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Men and maternal health: The dilemma of shortlived male involvement strategies in Uganda
Get PDFThis research article is a version of record published by Taylor and Francis in Health Care for Women International, DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2018.1466887. To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2018.1466887This article has been written to call for further attention to the importance of involving males in efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Since the 1995 International Conference on Population and Development [ICPD], institutional and community arrangements have been implemented in developing countries to engage males in maternal and child health promotions. The government of Uganda – in partnership with other health promotion institutions such as the United Nations agencies – has in the past decade formulated and implemented national and local strategies for male involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Nevertheless, strategies are such as Male Action Groups (MAGs) have been short-lived because the strategies within cannot by themselves work without ‘genuine’ acceptance at community levels where implementation takes place. Even acceptance alone is also not enough. Majority of males have more interest in economic than social endeavors. They have less interest to engage in maternal health promotion initiatives. Cultural based perceptions and behaviors associated with patriarchal tendencies remain the greatest challenge. Therefore, relevancy, functionality, adaptability, and sustainability in relation to the effectiveness of male involvement initiatives must be assessed before these interventions are initiated in such culturally diverse communities with different informal institutional arrangements. The individual, interpersonal and institutional contexts in which interventions operate matters. The article identifies relevant stakeholders and suggests, though not discussed in detail, strategies for improving stakeholders’ interests to respond to male involvement as a core issue in maternal health
Determinants of Personal Saving Levels in South Sudan: Evidence from Selected Areas of Juba City
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to establish the determinants of personal saving levels in South Sudan: evidence from selected areas of Munuki Block in Juba City. The objectives of the study included to examine the demographic factors that influence the personal saving levels; to identify the personality aspects or traits that influence the personal saving levels; to establish the economic situations that influence the personal saving levels; and to assess the relationship between the demographic factors, personality aspects/traits, economic situations and personal saving levels.
The study employed cross sectional research design and both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. Both primary and secondary data sources were used for the study. A survey was conducted by administering questionnaires to 181 respondents. Questionnaires were used in gathering primary data and the secondary data sources included journals, internet, textbooks and newspapers. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Frequencies, descriptive, Pearson’s correlation and regression analyses were used to establish the influence and relationship between the study variables.
Specifically, the results of the study showed that all the dimensions of demographic factors, personality aspects and economic situations had different effects on some forms of personal saving levels.The study concluded that level of education, level of income, and aggregate economic situations had significant positive relationship with aggregate personal savings while aggregate personality aspects and interest rates had non-significant positive relationship with aggregate personal saving levels in the selected areas of Munuki Block in Juba City, South Sudan.
The researcher mainly recommended that government and financial institutions should provide favorable environment for savers by curbing inflation, setting up saving schemes, providing financial trainings, increasing interest rates for the savers to earn more interest on their saved capital. Individuals should involve in income generating activities such as business, agriculture and well-paying jobs so as to increase their earnings and create a better room for savings,avoid impulsive shopping and reduce on the levels of consumption of expensive goods and services, stick to the monthly saving routine, monitor and assess their savings, budgets and make sure that savings are always at the optimal levels.Furthermore, future research could use the same or other data collection methods so as to obtain more objective data to establish whether similar results could be obtained
An analysis of bullying in schools as presented by two Ugandan novels
