45 research outputs found
Educational expansion and the emerging fertility transition in Kenya.
No full textThis study examines the relationship between education and fertility behavior in Kenya. The general hypothesis being tested is that involvement in formal education earlier in the life course influences the individual's subsequent fertility decisions later in the life course. This study uses data from the 1978, 1989, and 1993 demographic surveys. Combining the data from the three surveys allows one to study the effects of spread of education in Kenya over much of this century by examining the educational attainment of cohorts born as early as 1926 and as late as 1978. This study has generated several interesting findings. First, the large gender gap in education that was evident among those born before 1940 has essentially disappeared among younger generations with at least upper primary education. However, a higher proportion of males than females still make the critical transition from upper primary to lower secondary. Second, analysis of age-specific fertility rates shows the pace of fertility decline accelerated in the early 1990s. Fertility decline in the 1980s occurred among all age groups, with women aged over 34 contributing more to the decline than younger age groups. Subsequent decline in the early 1990s can be attributed to a significant fertility decline among younger age groups and sustained lower fertility rates among women age 35 or older. Lastly, the amount of education needed before any significant decline in fertility occurs has also been declining. For women born between 1944-1948, it took 11 to 12 years of education to have a significant negative effect on fertility. Women born after 1954 require a minimum of 6 to 7 years of schooling. With increasing educational attainment among both men and women, these findings imply that fertility decline will continue in the future.PhDDemographyEducationEducational sociologySocial SciencesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/131501/2/9909958.pd
Household Health Responses to the Introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Kenya
No full textThere is little work on the complementarity effects of HIV treatment programs on health investments, despite the salience associated with mitigation of HIV-related mortality risk. Estimates of such spillover effects are vital for cost-benefit assessments of HIV programs and for resource allocation decisions. I exploit temporal and spatial variation in the rollout of HIV treatment programs using difference-in-differences and instrumental variables to assess for these effects. I find that HIV programs in Kenya were associated with an increase in birth weights of around 90 grams (40 -- 290 grams). The evidence for such effects on vaccinations is mixed, with significant effects noted across all vaccines with the exception of those under the third schedule. I find weaker evidence for complementarity effects in BCG and DPT vaccine uptake rates. These results are robust to a number of robustness checks, two-stage least squares, sample restrictions to HIV negative subpopulations and Monte Carlo simulation regressions
Household Health Responses to the Introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Kenya
No full textThere is little work on the complementarity effects of HIV treatment programs on health investments, despite the salience associated with mitigation of HIV-related mortality risk. Estimates of such spillover effects are vital for cost-benefit assessments of HIV programs and for resource allocation decisions. I exploit temporal and spatial variation in the rollout of HIV treatment programs using difference-in-differences and instrumental variables to assess for these effects. I find that HIV programs in Kenya were associated with an increase in birth weights of around 90 grams (40 -- 290 grams). The evidence for such effects on vaccinations is mixed, with significant effects noted across all vaccines with the exception of those under the third schedule. I find weaker evidence for complementarity effects in BCG and DPT vaccine uptake rates. These results are robust to a number of robustness checks, two-stage least squares, sample restrictions to HIV negative subpopulations and Monte Carlo simulation regressions
Book Review: Tapping philanthropy for development: Lessons Learned from a Public-Private Partnership in Rural Uganda
No full textBook Title: Tapping philanthropy for development: Lessons Learned from a Public-Private Partnership in Rural UgandaBook Author: Lorna Michael Butler and Della E. McMillan (Eds.)2015/289 pages/LC: 2014036411. A Kumarian Press Book
