Reducing Childhood Diarrhea Morbidity: Does Behaviour Change Matter? A Case Study from Northern Ghana

AbstractFarmers are innovators and experimenters and not just adopters of introduced technologies. The innovations developed by farmers could complement the highly promoted externally driven technologies in addressing the numerous challenges facing agriculture. The aim of this paper was to identify outstanding innovations developed by smallholder farmers in northern Ghana, and prioritize the high potential ones for further scientific validation or dissemination. Using an innovation contest that rewards farmers' creativity, we identified 29 promising innovations. Additionally, 19 innovations were scouted through a household survey. The innovations are largely extensive modifications of existing practices or combinations of different known practices in unique ways to save costs or to address crop and livestock production constraints. While some of the identified innovations can be recommended or disseminated to other farmers, most of them may require further validation or research. However, validating all of these innovations will be very expensive and time-consuming. We propose the multi-criteria decision-making analysis (MCDM) as a simple method to prioritize farmers' innovations. Using this method, we find that among the most promising innovations are those involving the control of weeds, pests and diseases using plant residues and extracts, and the treatment of livestock diseases using ethnoveterinary medicines. We briefly explain the six most highly ranked innovations. This case study from northern Ghana provides further proof that smallholder farmers develop diverse and spectacular innovations to address the myriad challenges they face, and these need to be recognized and promoted. We also conclude that contest and MCDM are useful methods that can be applied in unearthing and prioritizing farmer innovations, respectively.

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Addressing Marine Wildlife Entanglement in Derelict Fishing Nets Using Community-Based Social Marketing: Case Study and Lessons Learnt

Social Marketing Quarterly ◽

10.1177/15245004211053841 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152450042110538

Author(s):

Maïa Sarrouf Willson ◽

Craig Turley ◽

Lamees A. Daar ◽

Hussein Al Masroori ◽

Hussain Al Muscati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Social Marketing ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Marine Species ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Community Based ◽

One To One ◽

Marine Wildlife

Background Entanglement of marine species, particularly endangered sea turtles and cetaceans, in abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear is a major conservation concern. Focus of the Article This case study applies Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) to reduce marine wildlife net entanglement in the waters surrounding Masirah Island, a marine biodiversity hotspot in Oman. Importance to the Social Marketing Field The study demonstrates the use of social marketing tools in biodiversity conservation, bringing new knowledge to the cross-application of these two fields. Methods The CBSM methodology was applied to select behaviours, identify barriers and benefits, develop strategies and design a pilot study. The responsible disposal of derelict nets in skip bins was selected as the target behaviour, and a mix of behavioural change tools was applied to achieve change: convenience (installation of three skip bins), education (installation of informative signs, distribution of awareness posters, one-to-one engagement with fishers on the beaches), prompts (installation of signs and posters on vessels) and social norms (one-to-one engagement with key influencers and decision makers). The monitoring of behaviour change took place through structured observations over 23 weeks, focussing on the number of nets disposed of in the allocated skip bins. Results Results showed a low level of behaviour adoption rate by skiff and launch vessel fisheries, respectively, 5.36% and 2.58%. Positive results were observed for a short time but did not reach the estimated target value throughout the study period. Recommendations for Research Our pilot study did not lead to broad-scale implementation and we recommend further awareness and engagement with the target audience, trials of various behaviour change tools and increase field monitoring time. We further recommend the application and funding of behaviour change methods applied to fishers with the incorporation of conventional financial, conservation and regulatory tools to support resource management. Limitations Our results show that focussing on specific behaviours with appropriate measurement is both resource and time demanding to solve pressing conservation problems, particularly ones generated by complex industries such as fishing. Various lessons, useful for other social marketers, have been drawn from our evaluation of the overall study.

