoring of brackish water breeding habitats in Asia. Tolerance to 15 ppt salinity may also constitute a simple method for differentiating An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae from those of An. subpictus species C and D in field studies.</p

Obligations and aspirations: A critical evaluation of offshore wind farm cumulative impact assessments

Proponents of marine renewable energy worldwide highlight that regulatory and consenting procedures are a significant barrier to the upscaling of infrastructure required to transform the energy generation sector. Uncertainties about the cumulative effects of marine renewable energy developments cause substantial delays during the consenting process, which are exacerbated by the lack of clarity about how to assess cumulative effects. These obstacles have contributed to perceptions that this essential emerging industry receives disproportionate scrutiny relative to established maritime activities. However, alongside legislated targets to reduce carbon emissions, there are legal obligations to protect, maintain and improve the condition of the marine environment. As the imperative to halt the decline in the condition of the environment increases, so expectations of cumulative impact assessments grow and the risk of consenting delays persists. To investigate how robust current cumulative impact assessment practise is, a novel evaluation framework was developed and applied to Environmental Statements of the world's largest offshore wind farms, currently in United Kingdom waters. The framework was designed to evaluate cumulative impact assessments relative to the information needs of decision-makers tasked with managing cumulative effects. We found that current practise does not meet those needs, that there is dissonance between science and practise, and problematic variability between assessments was observed. Straightforward recommendations for improved practise are provided, which if implemented may ease the perceived regulatory burden by clarifying practise. We also highlight additional steps that could enable project-led cumulative impact assessments to better support regional marine management. The results and recommendations will be of interest to countries worldwide where marine renewable energy is emerging alongside ecosystem-approach and marine spatial planning aspirations

Critical ethnography, cultural safety, and international nursing research

Critical qualitative methodology provides a strategy to examine the human experience and its relationship to power and truth. Cultural safety is a concept that has been applied to nursing education and practice and refers to interactions that acknowledge and respect the unique cultural background of patients. It recognizes power inequities between caregivers who belong to dominant cultures and patients who may belong to oppressed groups. Culture is interpreted from a critical constructivist perspective as a fluid relational process that is enacted contextually. The purpose of this paper is to examine the congruence between and among critical methodology, cultural safety, and the conduct of nursing research in low- and middle-income countries by nurses from high-income countries. It is argued that if cultural safety is important and relevant to education and practice, then it might be appropriate to address it in research endeavors

Women in contact with the gay and lesbian community in Sydney: Report of the Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) Survey 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012

The Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey is run by a collaboration of ACON and researchers at the University of Sydney (prior to 2009, researchers were based at the University of New South Wales). It was first carried out in 1996, initiated by workers from two ACON projects, Women Partners of Gay and Bisexual Men and the Gay and Lesbian Injecting Drug Use Project, who were faced with a lack of empirical evidence on which to base their intervention work. The survey is regularly revised to reflect the needs of the community and knowledge deficits identified through research literature. Over its lifetime, SWASH has become a comprehensive survey of sexual health and wellbeing, violence, mental health and levels of psychological distress, and a number of other important health issues relevant to lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women, such as tobacco use, illicit drug use, alcohol consumption, and cancer screening behaviours. Where possible, questions have been used from established national surveys such as the Australian Health Survey, National Drug Strategy Household Survey, Australian Study of Health and Relationships, and Australian Longitudinal Survey of Women’s Health. While research on LBQ women’s health and wellbeing has increased since the birth of the survey, epidemiological data on sexual health, mental health, experiences of abuse and violence and behaviours such as screening, illicit drug use, alcohol and smoking that can leave women vulnerable to adverse health outcomes, is still inconsistent. Moreover, as long as the inclusion of sexuality questions in large epidemiological surveys remains patchy or data is reported only by sexuality and not by sexuality and gender, SWASH provides a unique and important source of health-related information about Australian LBQ women. This report presents results from surveys conducted at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day and other community events and venues during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras seasons in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012

