Understanding the Livelihood Characteristics of the Migratory and Non-Migratory Fishers of the Padma River, Bangladesh

The Padma is the second longest and one of the trans-boundary rivers of Bangladesh that significantly contributes to fisheries production and supports the fishers’ livelihoods. This study assesses the livelihood characteristics of the Padma river-dependent migratory and non-migratory fishers, employing household interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews from July to October, 2015. All migratory fishers were full-time fishers, whereas, non-migratory fishers included full time (88.89%), part-time and occasional fishers (11.11%). Maximum fishers were belonging to the age group of 31 to 50 years of which 94.74% were migratory and 57.4% were non-migratory fishers. Half of the migratory and non-migratory fishers were illiterate. 89.47% migratory fishers used river water for drinking and other purposes, whereas, 94.44% non-migratory fishers used tube-well water. Average annual incomes of both migratory (58%) and non-migratory (65%) fishers ranged from Tk. 30,000 to 60,000, whereas 26% migratory and 5% non-migratory fishers had average annual incomes above Tk. 60,000. The overall livelihood status of the migratory and non-migratory fishers was not satisfactory as they have faced problems like conflicts with elite groups for resources, lack of fish preservation facilities. Effective initiatives and their proper implementations are very crucial to develop the Padma river fisher’s livelihood conditions.

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Drivers and barriers to workplace-based HIV self-testing among high-risk men in Uganda: a qualitative study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11041-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Patience A. Muwanguzi ◽

Robert C. Bollinger ◽

Stuart C. Ray ◽

LaRon E. Nelson ◽

Noah Kiwanuka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Hiv Testing ◽

Private Security ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Private Security Companies ◽

Self Testing ◽

Key Informant ◽

Hiv Testing Services ◽

Security Companies

Abstract Background Men in Sub-Saharan Africa are less engaged than women in accessing HIV testing and treatment and, consequently, experience higher HIV-related mortality. Reaching men with HIV testing services is challenging, thus, increasing the need for innovative ways to engage men with low access and those at higher risk. In this study, we explore men’s perceptions of drivers and barriers of workplace-based HIV self-testing in Uganda. Methods An exploratory study involving men working in private security companies employing more than 50 men in two districts, in central and western Uganda. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results Forty-eight (48) men from eight private security companies participated in 5 focus group discussions and 17 key informant interviews. Of the 48 men, 14(29.2%) were ages 26–35 years. The majority 31(64.6%) were security guards. The drivers reported for workplace-based HIV self-testing included convenience, autonomy, positive influence from work colleagues, the need for alternative access for HIV testing services, incentives, and involvement of employers. The barriers reported were the prohibitive cost of HIV tests, stigma, lack of testing support, the fear of discrimination and isolation, and concerns around decreased work productivity in the event of a reactive self-test. Conclusions We recommend the involvement of employers in workplace-based HIV self-testing to encourage participation by employees. There is need for HIV self-testing support both during and after the testing process. Both employers and employees recommend the use of non-monetary incentives, and regular training about HIV self-testing to increase the uptake and acceptability of HIV testing services at the workplace.

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Study on Potentiality of Biogas Plants and Their Role for the Conservation of Environment

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.3126/njst.v15i2.12114 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 51-56

Author(s):

Dinesh Ghimire ◽

Jagannath Shrestha ◽

Anup K.C

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Science And Technology ◽

Primary Data ◽

Household Surveys ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

The People ◽

Key Informant ◽

Biogas Plants ◽

Biogas Technology

This study presents the potentiality of biogas plants and their role for the conservation of environment. It is basedon primary data collected from 84 household surveys, 6 key informant interviews and two focus group discussions. It was observed that more than 95% of the people residing in the VDCs were using firewood as a main source ofenergy. The total amount of firewood consumed was 510.570 ton/year which emits 775.052tCO2e/year. Due to the presence of agriculture based livestock holding population, there is a great potential of biogas technology. Thestudy showed that biogas technology could saved 34.40% of firewood which conserves 5.415 ha of forests area. There is a potentiality of 58 biogas plants of size 6 cu.m which will reduce 440.800 tCO2e/year.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/njst.v15i2.12114Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 15, No.2 (2014) 51-56

