scholarly journals Determinants of improved cookstove adoption and its benefits in Ethiopia.

Author(s):  
Sintayehu Kare ◽  
Abera Alemu ◽  
Melese Mulugeta ◽  
Zerhun Ganewo

Abstract BackgroundBiomass is the most dominant source of energy for both food cooking and lighting in rural parts of Ethiopia. Energy conversions are carried out in open fires using inefficient traditional stoves, results in poor quality of life due to smoking-related health outcomes, and consume a large quantity of wood. This resulted in increased costs of health and cutting trees which facilities climate change. To change the situation, improved cooking stoves (ICS) have been introduced through youth cooperatives in the study area.Objective The study examined the major sources of energy for the rural households, evaluate the health and related benefits of using improved cook stove and assessing the determinants for its adoption.MethodData were collected from 344 households using a questionnaire in supplement with interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and econometric models.ResultsThe findings of the study showed that only 22.97% of the respondents adopted the ICS whereas the vast majority (67.03%) still rely on traditional stoves that are highly inefficient. The positive and significant variables in predicting the adoption of ICS were the educational level of household head (OR 1.23; CI at 95% 0.029-0.040), access to ICS (OR 5.88; CI at 95% 1.05-2.48), affordability (OR 2.31; CI at 95% 0.11-1.56) and demonstration about the stove (OR 6.74; CI at 95% 1.13-2.68). Family size (OR 0.74; CI at 95% -0.45-0.12) and Availability of firewood (OR 0.27; CI at 95% -2.00-.56) significantly and negatively affected the adoption of the ICS.ConclusionsLow adoption levels of ICS were found in the study area. This has been triggered by socio-economic, institutional, financial, and resource endowments. Therefore, it is recommended that increasing access to improved stoves, diversifying income sources, creating awareness about ICS health benefits, climate changes, and providing reasonable prices will facilitate its adoption.

Author(s):  
Ayush Emmanuel Lal ◽  
Dr. Syed H. Mazhar ◽  
Jahanara Jahanara

The present study was conducted in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh to find out socio-economic condition and constraints faced by rice growing farmers in adoption of organic and bio-fertilizer. A total of 120 respondents were selected randomly for the present study. The data was collected through a pre-structured interview schedule and later appropriate statistical analysis was done to find out meaningful results. The result showed that there were eight main constraints perceived by the farmers which were complicated method of application, long process of organic fertilizer preparation, lack of knowledge about type and recommended doses, supply agency at long distance, lack of guidance from extension personal, organic and Bio-fertilizer are costly, lack of conviction about the merits of the practice and mishandling and poor quality of bio-fertilizer out of which mishandling and poor quality of bio-fertilizer with weighted mean score of 2.47 ranked I and Long process of organic fertilizer preparation with weighted mean score of 2.16 ranked II.


2022 ◽  
pp. 1278-1292
Author(s):  
Joan Mwihaki Nyika

The effects of climate change continues to be a growing modern-day challenge. Climate change-induced heat stress disrupts reproductive and fertility systems in livestock. In males, it modifies the physiology of the spermatogenic cycle resulting to poor quality semen and high prevalence of secondary sperm defects. In female livestock, heat stress decreases the production of gonadotrophins, results to hormonal imbalance, decreases the quality of oocytes, and lengthens the oestrous period leading to infertility. These effects can be reversed through genetic modifications, nutritive supplementation, physical cooling mechanisms, and hormonal therapies. The successful implementation of the ameliorative strategies is pegged on improved research and their combined administration. Ultimately, climate change mitigation and adaptation are indispensable to overcome fertility problems in livestock among other environmental effects of the climate variations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panayis Pitrakkos ◽  
Warren Maroun

Purpose This paper aims to examine the differences in quality and quantity of disclosures dealing with greenhouse gas emissions among companies with a relatively large or small carbon footprint. It also considers whether disclosures are being included in the primary report to stakeholders (an integrated report) or in a secondary source (a sustainability report). Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive carbon disclosure checklist was constructed based on professional and academic literature to identify and categorise carbon disclosures. Quality is gauged according to a multi-dimensional assessment derived from prior research based on density of reporting, disclosure attributes, management orientation, integration of information, ease of analysis, reporting on strategy, use of independent assurance and repetition. A content analysis is used to gauge the quantity and quality of carbon disclosures of 50 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Differences in the quantity and quality scores of high- and low-carbon companies are tested using a Mann–Whitney U test. Findings Carbon disclosures are used as part of a legitimacy management exercise. This involves not just the use of additional environmental disclosure to placate stakeholders as environmental impact grows. The quality of reporting and location of disclosures are, perhaps, more important for understanding how companies are responding to stakeholder expectations for reporting on carbon emissions and climate change. Practical implications Despite mounting scientific evidence on the risks posed by climate changes, companies remain reluctant to commit to high-quality reporting on specific steps being taken to reduce carbon emissions. Even when disclosures are being targeted at key stakeholders, the possibility of impression management remains. It may, therefore, be necessary to have carbon reporting regulated and independently assured. More guidance on how companies should be managing and reporting on carbon emissions and climate change may also be required. Social implications Despite mounting scientific evidence on the risks posed by climate changes, companies remain reluctant to commit to high-quality reporting on specific steps being taken to reduce carbon emissions. Even when disclosures are being targeted at key stakeholders, the possibility of impression management remains. It may, therefore, be necessary to have carbon reporting regulated and independently assured. More guidance on how companies should be managing and reporting on carbon emissions and climate change may also be required. Originality/value The study merges the traditional approach of focusing on the quantity of disclosures to illustrate the application of legitimacy theory in a sustainability/integrated reporting setting with less-seldom-studied quality and location of reporting. This result provides a more nuanced perspective of how carbon disclosures are being used to manage stakeholders’ reporting expectations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-296
Author(s):  
Letícia Palazzi Perez ◽  
Saulo Rodrigues-Filho ◽  
José Antônio Marengo ◽  
Diogo Victor Santos ◽  
Lucas Mikosz