Get PDFThe study is about the vices that education transmits to the learners depending on the socio-cultural and political context. One of them that education transmits is the bullying of fellow students. Bullying is both physical and verbal violence and it can affect the emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of students (and staff).This paper analyzes the depictions of bullying in schools in two selected Ugandan novels: Goretti Kyomuhendo’s The First Daughter (1996) and Mary Karooro Okurut’s The invisible Weevil (1998). The study is about the vices that education transmits to the learners depending on the socio-cultural and political context. One of them that education transmits is the bullying of fellow students. Bullying is both physical and verbal violence and it can affect the emotional, social, and physical wellbeing of students (and staff). The study adopts a qualitative content analysis of two Ugandan novels to give interpretation of the text data. We have used qualitative content analysis to identify the theme and the main characters in the two novels and made interpretations. Content analysis helped us understand bullying as practiced in schools. The study found that the schools presented by both novels see bullying as severe and traumatizing. Both boys and girls are bullied, and it affects their emotional, social, and physical wellbeing. This behavior is probably a result of global influence in our school system. Traditional Ugandan education was characterized by close social, ethical, collective orientation and ensured progressive character development of the child. Some of the values transmitted in traditional Ugandan education included community-orientation, love and respect for others. The vice of bullying is likely to have originated from the formal type of education which is more individualistic oriented. We recommend that a more effective education system for Uganda is one that combines or inculcates the traditional values of community-orientation, love and respect for others with elements of modern education
Health Worker and Community Experiences in Using the Toll Free Line to Access Maternal and Newborn Health Services in Central Uganda: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFSave The Mother Conference and Reunion Presentations, 2018.Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa which has the highest number of maternal deaths by region. However, most of these deaths are preventable and can be addressed with low cost, effective interventions with an understanding of the three delays associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. In order to address these deadly delays. Save the Mothers (STM) through the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) program operates the Toll Free Line (TFL) service that has been influential in addressing the first delay in seeking care. The service, which has been piloted within four health facilities connects vulnerable mothers with quality healthcare facilities at no cost to them.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the experiences of health workers and community members in utilising the TFL to access maternal and newborn health services in four health facilities in central Uganda.
Method: This qualitative study design employed focus group discussions (FGDs) each with 11 participants. At each of the four pilot health centres, two FGDs were held: one with health workers and another with community members. Each session lasted 45-60 minutes moderated by one STM researcher who utilised a discussion guide with a set of predetermined open-ended questions to facilitate flow of discussion. Interviews were transcribed and translated to English from audio recordings. Data analysis was performed using the framework method and QDA DATA Miner Lite software
Results: A total of ten focus group discussions were conducted; two health worker, four female, and four mixed gender. The TFL service was pivotal in improving health worker and community relations, relaying timely health advice, ensuring prompt response to emergency obstetric complications, acted as a referral system and facilitated inquiries on availability of vital medications. However, the service was also hindered by several mischiefs: un-answered calls, language differences, poor connectivity/network and misuse/abuse.
Conclusion: The TFL service is a low-cost, high-impact intervention which increases the capacity for health care delivery and can be duplicated in other low resource settings. It empowers community members to make an informed decision to seek care and allows health workers to prepare for incoming emergent labouring mothers thus saving many lives
Effect of Different Processing Conditions on Proximate and Bioactive Contents of Solanum aethiopicum (Shum) Powders, and Acceptability for Cottage Scale Production
Get PDFThis study was to investigate the effects of different processing conditions for production of dried Solanum aethiopicum (S.) leaf powder by comparing solar drying and cabinet drying processing techniques.