The use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Survey of Speech-Language Therapists and Teachers in Three Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show deficits in communication, social interaction, and display inappropriate behaviors. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is one of the methods used often to improve communication skills in children with ASD. AAC intervention studies on the perceptions of speech-language therapists (SLTs) and teachers have been conducted mainly in northern and southern African countries. This study examined the perception of 14 SLTs and 24 teachers on the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for children with autism spectrum disorders in three countries Sub-Saharan Africa. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Data was collected using an online survey Qualtrics™. The results of the study revealed that both SLTs and teachers had positive perceptions on the use and importance, benefits, and their roles in using AAC with children with ASD. In addition, they perceived their training to be inadequate to enable them to provide services effectively. Teamwork was also perceived to be vital in the implementation of AAC. The data from this study adds new information to the knowledge base in regard to views of SLTs and teachers in the underdeveloped countries in Sub-Saharan Africa on the use, importance, interventions, perceptions, benefits, and challenges they face in the use of AAC interventions. Examining these components led to recommendations and concerns for future training opportunities for SLTs and teachers in the region. The outcome also had the potential of informing the resource/material providers and decision-makers in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda to develop devices that would be appropriate for individuals with ASD in Sub-Saharan Africa.Embargo status: Restricted to TTU community only. To view, login with your eRaider (top right). Others may request the author grant access exception by clicking on the PDF link to the left
PLoS One
No full textBackgroundIn 2007, the World Health Organization endorsed male circumcision as an effective HIV prevention strategy. In 2008, the Government of Kenya (GoK) launched the national voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) program in Nyanza Province, the geographic home to the Luo, the largest non-circumcising ethnic group in Kenya. Currently, several other African countries are in the early stages of implementing this intervention.Methods and ResultsThis paper uses data from a health facility needs assessment (n\u200a=\u200a81 facilities) and a study to evaluate the implementation of VMMC services in 16 GoK facilities (n\u200a=\u200a2,675 VMMC clients) to describe Kenya's experience in implementing the national program. The needs assessment revealed that no health facility was prepared to offer the minimum package of services as outlined by the national guidelines, and partner organizations were called upon to fill this gap. The findings concerning human resource shortages facilitated the GoK's decision to endorse trained nurses to provide VMMCs, enabling more facilities to offer the service. Findings from the evaluation study resulted in replacing voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) with provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) and subsequently doubling the proportion of VMMC clients tested for HIV.ConclusionsThis paper outlines how certain challenges, like human resource shortages and low HIV test rates, were addressed through national policy changes, while other challenges, like large fluctuations in demand, were addressed locally. Currently, the program requires significant support from partner organizations, but a strategic plan is under development to continue to build capacity in GoK staff and facilities. Coordination between all parties was essential and was facilitated through the formation of national, provincial, and district VMMC task forces. The lessons learned from Kenya's VMMC implementation experience are likely generalizable to other African countries.U62 PS024508/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHS/United StatesU62PS024508/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHS/United State
Chebyshev-like polynomials, conic distribution of roots, and continued fractions
No full textIn the first part of this thesis, we show that a wide range of the properties of the roots of translated Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind (call these complex numbers Chebyshev points), are illuminated by the study of geometric properties of the ellipse and conversely. This includes the following; Chebyshev points lie on certain ellipses centered at the origin, and conversely, every such ellipse contains infinitely many sets of Chebyshev points. In special cases, the products of all curvatures at Chebyshev points can be expressed in terms of Fibonacci and Lucas numbers. Sets of certain Chebyshev points interlace on an ellipse. We also show that Chebyshev points generated by Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind lie very close to certain high order algebraic curves that are ``nearly'' ellipses.
Next, we examine roots of linear combinations of Chebyshev polynomials. Here we use continued fractions to give estimates for the roots that do not lie in the interval .
We then show the connection between polynomials with roots on concentric circles to polynomials with roots on ellipses. In particular, we construct a sequence of polynomials satisfying a fourth-order recurrence relation with a parameter , by replacing coefficients of finite geometric series by Chebyshev polynomials in a simple way. We show that for real, the roots of these polynomials lie on two concentric but inversely related circles. The associated Hankel determinants are also determined. We conclude the first part of the thesis by studying some polynomials that are related to Chebyshev polynomials, and having their roots on hyperbolas.