One of the main consequences of climate change in Brazil is the increase in the occurrence of extreme rainfall, which in turn trigger Hydrometeorological disasters; the Brazilian continental dimension, the regional characteristics of biomes and socioeconomic inequality are conditioning factors for the impacts of extreme events in the country.  This work analyzes Brazil’s socioeconomic and urban infrastructure vulnerability, combined with the regional exposure of the population, based on disasters observed and future scenarios for the occurrence of rainfall extremes. As a result, it points out that climate change impact differently on large Brazilian regions, due to population density and the poor quality of urban infrastructure services. 


Author(s):  
Ravindran Jegasothy ◽  
Pallav Sengupta ◽  
Sulagna Dutta ◽  
Ravichandran Jeganathan

AbstractClimate change is an incessant global phenomenon and has turned contentious in the present century. Malaysia, a developing Asian country, has also undergone significant vicissitudes in climate, which has been projected with significant deviations in forthcoming decades. As per the available studies, climate changes may impact on the fertility, either via direct effects on the gonadal functions and neuroendocrine regulations or via several indirect effects on health, socioeconomic status, demeaning the quality of food and water. Malaysia is already observing a declining trend in the Total fertility rate (TFR) over the past few decades and is currently recorded below the replacement level of 2.1 which is insufficient to replace the present population. Moreover, climate changes reportedly play a role in the emergence and cessation of various infectious diseases. Besides its immediate effects, the long-term effects on health and fertility await to be unveiled. Despite the huge magnitude of the repercussion of climate changes in Malaysia, research that can explain the exact cause of the present reduction in fertility parameters in Malaysia or any measures to preserve the national population is surprisingly very scarce. Thus, the present review aims to elucidate the possible missing links by which climate changes are impairing fertility status in Malaysia.


Author(s):  
Gokul Sarveswaran ◽  
Kalaiselvy Arikrishnan ◽  
Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Manikandanesan Sakthivel ◽  
Marie Gilbert Majella ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Adolescence is a critical stage of life which is characterized by rapid biological, social and emotional development. India has the highest adolescent population, however, there is paucity of literature reporting the sleep quality among adolescents. Objective To determine the sleep quality and its associated factors among adolescents residing in selected villages of rural Puducherry. Materials and methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents during March and April 2018. Two out of four villages were randomly selected and all the adolescents were contacted through a household visit and a questionnaire was administered. The semi-structured questionnaire contained socio-demographic details of adolescents and details on living environment. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Sleep quality is expressed as a proportion with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The association of socio-demographic characteristics with poor sleep quality is reported as a prevalence ratio. Results The total number of adolescents interviewed was 789. The mean age of the study participants was 14.1 (±2.4) years and the majority, 440 (55.8%) were boys and 684 (86.7%) belonged to a nuclear family. More than a quarter, 210 (26.6%) belonged to the middle class as regards socio-economic status. Environmental assessment of households showed more than half, 456 (57.8%) were staying in a “pucca” house and the majority, 642 (81.4%) had adequate cross ventilation. The prevalence of poor quality of sleep among the adolescents was 2.5% (95% CI: 1.6%–3.9%). It was found that higher educational level [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) – 3.43] and belonging to higher socio-economic class (aPR – 5.48) were found to be significant determinants for poor quality of sleep among adolescents. Conclusion The current study found that only 2.5% of the adolescents have poor sleep quality. Adolescents with higher educational level and higher socio-economic status were more prone to have poor quality of sleep.