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different processing conditions for production of dried Solanum aethiopicum (S.) leaf powder by comparing solar drying and cabinet drying processing techniques. Four (4) pre-treatments were done on S. aethiopicum leaves to inhibit enzyme action and prolong storage life. Treatments included dipping in; 10% saline solution, 10% vinegar solution, water (as the control), and steam blanching; done for both whole and sliced S. aethiopicum leaves. Each of the resultant samples were dried in both solar and cabinet dryers for a period of 24 hours. The dried leaf samples were grounded into powder using a coffee grinder and subjected to different laboratory analyses including; catalase activity, moisture content, vitamin C retention capacity and phytate content analyses. The results obtained were analysed using MINITAB version 16.0 at 5% significance level. The results showed that there was a reduction in catalase activity after pre-treatment and drying from 5.0±0.0 cm3 for the fresh un-treated leaves to a range of 4.5±0.7 – 3.0±0.0 cm3 for whole solar dried; 4.5±0.7-4.0±0.0 cm3 for sliced solar dried; 4.0±0.0 - 3.0±0.0 cm3 for whole cabinet dried and 3.5±0.7-2.3±0.7 cm3 for sliced cabinet dried leaf powder. Solar dried S. aethiopicum leaf powder contained significantly high moisture content than hot air cabinet dried one (24.9±0.5 % for saline treated sliced leaves to 8.9±0.8 % for blanched sliced leaves, than hot air cabinet dried one with 9.3±0.0 % for sliced plain water treated leaves to 7.0±0.2 % for sliced vinegar treated leaves; respectively). Cabinet dried S. aethiopicum contained significantly more vitamin C content (1.1±0.2 mg for whole blanched leaves compared to 0.6±0.1 mg for sliced vinegar treated leaves) than the solar dried one (1.0±0.2 mg for sliced plain water treated leaves to 0.6±0.1 mg for sliced vinegar treated leaves). There was no significant difference in phytate content between the hot air cabinet dried and solar dried i.e. 0.7±0.1 - 0.2±0.1 mg for solar and 0.7±0.1 - 0.3±0.3 mg for cabinet dried. Solar dried S. aethiopicum powder contained significantly higher catalase than the hot air cabinet dried one (4.5±0.7 - 3.0±0.0 and 4.0±0.0 - 2.5±0.7 cm3; respectively). However, in terms of acceptability, there was high preference for saline treated leaf powder soups compared to other soups. It can be concluded that High activity of catalase, moisture retention and high loss of Vit.C occurs in the solar drier than in cabinet drier. Whole leaf saline pretreated leaf powder soup is rated high compared to other dried soups. Therefore, the best method for production of dried S. aethiopicum powder is by slicing, dipping it in plain water and drying using a cabinet dryer. Under circumstances where cabinet drying is not achievable, solar drying is recommended using whole leaf, pretreated with saline water to promote preservation and consumption of the vegetable
Analysis of the Depiction of Corporal Punishment in Two Ugandan Novels and Its Effects on Students
Get PDFThis paper examines the portrayal of corporal punishment in Mary Karooro Okurut’s The Invisible
Weevil [1] and Julius Ocwinyo’s Fate of the Banished [2].This paper examines the portrayal of corporal punishment in Mary Karooro Okurut’s The Invisible Weevil [1] and Julius Ocwinyo’s Fate of the Banished [2]. The researchers investigate the issues and challenges surrounding the students who are subjected to corporal punishment as portrayed in two Ugandan novels within the framework of post-colonial theory. This study has used a qualitative content analysis of two Ugandan novels followed by identification of the key words, concepts, themes, phrases, characters, or sentences within texts or sets of texts to unfold subjective interpretation of the novels. Qualitative content analysis was used to investigate how corporal punishment has affected the students. The study found that corporal punishment produces fear, timidity, submissiveness and violence and is the root cause of school dropout, as evidenced by characters in the two novels. It is concluded that fear, timidity, rebellion and violence are consequences of corporal punishment in the school setting. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education and all the stakeholders should endeavor to end corporal punishment in schools because it diminishes a child's capacity to grow up as a responsible person
Effect of Different Rates of Poultry Manure and Bio-Slurry on the Yield of Solanum aethiopicum Shum
Get PDFThis research article covers findings carried out about the Poor soil fertility which are the major causes of low crop productivity on smallholder farms that are engaging in vegetable production in sub-Saharan Africa.Poor soil fertility remains the major cause of low crop productivity on smallholder farms that are engaging in vegetable production in sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriate soil fertility regimes are therefore critical for improving crop productivity. Its yield has remained low mainly due to poor soil fertility. A field experiment in two different seasons was planted in a Completely Randomized Block Design using Solanum aethiopicum Shum (Nakati). The treatments were 3 sole fertilizer options applied at the following rates: poultry manure and bio-slurry manure at 5,
10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 t ha-1, NPK (25:5:5) at the recommend application rate for tomato which is a sister crop and a control without any fertilizer. Crop budgets were used to determine the economic optimum rates of both sole applications of manure and combinations of manure with NPK. The sole applications and showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the yield of S. aethiopicum compared with the control. The established biological optimum rates were at 24.19 t ha-1 and 21.51 t ha-1 for poultry manure and bio-slurry respectively.
