Informal social protection actors: A focus on women self-help groups in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 612-625
Author(s):  
Phoene Mesa Oware
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Safety Nets ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Self Help Groups

For most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, social protection is provided by formal and informal actors. Focusing on women self-help groups as informal social protection actors, this qualitative study examines their nature, activities and functions and how they provide informal social protection. Data on self-help groups were collected from 25 women through in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. The findings show that these groups provide crucial safety nets by smoothing incomes and consumption, and providing social assistance and insurance. However, social protection provided informally is exclusionary and limited. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Examining user experience of eLearning systems implemented in two universities in Tanzania

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-55
Author(s):  
Joel S. Mtebe
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hedonic Quality

Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors that influence user experience (UX) of eLearning systems implemented in two institutions in Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted questionnaire consisting of Nielsen’s heuristics and didactic metrics as pragmatic metrics and hedonic metrics followed by focus group discussions with students. Findings The study found that the eLearning system of University of Dar es Salaam had 43 UX problems related to Nielsen’s heuristics and 54 UX problems related to didactic heuristics. The eLearning system of the Open University of Tanzania had 50 UX problems related to Nielsen’s heuristics and 59 UX problems related to didactic heuristics. Moreover, the two systems provided positive UX hedonic quality on identification and evocation dimensions while stimulation was perceived to be neutral. Research limitations/implications The study has used learners as evaluators rather than expert evaluators. Learners are not particularly experienced in the learning domain, and therefore, it is difficult for them to identify many didactic violations of the eLearning systems. Originality/value The study contributes toward finding the underlying factors for non-use or underuse of the installed eLearning systems in various universities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Issues of measuring and improving the treatment of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obinna Onwujekwe ◽  
Enugu Nigeria ◽  
Nkem Dike ◽  
Benjamin Uzochukwu
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Presumptive Treatment ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Enugu State ◽  
Sub Saharan

This paper, using focus group discussions and questionnaires in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, examines the implications of consumer malaria perceptions and behaviour for measuring the disease burden and improving its treatment. The results show that, because peoples' understanding of the disease was related to its symptoms, this could lead to overestimation of the economic burden of malaria, based only on surveys without diagnostic confirmation. Survey-based estimations of the burden of malaria should control for the different local terminologies of malaria, and health personnel should be aware of these in order to improve the appropriate use of antimalarial drugs in presumptive treatment of malaria.

Disability and Social Exclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina I. Tobias ◽  
Sourav Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Individual Interviews

This article explores the experiences of social exclusion of individuals with visual impairment (IWVI) as they negotiate their daily lives in their homes and societal settings in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. Employing qualitative research approach, this research tried to better understand the lived experiences of IWVI. Nine IWVI with ages ranging from 30 to 90 years were initially engaged in focus group discussions, followed by semi-structured in-depth individual interviews. The findings of this research indicated that IWVI experience exclusion from education, employment and social and community participation as well as relationships. Based on these findings, we suggest more inclusive policies to address social exclusion of IWVI. At the same time, this group of individuals should be empowered to participate in community activities to promote interaction with people without visual impairments.

scholarly journals Livelihoods Used by Street Children for Survival in Bamako, Mali

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Oumou Diallo ◽  
Guang Xin Wang ◽  
Hamadoun H. Toure
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Street Children ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Bus Station

<p>This study is based on the livelihood used by street children for survival in Bamako, Mali. Two bus stations were selected for this study: Sogoniko bus station and Medina bus station. Most buses leave from these stations to the vicinity of the country. Data was collected through individual interviews (one by one), focus group discussions and interviews. A sample of one hundred and twenty street children aged between 8 and 17 years were selected for this study. Thirty people were also selected to give their opinions on street children. The results indicate that most of street children survive by selling small objects and through begging, 32.5% and 22.50% respectively. Our survey indicates that there are different factors pushing them to the streets, and as a way of survival on the streets, there is need to be organized, hence, they are organize themselves into groups for protection against violence and aggressions.</p>

Striving against the ‘Nafs’

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Mulki Mohamed Al-Sharmani
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Islamic Tradition

I analyze how Somalis in Helsinki re-interpret religious norms on marriage in light of: 1) the challenges of socioeconomic hardships and marginalization in Finland; and 2) ethical principles in Islamic tradition that underlie religious rulings such as striving against the selfishness of the ‘nafs’ (self) and seeking spiritual advancement. I examine how norms on spousal roles and rights are contested and reinterpreted. I highlight how young women, in particular, foreground the ‘ethical' in their religious understandings of marriage norms. I explore if Veit Bader’s1 concept of ‘internal religious governance’ can analytically explain these processes. I draw on data from individual interviews and focus group discussions with women and men; and interviews with mosque imams and a clan elder.

scholarly journals “We Want Spanish Songs!”: Resilience in Latinx Students’ Making of Counterspaces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Fourth Graders ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Face ◽  
English Hegemony ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Critical Resilience

Abstract: As the Latinx student population in the U.S. continues to grow, LatCrit is a crucial lens to understand students’ experience and resilience in the face of White supremacy and English hegemony. This paper explores Latinx students’ critical resilience in their making counterspaces with their peers of other races. I conduct individual interviews and focus group discussions with 21 fourth graders. Through thematic analysis, I find racism manifests in the Latinx and the other students’ attitudes towards Spanish songs. But in focus group discussions Latinx students create counterspaces with non-Latinx students as they disrupt English dominance and deficit-based narratives about the Latinxs. I call for researchers and educators to recognize Latinx students’ critical resilience and create peer dialogue opportunities that allow diverse students to create racially exclusive and inclusive counterspaces.