Genetic evidence for malaria vectors of the Anopheles sundaicus complex in Sri Lanka with morphological characteristics attributed to Anopheles subpictus species B

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles subpictus sensu lato</it>, a widespread malaria vector in Asia, is reportedly composed of four sibling species A - D. Mosquitoes morphologically identified as belonging to the Subpictus complex were collected from different locations near the east coast of Sri Lanka, and specific ribosomal DNA sequences determined to validate their taxonomic status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Anopheles subpictus s.l</it>. larvae and blood-fed adults were collected from different locations in the Eastern province and their sibling species status was determined based on published morphological characteristics. DNA sequences of the D3 domain of 28 S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the internal transcribed spacer -2 (ITS-2) of mosquitoes morphologically identified as <it>An. subpictus </it>sibling species A, B, C and D were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phylogenetic analysis based on D3 domain of rDNA resulted in two clades: one clade with mosquitoes identified as <it>An. subpictus </it>species A, C, D and some mosquitoes identified as species B, and another clade with a majority of mosquitoes identified as species B with D3 sequences that were identical to <it>Anopheles sundaicus </it>cytotype D. Analysis of ITS-2 sequences confirmed a close relationship between a majority of mosquitoes identified as <it>An. subpictus </it>B with members of the <it>An. sundaicus </it>complex and others identified as <it>An. subpictus </it>B with <it>An. subpictus s.l</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study suggests that published morphological characteristics are not specific enough to identify some members of the Subpictus complex, particularly species B. The sequences of the ITS-2 and D3 domain of rDNA suggest that a majority that were identified morphologically as <it>An. subpictus </it>species B in the east coast of Sri Lanka, and some identified elsewhere in SE Asia as <it>An. subpictus s.l</it>., are in fact members of the Sundaicus complex based on genetic similarity to <it>An. sundaicus s.l</it>. In view of the well-known ability of <it>An. sundaicus s.l</it>. to breed in brackish and fresh water and its proven ability to transmit malaria in coastal areas of many Southeast Asian countries, the present findings have significant implications for malaria control in Sri Lanka and neighbouring countries.</p

Creative Accounting around Contemporaneous Involuntary Bank Mergers and Acquisitions, and Non-Routine Board Changes

Thispaper examines the magnitude and direction of creative accounting following contemporaneousmergers and acquisitions consummated under duress, and abnormal corporate boardchanges taking evidence from Nigeria. But most importantly, the paper determineswhether any likely resultant abnormal accrual following corporate acquisitions canbe unconsciously normalized by ‘big bath’ accounting players following contemporaneousnon-routine board leader replacement. Evidence has shown that following acquisitions,mangers can engage in income-increasing management on one hand. On the other hand,new CEOs can give earnings a ‘big’ downward ‘bath’ blaming their predecessors forthe poor performance while pursuing personal contractual performance benefit. Hence,within extensive researches already carried out on the impacts of acquisitions andboard replacement on creative accounting, there remains unanswered question of theextent of accrual manipulation when the two events occur simultaneously. Drawingheavily from Jones and Dechow models in estimating normal accrual, normal cash flowfrom operations and both discretionary accrual and cash flow, we report consistentwith extant literatures, that under consolidation duress, the victim firms engagein a significant discretionary income-increasing manipulation. Our study also confirmsthat significant downward accrual management follows corporate board changes inNigeria. However, the board changes that follow consolidation restructuring limitthe persistence of the abnormal accrual in the end. We find that the ‘Big bath’accounting players reverse although unconsciously a significant proportion of theupward managed accrual from opportunistic perspective. The ratio of pre consolidationaccrual hiking to post-consolidation board changes reversal is 3:2, which indicates67% normalization for stock based acquisitions. For cash based acquisitions however,the reversal is much lower. Our findings suggest that where abnormal earnings ishighly suspected following involuntary acquisitions, board restructuring that willlead to new managers could help in correcting or reversing significant proportionof the accrual abnormality. Keywords: Discretionary Accounting,Consolidations, Earnings management, Mergers and acquisitions, Accrua