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Assessing determinants of programmatic performance of community management of malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea in children in Africa: Protocol and data collection for a mixed-methods evaluation of iCCM (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33076 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aliya Karim ◽

Don de Savigny ◽

Serge Ngaima ◽

Daniel Mäusezahl ◽

Daniel Cobos Muñoz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Focus Group ◽

Child Health ◽

Data Collection ◽

Intervention Effectiveness ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Middle Income ◽

Key Informant ◽

Low And Middle Income

BACKGROUND Integrated community case management (iCCM) is a child health program designed to provide integrated, community-based care for pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea for children in hard-to-reach areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The foundation of the intervention is service-delivery by community health workers (CHWs) who depend on reliable provision of drugs and supplies, consistent supervision, comprehensive training, and community acceptance and participation to perform optimally. The effectiveness of the program may also depend on a number of other elements, including an enabling policy environment, financing mechanisms from the national to the local level, data transmission systems, and appropriate monitoring and evaluation. The extent to which these factors act upon each other to influence the effectiveness and viability of iCCM is both variable and challenging to assess, especially across different implementation contexts. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we describe a mixed-methods systems-based study protocol to assess the programmatic components of iCCM which are associated with intervention effectiveness, and report preliminary results of data collection. METHODS This protocol employs a mixed qualitative and quantitative study design based on a Systems Thinking approach within four iCCM programs in Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger State, and Abia State, Nigeria. Routine monitoring data is collected to determine intervention effectiveness, namely testing, treatment and referral outcomes. Surveys with CHWs, supervisors, and caregivers are performed to collect quantitative data on their demographics, activities, and experiences within the program, and how these relate to the areas of intervention effectiveness. Focus group discussions are conducted with these stakeholders as well as local traditional leaders to contextualize this data. Key informant interviews are undertaken with national and district-level program stakeholders and officers knowledgeable in critical program processes. RESULTS We performed 3,836 surveys and 45 focus group discussions with CHWs, supervisors, and caregivers, and traditional leaders; 120 key informant interviews with district and national-level program managers, health officers, and ministry officials. Policy and program documents were additionally collected for review. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from this study will inform child health programs and practice in low- and middle-income settings, and future policy development within the iCCM intervention.

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‘Sometimes you are forced to play God…’: a qualitative study of healthcare worker experiences of using continuous positive airway pressure in newborn care in Kenya

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034668 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. e034668

Author(s):

Helen M Nabwera ◽

Jemma L Wright ◽

Manasi Patil ◽

Fiona Dickinson ◽

Pamela Godia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ◽

Focus Group ◽

Airway Pressure ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Positive Airway Pressure ◽

Scale Up ◽

Newborn Care ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Key Informant

ObjectiveTo explore the experiences of using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in newborn care among healthcare workers in Kenya, and to identify factors that would promote successful scale-up.Design and settingA qualitative study using key informant interviews and focus group discussions, based at secondary and tertiary level hospitals in Kenya.ParticipantsHealthcare workers in the newborn units providing CPAP.Primary and secondary outcome measureFacilitators and barriers of CPAP use in newborn care in Kenya.Results16 key informant interviews and 15 focus group discussions were conducted across 19 hospitals from September 2017 to February 2018. Main barriers reported were: (1) inadequate infrastructure to support the effective delivery of CPAP, (2) shortage of skilled staff rendering it difficult for the available staff to initiate or monitor infants on CPAP and (3) inadequate knowledge and training of staff that inhibited the safe care of infants on CPAP. Key facilitators reported were positive patient outcomes after CPAP use that increased staff confidence and partnership with caregivers in the management of newborns on CPAP. Healthcare workers in private/mission hospitals had more positive experiences of using CPAP in newborn care as the relevant support and infrastructure were available.ConclusionCPAP use in newborn care is valued by healthcare workers in Kenya. However, we identified key challenges that threaten its safe use and sustainability. Further scale-up of CPAP in newborn care should ensure that staff members have ready access to optimal training on CPAP and that there are enough resources and infrastructure to support its use.EthicsThis study was approved through the appropriate ethics committees in Kenya and the UK (see in text) with written informed consent for each participant.