scholarly journals Cases of Pedagogical Discontentment of Secondary English Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-416
Author(s):  
Bryan Jester S. Balmeo
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Affective Response ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Secondary English ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Pedagogical Discontentment ◽  
Very High

This research aimed to analyze secondary English teachers' pedagogical discontent and identify factors relating to this construct. Further, this study established the teachers’ affective response to his evaluation of the effectiveness of his existing teaching practices and goals. This study utilized descriptive research with a qualitative approach using the multiple-case study design. The researcher distributed a pedagogical discontentment checklist to identify the English teachers with ‘high’ or ‘very high’ pedagogical discontentment, wherein eight (8) participants were identified. They belong to the eight (8) secondary schools in one of the districts in the Schools Division of Zambales. The eight (8) participants were subjected to individual interviews and focus group discussions. It was found out that most of the participants were female, middle adult, holding Teacher I position; Seven (7) participants have high pedagogical discontentment whereas only one (1) participant has very high discontentment; Teachers are recommended to undergo training workshops on pedagogy. Conducting regular focus group discussions on improving the weak areas are noted; An investigation on the frustrations, attitudes and beliefs, interventions, classroom practices, and aspirations of the English teachers should be conducted considering their contexts. Professional learning communities are deemed necessary.  

scholarly journals Compassion Practice by Ugandan Nurses Who Provide HIV Care

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Harrowing
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Fatigue Data ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Meaningful Relationships ◽  
The Impact

Compassion is fundamental to ethical nursing practice; it represents a commitment to acknowledge and respond to the suffering of the patient. Many structural, economic, and sociopolitical challenges confront Ugandan nurses in their efforts to incorporate compassion into their care of persons with HIV illness. After reviewing the literature related to compassion fatigue, the author describes nursing in sub-Saharan Africa and presents a qualitative study exploring the impact of education on 24 nurses’ lives, including their capacity to avoid or mitigate the development of compassion fatigue. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and focus group discussions. Findings illustrate the barriers participants faced in providing competent care and the liberating effects of new knowledge and skills. Engaging in meaningful relationships, maintaining hopeful attitudes, and advocating for the profession were found to transform and affirm the nurses’ approach toward their work and enhance their experiences of compassion satisfaction. The author discusses the unique aspects of the experience of compassion among Ugandan nurses caring for persons with HIV illness.

Reference budgets as tools for everyday life, evaluation and policy making in Finland

2020 ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
Anna-Riitta Lehtinen ◽  
Kristiina Aalto
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Reference Budgets

This chapter tackles Anna-Riitta Lehtinen and Kristiina Aalto's work on reference budget methods in Finland in order to establish the decent minimum reference budgets. It illustrates some attempts that were made to establish a programme of reference budget research in the 1990s. It also mentions how reference budget research was revived by Lehtinen and Aalto's work on consensual budgets in 2010 and then in 2018. The chapter examines how the Finnish reference budgets combine focus group discussions with members of the public in order to help improve the reliability and validity of the resulting standards. It reveals the inadequacy of the Finnish social protection system, in which only pensioner incomes reached the reference budget standard while other cash transfers and benefits were about 70 percent of the reference budgets.

scholarly journals Analysis of Land Cover Change Detection in Gozamin District, Ethiopia: From Remote Sensing and DPSIR Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abebaw Gedefaw ◽  
Clement Atzberger ◽  
Thomas Bauer ◽  
Sayeh Agegnehu ◽  
Reinfried Mansberger
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Change Detection ◽  
Land Cover Change ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Dpsir Framework ◽  
Land Cover Change Detection

Land cover patterns in sub-Saharan Africa are rapidly changing. This study aims to quantify the land cover change and to identify its major determinants by using the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Responses (DPSIR) framework in the Ethiopian Gozamin District over a period of 32 years (1986 to 2018). Satellite images of Landsat 5 (1986), Landsat 7 (2003), and Sentinel-2 (2018) and a supervised image classification methodology were used to assess the dynamics of land cover change. Land cover maps of the three dates, focus group discussions (FGDs), interviews, and farmers’ lived experiences through a household survey were applied to identify the factors for changes based on the DPSIR framework. Results of the investigations revealed that during the last three decades the study area has undergone an extensive land cover change, primarily a shift from cropland and grassland into forests and built-up areas. Thus, quantitative land cover change detection between 1986 and 2018 revealed that cropland, grassland, and bare areas declined by 10.53%, 5.7%, and 2.49%. Forest, built-up, shrub/scattered vegetation, and water bodies expanded by 13.47%, 4.02%, 0.98%, and 0.25%. Household surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs) identified the population growth, the rural land tenure system, the overuse of land, the climate change, and the scarcity of grazing land as drivers of these land cover changes. Major impacts were rural to urban migration, population size change, scarcity of land, and decline in land productivity. The outputs from this study could be used to assure sustainability in resource utilization, proper land use planning, and proper decision-making by the concerned government authorities.

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