174 research outputs found
Land use and land cover changes and spatiotemporal dynamics of anopheline larval habitats during a four-year period in a highland community of Africa
Get PDFSpatial and temporal variations in the distribution of anopheline larval habitats and land use and land cover (LULC) changes can influence malaria transmission intensity. This information is important for understanding the environmental determinants of malaria transmission heterogeneity, and it is critical to the study of the effects of environmental changes on malaria transmission. In this study, we investigated the spatial and temporal variations in the distribution of anopheline larval habitats and LULC changes in western Kenya highlands over a 4-year period. Anopheles gambiae complex larvae were mainly confined to valley bottoms during both the dry and wet seasons. Although An. gambiae larvae were located in man-made habitats where riparian forests and natural swamps had been cleared, Anopheles funestus larvae were mainly found in permanent habitats in pastures. The association between land cover type and occurrence of anopheline larvae was statistically significant. The distribution of anopheline positive habitats varied significantly between months, during the survey. In 2004, the mean density of An. gambiae was significantly higher during the month of May, whereas the density of An. funestus peaked significantly in February. Over the study period, major LULC changes occurred mostly in the valley bottoms. Overall, farmland increased by 3.9%, whereas both pastures and natural swamps decreased by 8.9% and 20.9%, respectively. The area under forest cover was decreased by 5.8%. Land-use changes in the study area are favorable to An. gambiae larval development, thereby risking a more widespread distribution of malaria vector habitats and potentially increasing malaria transmission in western Kenya highlands
Corruption, political institutions and foreign direct investments: a disagregated study
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationThere is great debate if corruption deters or helps foreign direct investment (FDI). In my dissertation I forward this debate and offer two suggestions. The link between corruption and FDI is best observed at the FDI industrial level. I disaggregate FDI into three dependent variables: market-seeking, labor-seeking and raw materials-seeking FDI. Second I argue the relationship between FDI and corruption is affected by the prevailing political institutions in a host country. I include veto players as a measure of political institutions. I conduct quantitative analyses and results indicate that FDI is indeed a firm level decision. I find that for the most part corruption and weak political institutions are a deterrent to FDI, however, in raw materials-seeking corruption compensates the consequences of a defective bureaucracy and bad policies. These findings show that foreign investors invest in different host environments in pursuit of different institutional advantages. The positive relationship between weak political institutions and corruption on raw materials-seeking FDI should however, not be interpreted as an ultimate institutional advantage. Results indicate that corruption is an effective tool in the short-term only, in the long run, the positive effects of corruption on raw material-seeking FDI diminish indicating that a government's commitment to foreign investments is best signaled by legitimate government institutions
Beyond the Controversy: A Study of African Theologies of Inculturation and Liberation
No full textWhen Harry Sawyerr wrote his essay "What is African Theology?", published first in African Theological Journal, vol. 4 (1971), it appeared from its contents that he was making short comments about James Cone's Black theology that could have disappeared in the midst of more pressing African theological issues. Sawyerr's article was not primarily intended as a critique of Cone's Black theology; instead Sawyerr was summing up and giving some suggestions about the nature and problems of African theology. As a matter of fact, a critique of Black theology does appear in the last paragraphs of Sawyerr's article. The impact of those few unassuming comments about Black theology can be described as the seed of the African-Black theologies controversy that sparked major changes in African theology. In other words, Sawyerr set the stage for a study of the relationship between an African theology of inculturation and South African Black theology of liberation, that I investigate in this thesis. In this study I take as the starting point for my investigation the African-Black theologies controversy, which offers a basis for discussing the co-existence of the two theologies and other