In the second part of the thesis, we study continued fractions of quadratic irrationals. We construct a class of rationals and quadratic irrationals having continued fractions whose period has length , and with ``small'' partial quotients for which certain integer multiples have continued fractions of period , or with ``large'' partial quotients. We then show that numbers in the period of the new continued fraction are simple functions of the numbers in the periods of the original continued fraction. We give generalizations of these continued fractions and show that polynomials arising from these generalizations are related to Chebyshev and Fibonacci polynomials. Finally, we examine non-periodic and non-simple continued fractions formed by two interlacing geometric series and show that in certain cases, they converge to quadratic irrationalities. This phenomenon is connected with certain sequences of polynomials whose properties we examine further.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2020-05-01The student, Michael Oyengo, accepted the attached license on 2018-03-30 at 11:59.The student, Michael Oyengo, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2018-03-30 at 12:34.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2018-04-02 at 14:52.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #12101 on 2018-08-31 at 17:18:05Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-04T20:33:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 25
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Previous issue date: 2018-04-02Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 107218
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The PrePex device is unlikely to achieve cost-savings compared to the forceps-guided method in male circumcision programs in sub-Saharan Africa.
No full textMale circumcision (MC) reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV acquisition in men by approximately 60%. MC programs for HIV prevention are currently being scaled-up in fourteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The current standard surgical technique for MC in many sub-Saharan African countries is the forceps-guided male circumcision (FGMC) method. The PrePex male circumcision (PMC) method could replace FGMC and potentially reduce MC programming costs. We compared the potential costs of introducing the PrePex device into MC programming to the cost of the forceps-guided method.Data were obtained from the Nyanza Reproductive Health Society (NRHS), an MC service delivery organization in Kenya, and from the Kenya Ministry of Health. Analyses are based on 48,265 MC procedures performed in four Districts in western Kenya from 2009 through 2011. Data were entered into the WHO/UNAIDS Decision Makers Program Planning Tool. The tool assesses direct and indirect costs of MC programming. Various sensitivity analyses were performed. Costs were discounted at an annual rate of 6% and are presented in United States Dollars.Not including the costs of the PrePex device or referral costs for men with phimosis/tight foreskin, the costs of one MC surgery were 49.02 and 55.29 for PMC and FGMC, respectively.The PrePex device is unlikely to result in significant cost-savings in comparison to the forceps-guided method. MC programmers should target other aspects of the male circumcision minimum package for improved cost efficiency
Plasmodium falciparum:Rosettes do not protect merozoites from invasion-inhibitory antibodies
No full textRosetting is a parasite adhesion phenotype associated with severe malaria in African children. Why parasites form rosettes is unknown, although enhanced invasion or immune evasion have been suggested as possible functions. Previous work showed that rosetting does not enhance parasite invasion under standard in vitro conditions. We hypothesised that rosetting might promote invasion in the presence of host invasion-inhibitory antibodies, by allowing merozoites direct entry into the erythrocytes in the rosette and so minimising exposure to plasma antibodies. We therefore investigated whether rosetting influences invasion in the presence of invasion-inhibitory antibodies to MSP-1. We found no difference in invasion rates between isogenic rosetting and non-rosetting lines from two parasite strains, R29 and TM284, in the presence of MSP-1 antibodies (P = 0.62 and P = 0.63, Student's t test, TM284 and R29, respectively). These results do not support the hypothesis that rosettes protect merozoites from inhibitory antibodies during invasion. The biological function of rosetting remains unknown
Syntactic Properties of Dholuo Verbal Extensions
No full textAccording to the existing literatures on verbal morphology of agglutinating languages, there are morphological behaviors characterized by creation of new verb stems from existing roots by affixation of derivative morphemes to the roots. The affixes are referred to as verbal extensions. Verbal extensions have syntactic characteristics realized in verbal matrices of verbs they get attached to. This paper discusses the syntactic properties of Dholuo verbal extensions. The verbal extensions under investigation are the applicative, the locative, the reflexive, the reciprocal and the stative. Although studies exist on syntactic properties of Dholuo applicative, reciprocal and reflexive extensions, effects of these extensions on the argument structure of Dholuo verbs still need further inquiry. This paper therefore analyses syntactic characteristics of Dholuo applicative, reflexive and reciprocal extensions in addition to locative and stative extensions that are yet to be analyzed in Dholuo. Most of the data examined in this study was generated by two of the researchers who are themselves native speakers of Dholuo. In some instances however, consultations were made with other native speakers for cross-checking purposes. Keywords: valence, in situ, local domain, argument and transitivity