Author(s):  
Ирина Белик ◽  
Irina Belik ◽  
Людмила Камдина ◽  
Lyudmila Camdina

The article provides a justification for taking into account the energy factor in assessing the quality of life of households. The result of the study is the conclusion that the provision of social and economic development, which can be estimated by using such a composite indicator as the quality of life of the population (households), should include such parameters as reducing the level of resource consumption and reducing the anthropogenic load on the natural environment. To assess the quality of life of the population (households), it is important to take into account such energy factor as the level of energy saving, which affects environmental and climate change. Increased energy consumption contributes to the pollution of atmospheric air with CO2 and, as a result, to climate change and the occurrence of natural anomalies and environmental disasters. The research involves an analysis of the dynamics of incomes and consumer spending of households (including expenditures on housing and utility services). The analysis allows the authors to conclude that the quality of life of households is reduced due to the outstripping growth of consumer spending over their incomes, which can be explained by a decrease in the efficiency of energy supply. Another reason is an increase in the energy intensity of the housing and communal services due to energy loss caused by poor quality of living quarters. Given the role of the energy factor in assessing the quality of life, the authors use the ecological and energy approach to expand the current methods by including indicators that would assess its impact. The result of the study is an improved methodology for life quality assessment in terms of the energy factor. The article provides an accurate description of the indicators and the calculating procedure. In the opinion of the authors, the use of the ecological and energy approach to life quality assessment and its application for territorial comparisons (countries, regions, cities) will help to justify the mismatch between the growth rates of people’s wellbeing and the resource consumption (energy, biological, etc.).


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 4900
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Muñoz Camargo ◽  
Antonio Hernández-Martínez ◽  
Julián Rodríguez-Almagro ◽  
María Laura Parra-Fernández ◽  
María del Carmen Prado-Laguna ◽  
...  

Objective: Our objective was to determine and describe the opinion and attitudes of patients and their families regarding the limitation of therapeutic effort and advanced directives in critical patients and whether end-of-life planning occurs. Religious affiliation, education level, and pre-admission quality of life were also evaluated to determine whether they may influence decisions regarding appropriate therapeutic effort. Methods: A prospective, observational and descriptive study, approved by the center’s ethical committee, was carried out with 257 participants (94 patients and 163 family members) in the intensive care unit (ICU). A questionnaire regarding the opinions of patients and relatives about situations of therapeutic appropriateness in case of poor prognosis or poor quality of life was used. The questionnaire had three sections. In the first section, sociodemographic features were investigated. In the second section, information was collected on the quality of life and functional situation before ICU admission (taking as a reference the situation one month before admission) assessed by the Karnofsky scale, Barthel index, and the PAEEC scale (Project for the Epidemiological Analysis of Critical Care Patients). The third section aimed to determine whether the family knew the patient’s opinion regarding his/her end of life. Results: Of those interviewed, 62.2% would agree to limit treatment in case of poor prognosis or poor quality of future life. In contrast, 37.7% considered that they should fight for life, even if it is irretrievable. Only 1.6% had advanced directives registered, 43.9% of the participants admitted deterioration in their quality of life before ICU admission, 18.2% with moderate-severe deterioration. Our study shows that the higher the educational level, the lower the desire to fight for life when it is irretrievable and the greater the agreement to limit treatment. Besides, those participants not affiliated with a religion were significantly less likely to fight for life, including when irretrievable, than Catholics and were more likely to agree to limit treatment. Conclusions: More than half of the participants would agree to limit treatment in the case of a poor prognosis. Our results indicate that patients do not prepare for the dying process well in advance. Religion and educational level were determining factors for the choice of procedures at the end of life, both for patients and their families.


Author(s):  
Joan Mwihaki Nyika

The effects of climate change continues to be a growing modern-day challenge. Climate change-induced heat stress disrupts reproductive and fertility systems in livestock. In males, it modifies the physiology of the spermatogenic cycle resulting to poor quality semen and high prevalence of secondary sperm defects. In female livestock, heat stress decreases the production of gonadotrophins, results to hormonal imbalance, decreases the quality of oocytes, and lengthens the oestrous period leading to infertility. These effects can be reversed through genetic modifications, nutritive supplementation, physical cooling mechanisms, and hormonal therapies. The successful implementation of the ameliorative strategies is pegged on improved research and their combined administration. Ultimately, climate change mitigation and adaptation are indispensable to overcome fertility problems in livestock among other environmental effects of the climate variations.


2020 ◽  
pp. 34-36
Author(s):  
M. A. Pokhaznikova ◽  
E. A. Andreeva ◽  
O. Yu. Kuznetsova

The article discusses the experience of teaching and conducting spirometry of general practitioners as part of the RESPECT study (RESearch on the PrEvalence and the diagnosis of COPD and its Tobacco-related aetiology). A total of 33 trained in spirometry general practitioners performed a study of 3119 patients. Quality criteria met 84.1% of spirometric studies. The analysis of the most common mistakes made by doctors during the forced expiratory maneuver is included. The most frequent errors were expiration exhalation of less than 6s (54%), non-maximal effort throughout the test and lack of reproducibility (11.3%). Independent predictors of poor spirogram quality were male gender, obstruction (FEV1 /FVC<0.7), and the center where the study was performed. The number of good-quality spirograms ranged from 96.1% (95% CI 83.2–110.4) to 59.8% (95% CI 49.6–71.4) depending on the center. Subsequently, an analysis of the reasons behind the poor quality of research in individual centers was conducted and the identified shortcomings were eliminated. The poor quality of the spirograms was associated either with the errors of the doctors who undertook the study or with the technical malfunctions of the spirometer.


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