emerging theologies in Africa. My main assumption is that this controversy affects the contemporary understanding of African theology. Hence, the controversy and its effects need to be interpreted in the light of contemporary African Christianity and African theological debates, without turning them into a dogmatic framework for African theological thinking. Prior to a presentation of the controversy itself I present a background to the two African theologies. With regard to the African inculturation theology, there are two options that are methodologically distinguishable. The first option is the moderate approach in which Christian teaching takes precedence over cultural issues. This option was, generally speaking, developed as a theological programme of the Church (specifically the Catholic Church) on inculturation. The second option is the more radical, especially in matters concerning African cultural values. The types of theology constructed on this basis either take elements of African cultures and religions as the framework of the meaning of the Christian message, or they have a rhetoric of 'cultural liberation'. This type of theological inculturation exhibits affinity with the politico-cultural programmes expressed in forms of Africanization and African nationalism. Similarly in South Africa, Black theology and the Black Consciousness Movement, as I presented them, are primarily a product of an oppressed people. The determination, means, and aims of their struggle were a consequence of their concrete history, that is, in addition to being denied active participation in political and socio-economic decisions in the former South Africa, 'blacks' were treated as less than human. On the basis of interrelated studies by various scholars, I then offer my understanding of the controversy. I pay special attention to the integral-synthesis theory postulated by Emmanuel Martey in his study of the controversy. Hence, the present work is immersed in the rhetoric of 'the controversy' and 'integral-synthesis theory' that consequently led Martey to construct his Black-African theological paradigm. In my own approach I attempt a critical study of the integral-synthesis theory, as well as of the various materials used in this work which are related to the studies of the controversy. In general, despite the theological oppositions that seem to form the background of this study, my assumption is that the controversy itself remains a lesson and a starting point for a contemporary understanding of African theologies. Additionally, due to the complexities of the African situation and of African Christianity, each theology needs the other in order to define critically and adequately its problems, aims and approaches. Consequently, the unity of African theologies as postulated by some African theologians is a non-organic unity. What we can benefit from the controversy and other related comparative-dialogical studies, such as that in the present work, is that the unity of African theology cannot be engineered by any emotional zeal to end the opposition
Wearable device monitoring of HIV health in the face of climate change and weather exposures: protocol for a mixed-methods study
Get PDFIntroduction Climate change and HIV are interconnected epidemics that increase vulnerability in people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their public health significance, research on the synergistic effects of these epidemics on the health of PLWH is limited. The advancement of non-invasive wearable technology offers an opportunity to leverage objective health data for large-scale research, addressing this knowledge gap. This study will examine the impact of weather events on distinct health variables of PLWH within the Siaya Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Kenya.
Methods and analysis Over a period of 6 months, we continuously monitored health parameters of a total of 200 participants including heart rate, activity and sleep, using consumer-grade wearable devices. We will correlate these health data with real-time weather parameters (ambient temperature, wet bulb globe temperature, precipitation level) from five weather stations within the HDSS area and compare between HIV-positive participants and an HIV-negative control group. Additionally, a convergent mixed-methods approach will explore participants’ perceptions of the impact of weather events on their health and personal experiences. The study aims to inform future research on the complex relationship between HIV and weather events, which are projected to increase in frequency in this region due to climate change and provide valuable insights for policymakers to develop effective measures to protect this vulnerable population amid the growing climate crisis.
Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committees at Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi (approved on 23 October 2023; SERU 4826) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany (approved on 14 February 2023; S-824/2022). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrolment, with data anonymised and handled according to Kenyan and German data protection regulations. Research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presented at scientific conferences
Acceptability and feasibility of research grade wearables for monitoring heat stress in Kenyan farmers
Get PDFAbstract Sub-Saharan Africa faces increasing heat events due to climate change, affecting health and productivity. Wearable technology, though promising for monitoring these impacts, is underexplored in this region. This pilot study evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of research-grade wearables for monitoring heat stress among Kenyan subsistence farmers. In Siaya, 48 farmers (50% women) were monitored for 14 days using sensors to measure heart rate, core temperature, sleep, activity, and geo-location, alongside environmental data loggers for wet bulb globe temperature. Participants mostly rated their experience on a 5-point Likert scale and provided additional non-Likert feedback, with over 95% reporting high device likability and minimal disruption. Data availability was 88% for actigraphy and 100% for core temperature, with a median completeness of 100% for most devices. Women experienced greater heat strain than men. These findings demonstrate that research-grade wearables are acceptable and feasible for real-time heat stress monitoring in rural Africa
Theology, innovation and Society: Towards developing Dialogical Theology for African society
Get PDFTheology and society are inseparable due to the fact that they are both composed of that
which makes for both human and universal well-being. Indeed the two have through the ages
inspired each other in the pursuit of a better world. This paper aims to explore three
religions; African Indigenous Religion (AIR) Islam and Christianity as practised in
developing countries such as Kenya, with the intention of deducing whether or not believers
of these religions (can engage) engage in dialogue with each other for the purpose of
providing sustainable solutions for community well-being and wholeness. Theology of
dialogue is a methodology used by the author, as a means for innovation; towards creating
harmony and equilibrium in a plural and multi-religious Kenyan society and Africa in
general. Of significance for this timely theological concept in Africa are the dreams that need
achievement; the Millennium Development Goals and state visions such as the Kenya 2030
vision. In approaching the subject, the author shall endeavor to outline pre-colonial, colonial
and post-colonial religious histories in Africa. The author shall use the Midzi-Chenda
(written Mijiknda) community of Coastal Kenya as a case study population. This choice is
due to their diverse and long-lived inter-cultural and inter-religious experiences, particularly
with the Arab, Portuguese and British conquests along the East Coast of Africa. The triple
conquest experiences influenced the Midzi-Chenda community negatively and positively in all
spheres of their life-system; economic, political and religious, compelling them to embrace
foreign culture, religion and politics, all of which gradually shaped their theological
parameters. This latter experience and the contemporary post-colonial religious wave
significantly situate the theology of dialogue as a benchmark for innovation in African
society
Malar J
No full textBackgroundInsecticide-treated nets protect users from mosquito bites, thereby preventing transmissions of mosquito borne pathogens. Repeated washing of nets removes insecticide on the netting rendering them ineffective within a short period. Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) offer longer time protection against such bites because they are more wash resistant, and are preferred to conventionally treated nets. However, there is limited information on the effect of repeated washing of LLINs on the feeding success and survival of wild malaria vectors.MethodsThe current study evaluated the effect of repeated washing of four brands of LLINs on the feeding success and survival rates of Anopheles gambiae sl reared from wild strains. In this study, two- to five-day old F1s, reared from gravid mosquitoes collected from an area with a high coverage of LLINs were offered blood meals through protective barriers of the above LLINs. Mosquitoes were exposed for a period of 10 minutes each time. Nets were tested unwashed and subsequently after every 5th through wash 15. After exposure mosquitoes were sorted out according to their feeding status. They were then held under normal laboratory conditions for 24 hours and mortality was scored in both fed and unfed.ResultsIt was observed that mosquitoes did not feed through a barrier of unwashed LLINs. However, the feeding success and survival rates increased with successive number of washes and were also net brand dependant. After 15 washes, 49% of vectors succeeded to feed through a protective barrier of PermaNet 2.0 and 50% of the fed died after 24 hrs while after the same number of washes 60% of vectors succeeded to feed through Olyset brand of LLINs and all of them survived. In general, more mosquitoes survived after feeding through Olyset compared to the other four brands that were evaluated. When efficacy of individual LLINs was compared by a t-test analysis to a conventionally treated net, the results were not significantly different statistically for Olyset (p = 0.239) and NetProtect (TNT) (p = 0.135). However, the results were highly significant when comparison was made with PermaNet and Interceptor (BASF); p values 0.015 and 0.025 respectively.ConclusionThe result of this study shows that repeated washing of LLINs at short time intervals using local washing methods may render them infective within a short time in preventing local vectors from feeding