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UNDERSTANDING LOW UPTAKE OF MASS TREATMENT FOR INTESTINAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN JINJA DISTRICT, UGANDA

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s002193201400011x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 505-520 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

SIMON MUHUMUZA ◽

ANNETTE OLSEN ◽

FRED NUWAHA ◽

ANNE KATAHOIRE

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

School Children ◽

Primary Schools ◽

School Teachers ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

School Feeding ◽

Intestinal Schistosomiasis ◽

Key Informant

SummaryDespite attempts to control intestinal schistosomiasis through school-based mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel using school teachers in Uganda, less than 30% of the school children take the treatment in some areas. The aim of the study was to understand why the uptake of praziquantel among school children is low and to suggest strategies for improved uptake. This was a cross-sectional qualitative study in which 24 focus group discussions and 15 key informant interviews were conducted 2 months after MDA. The focus group discussions were held with school children in twelve primary schools and the key informant interviews were held with school teachers, sub-county health assistants and the District Vector Control Officer. The study shows that the low uptake of praziquantel among school children is a result of a complex interplay between individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and public policy factors. The individual and interpersonal factors underpinning the low uptake include inadequate information about schistosomiasis prevention, beliefs and attitudes in the community about treatment of schistosomiasis and shared concerns among children and teachers about the side-effects of praziquantel, especially when the drug is taken on an empty stomach. The institutional, policy and community factors include inadequate preparation and facilitation of teachers and the school feeding policy, which requires parents to take responsibility for providing their children with food while at school, yet many parents cannot meet the cost of a daily meal due to the prevailing poverty in the area. It is concluded that strategies to improve uptake of praziquantel among school children need to be multi-pronged addressing not only the preparation and motivation of teachers and health education for children, but also the economic and political aspects of drug distribution, including the school feeding policy.

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Levels of Equivalence in Interpreter-mediated Sermons from English into Luhya Varieties

International Journal of English Language Studies ◽

10.32996/ijels.2021.3.5.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 26-30

Author(s):

Annet Aromo Khachula ◽

Lucy Mandillah ◽

Bernard Angatia Mudogo

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Relevance Theory ◽

Target Language ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Source Language ◽

Key Informant ◽

Audio Recorder

Languages have different concepts for conveying meanings; hence there is a problem in finding equivalents between the source language (SL) and the target language (TL) in the process of interpreting. The transfer of meaning is identified as one of the basic problems in interpreting due to the absence of equivalence between two languages. This paper identifies levels of equivalence in the interpretation of selected sermons from English into Luhya varieties. Data was collected through key-informant interviews of interpreters, Focus Group Discussions by the congregants, and the researcher’s non-participant observation during church services. An audio recorder was used to collect the corpus for analysis which was later transcribed and translated for analysis. Relevance Theory by Sperber and Wilson (1986) provided the background for the discussion of the data. The findings revealed the following levels of equivalence in the interpretation of English sermons into Luhya varieties; one to many, one to part-of-one and nil equivalence. Further, it was also revealed that interpreters need to identify these three levels of equivalence in interpreting English sermons into Luhya varieties to determine the appropriate measures to counteract the situation.