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Re-Humanizing an Environmental Protection Culture: A Case Study of Integrating Multiple Perspectives in Achieving Environmental Behaviour Change in a Regulated Industry Sector

The Human Sustainable City ◽

10.4324/9781315198569-31 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 519-539

Author(s):

Jack W. Scannell ◽

Denise L. Scannell ◽

Charlton D. McIlwain

Keyword(s):

Environmental Protection ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Environmental Behaviour ◽

Industry Sector

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Understanding the Relationship between Intention and Cat Containment Behaviour: A Case Study of Kitten and Cat Adopters from RSPCA Queensland

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10071214 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1214

Author(s):

Lynette J. McLeod ◽

Di Evans ◽

Bidda Jones ◽

Mandy Paterson ◽

Sarah Zito

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Motivational Factors ◽

Change Strategies ◽

Animal Shelter ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

The Relationship

In Australia, cat owners are encouraged to keep their pet cats contained on their property at all times. This study explores the relationship between the intentions and behaviours of 72 kitten and cat adopters from a RSPCA Queensland animal shelter, to provide a more in-depth understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of cat containment behaviours. At the time of adoption, 64 participants (89%) indicated they were intending to keep their cat fully contained. Eight weeks after adoption, 63 participants (87%) reported they were doing so (59 who had stated their intention at the time of adoption, and 4 who had not). We found cat owner containment behaviour was moderately correlated with containment intentions. For some of the participants when it came to enacting this behaviour, their intentions and the provided education information was not enough to overcome the more compelling capability, opportunity and motivational factors which presented themselves once they got home. We were able to identify these factors and suggest additional behaviour change strategies that would assist. Although it is important to provide cat adopters with advice about how to contain their cats properly, these results also highlight the importance of focusing attention on other behaviour change strategies that address the particular barriers faced by some cat-owners who are unsuccessful in keeping their cat contained on their property.

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MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR IN AN ADULT WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: THE USE OF LOW AROUSAL APPROACH

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465898000174 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 163-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Andrew McDonnell ◽

Simon Reeves ◽

Amanda Johnson ◽

Alan Lane

Keyword(s):

Learning Disabilities ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Single Case ◽

Challenging Behaviour ◽

Single Case Study ◽

Short Term ◽

One Year ◽

Challenging Behaviours

Behaviour change is often a desired outcome for carers and professionals who work with people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours. Managing these behaviours in the short term is an important step towards this goal. This single case study presents the use of a low arousal approach in managing challenging behaviours in a young man labelled with severe challenging behaviour. This strategy focuses on the interaction of the carers with the client and how their approach has an important impact on the behaviour of the client. The study documents the incidents of challenging behaviour and shows a decline in their frequency from baseline over a one-year period. These gains were maintained at five-month follow-up. The implications for services of these findings are discussed.

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Constraints to Guinea fowl production in northern Ghana: A case study of the Damongo area

Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.4314/gjas.v33i2.1864 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

GA Teye ◽

M Adam

Keyword(s):

Guinea Fowl ◽

Northern Ghana

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Landscape Changes and Fragmentation Analysis in a Guinea Savannah Ecosystem: Case study of Talensi and Nabdam Districts of the Upper East region, Ghana

Journal of Geography and Geology ◽

10.5539/jgg.v8n1p41 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 41 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Steve Ampofo ◽

Isaac Sackey ◽

Boateng Ampadu

Keyword(s):

Human Interaction ◽

Northern Ghana ◽

Landcover Change ◽

East Region ◽

Upper East Region ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Categorical Maps ◽

Landsat Satellite

Landcover change is an observed natural change dynamics at both the local and regional levels. However, its scales are exacerbated by human interaction with its natural environment. The study examines these spatio-temporal changes in landcover and the level to which the change is accompanied by fragmentation of the identifiable cover types in the Talensi and Nabdam districts in Northern Ghana. The research uses digital classification of Landsat satellite imagery for 1999 and 2007 to produce the cover types which results in good accuracy levels of 66.39% and 63.03% respectively. Fragmentation analysis of the landscape was computed using FRAGSTATS® software for categorical maps obtained from the classified landcover maps for the two years. All cover types increased marginally. However, Bare areas decreased by as much as 17.17% and that of water decreased from 3% to 1%. The changing landscape involving conversions within and among various cover types is accompanied by fragmentation in all classes but more pronounced in the Bare class. The Bare class type which has more patches corresponds to the class with increased cover size and rather strangely decreases in the mean path size.

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