Malar J
No full textBackgroundThe current study was undertaken to determine the optimal wash-drying regimen and the effects of different washing procedures on the efficacy, and durability of four brands of newly introduced long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) under tropical conditions.MethodsIn the current study, the following four LLINs were tested: Olyset\uc2\uae, PermaNet \uc2\uae2.0, BASF\uc2\uae and TNT\uc2\uae. Nets were divided into three sets; one set was washed by hand rubbing and air-dried either hanging or spread on the ground in direct sunlight or hanging or spread on the ground under the shade. A second set was washed using the WHO protocol (machine) and the third set was washed by beating the nets on rocks. The biological activities of the nets were assessed by a three-minute bioassay cone test and the residual insecticide contents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure.ResultsNets that were dried hanging under the shade retained more insecticide, 62.5% and recorded higher mortality compared to nets which were dried lying on the ground in direct sunlight 58.8%, nets dried under the shade spread on the ground 56.3%, and 57.8% for nets dried hanging in direct sunlight. It was also observed that nets washed by the standard WHO protocol, retained more insecticide and were more effective in killing mosquitoes compared to nets washed by local methods of hand rubbing and beating on rocks. There were significant differences between drying regimens (p 0.0001).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that washing and drying regimen influence the insecticidal activity of LLINs. The standard WHOPES washing protocol underestimates the amount of insecticide washed from LLINs compared to the abrasive washing procedures that are used in the field. This suggests that there is need to educate net users to adopt a more gentle washing procedure while handling LLINs. The education should accompany net distribution campaigns
Towards developing an atmospheric space for inter-religious dialogue in Africa
Get PDFDATA AVAILABILITY : Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data
were created or analysed in this study.The author/s is participating in the research project, ‘Religion, Theology and Education’, directed by Prof. Dr Jaco Beyers, Head of Department Religion Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.Special Collection: Interreligious Dialogue, sub-edited by Jaco Beyers (University of Pretoria, South Africa).The practice of religions and spirituality is common in Africa. In many ways, religion may
be considered as a routine of life, living and practising it either as inherited or borrowed.
Religious pluralism is a reality in Africa, dating back to the 1st century up to the 19th
century when Africa became a bedrock of traders and colonisers both from Europe and
Asia. The paper explores plural religiosity with a view to developing a conducive
atmosphere that may promote a suitable inter-religious dialogue in Africa. Largely, the
most pronounced and practised religions are Christianity symbolised by the cross, Islam
symbolised by the crescent, and African indigenous religion that does not have a common
symbol nor sacred scriptures. We note that, for generations, religions have caused division
among communities, but have in the recent years developed the quest to create good
relations and dialogue with each other. Because of the diverse nature of insecurity in Africa,
it is hoped that inter-religious dialogue may cause community cohesion, integration,
inclusivity, and co-existence. In the wake of different types of inter-religious dialogue that
are globally being researched, this paper suggests a specific inter-religious dialogue that
Africans can exercise: ‘dialogue for life’.
CONTRIBUTION : Inter-religious dialogue for life is contextual in that, it touches upon the life
situations of ordinary people in society. The author argues that, by embracing it religiously,
inter-religious dialogue for life shall address crucial issues such as poverty, radicalisation,
terrorism, climate change, bad governance, and human trafficking that adversely affect
African society.http://www.hts.org.zaam2024Science of Religion and MissiologyNon
Understanding the Risk Factors, Burden, and Interventions for Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Get PDFObjective: This scoping review aims to identify risk factors for COPD and asthma, examine the burden and intervention measures, and clarify the findings in the context of climate change, with a particular focus on LMICs. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a scoping review using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, focusing on studies published from 2011 to 2024. Results: Our review included 52 studies that encompassed 244,004 participants. Predominantly conducted in SSA (n = 43, 83%) and Asia (n = 16, 31%), they address indoor and ambient air pollution, occupational hazards, and environmental conditions. Climate change exacerbates risks, varying regionally. SSA faces severe household and occupational exposures, while other LMICs deal with industrial and urban pollution. Stigma, social exclusion and economic burden underscore the necessity for intervention strategies (e.g., educational programs, pulmonary rehabilitation, low-emission cookstoves). Conclusion: Our research shows a strong link between air pollution, occupational and environmental exposures, and the prevalence of COPD and asthma in LMICs. It suggests that targeted interventions are effective ways to mitigate these diseases and also highlights the significant impact of climate change on respiratory health
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