Using the crop budgets it was concluded that the established economic optimum rates were 20 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 for sole poultry manure and bio-slurry respectively. Recommendations for use of sole poultry manure and bioslurry at the rate of 20 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 respectively were made
Uncovering the real Festo Kivengere
Get PDFThis is a conference paper presented under the African Policy CentreFesto Kivengere once remarked in a sermon: ‘We in Uganda feel that the church is irrelevant if it fails to carry on the message of being ambassadors of reconciliation’
Mitochondrial DNA variation reveals maternal origins and demographic dynamics of Ethiopian indigenous goats
Get PDFThe study of Mitochondrial DNA variation reveals maternal origins and demographic dynamics of Ethiopian indigenous goatsThe Horn of Africa forms one of the two main historical entry points of domestics into the continent and Ethiopia is particularly important in this regard. Through the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) d-loop region in 309 individuals from 13 populations, we reveal the maternal genetic variation and demographic dynamics of Ethiopian indigenous goats. A total of 174 variable sites that generated 231 haplotypes were observed. They defined two haplogroups that were present in all the 13 study populations. Reference haplotypes from the six globally defined goat mtDNA haplogroups show the two haplogroups present in Ethiopia to be A and G, the former being the most predominant. Although both haplogroups are characterized by an increase in effective population sizes (Ne) predating domestication, they also have experienced a decline in Ne at different time periods, suggesting different demographic histories. We observed seven haplotypes, six were directly linked to the central haplotypes of the two haplogroups and one was central to haplogroup G. The seven haplotypes were common between Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia populations, suggesting common maternal history and the introduction of goats into East Africa via Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, respectively. While providing new mtDNA data from a historically important region, our results suggest extensive intermixing of goats mediated by human socio-cultural and economic interactions. These have led to the coexistence of the two haplogroups in different geographic regions in Ethiopi
Needs and Barriers of Teen Mothers in Rural Eastern Uganda: Stakeholders’ Perceptions Regarding Maternal/Child Nutrition and Health
Get PDFFor adolescent mothers in rural Eastern Uganda, nutrition and health may be compromised by many factors. Identifying individual and environmental needs and barriers at local levels is important to inform community-based interventions.This qualitative study used interviews based on constructs from social cognitive theory. 101 adolescent mothers, family members, health-related personnel and community workers in Budondo sub-county (Jinja district), eastern Uganda were interviewed.For adolescent mothers in rural Eastern Uganda, nutrition and health may be compromised by many factors. Identifying individual and environmental needs and barriers at local levels is important to inform community-based interventions. This qualitative study used interviews based on constructs from social cognitive theory. 101 adolescent mothers, family members, health-related personnel and community workers in Budondo sub-county (Jinja district), eastern Uganda were interviewed. Young mothers had needs, related to going back to school, home-based small businesses; social needs, care support and belonging to their families, employment, shelter, clothing, personal land and animals, medical care and delivery materials. Barriers to meeting their needs included: lack of skills in income generation and food preparation, harsh treatment, pregnancy and childcare costs, lack of academic qualifications, lack of adequate shelter and land, lack of foods to make complementary feeds for infants, insufficient access to medicines, tailored health care and appropriate communications. Using the social cognitive framework, this study identified myriad needs of young mothers and barriers to improving maternal/child nutrition and health. Adolescent-mother-and-child-friendly environments are needed at local levels while continuing to reduce broader socio-cultural and economic barriers to health equity. Findings may help direct future interventions for improved adolescent maternal/child nutrition and health