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Exploring barriers to the adoption and utilization of improved latrine facilities in rural Ethiopia: An Integrated Behavioral Model for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IBM-WASH) approach

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0245289 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0245289

Author(s):

Aiggan Tamene ◽

Abel Afework

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Data Gathering ◽

Educational Status ◽

Behavioral Model ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Health Extension Workers ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene ◽

Key Informant ◽

Funding Opportunities

Background Even though evidence shows that access to and use of improved latrines is related to healthful families and the public, obstacles to the adoption and use of improved latrine facilities remain. Globally, not many inquiries appear to have been carried out to satisfactorily inform us regarding the multi-level barriers influencing the adoption and utilization of improved latrines facilities. Related studies in Ethiopia are even fewer. Methods Two qualitative data gathering methods, viz., key informant interviews and focus group discussions, were employed to collect data for this study. A total of fifteen focus group discussions were conducted with members of the community in the rural Wonago district of Ethiopia. Similarly, ten key informant interviews were conducted with water, sanitation, and hygiene officers, and health extension workers responsible for coordinating sanitation and hygiene activities. Open code software 4.03 was used for thematic analysis. Result Barriers to adoption and use of improved latrine facilities were categorized into Contextual factors (e.g. Gender, educational status, personal preference for using the field, limited space, population density, the status of land ownership), Psychosocial factors (Culture, beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of minimal health threat from children's feces), and Technological factors (inconveniences in acquiring materials and cost of constructing a latrine). Conclusion There are a series of multi-leveled barriers to the sustained adoption and use of latrines. Providing funding opportunities for the underprivileged and offering training on the engineering skills of latrine construction at the community level based on the contextual soil circumstances could expand the latrine coverage and use. Similarly, taking into account the variability in motivations for adopting and using latrines among our study in Ethiopia and other studies, we implore public health experts to recognize behaviors and norms in their target communities in advance of implementing sanitation interventions.

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Social and cultural factors perpetuating early marriage in rural Gambia: an exploratory mixed methods study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.21076.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 1949

Author(s):

Mat Lowe ◽

Mamsamba Joof ◽

Bomar Mendez Rojas

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Focus Group ◽

Rural Areas ◽

The Gambia ◽

Early Marriage ◽

Rural Settlements ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Key Informant

Background: Over the last two decades, early marriage in the Gambia declined significantly (from 58% to 30%), however this rate is still high. The reasons for the decline but continuing practice of early marriage, despite existing legislation prohibiting child marriage, are not very well understood. Very few studies have been conducted to find out what and how local factors influence decisions about early marriage in the Gambia. More information is therefore needed on underlying reasons for the persistence of early marriage in the Gambia so that program managers can use this information to design strategies to decrease early marriages. Methods: The study was conducted in 24 rural settlements in Lower Baddibu District in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. It was based on a mixed-methods design including a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 181 female adolescents, focus group discussions with 16 male and female parents, and eight key informant interviews with community-based decision makers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, while survey data were analyzed using Stata. Results: The study finds that ethnicity and the fear that girls may engage in premarital sex are two important factors associated with early marriage in rural Gambia. In addition, lack of meaningful alternatives to marriage including work opportunities in rural areas may also limit the options and resources available to girls, resulting in early wedlock. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in order to decrease early marriages in rural Gambia, future efforts should focus on understanding and addressing the role of ethnicity in determining marriage patterns and allaying the fear around premarital sex.The findings also suggest a need to provide girls with employment-oriented education including vocational skills which may result into more empowerment and a delay in marriage.

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Qualitative exploration of sociocultural determinants of health inequities of Dalit population in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022906 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. e022906 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ashraful Kabir ◽

Mathilde Rose Louise Maitrot ◽

Ahsan Ali ◽

Nadia Farhana ◽

Bart Criel

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Focus Group ◽

Health Inequalities ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Access To Healthcare ◽

Dhaka City ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Key Informant ◽

Depth Interviews

ObjectivesIn recent years, Bangladesh has made remarkable advances in health outcomes; however, the benefits of these gains are unequally shared among citizens and population groups. Dalits (jaatsweepers), a marginalised traditional working community, have relatively poor access to healthcare services. This study sought to explore the sociopolitical and cultural factors associated with health inequalities among Dalits in an urban setting.DesignAn exploratory qualitative study design was adopted. Fourteen in-depth interviews, five focus group discussions and seven key informant interviews were conducted. The acquired data were analysed using an iterative approach which incorporated deductive and inductive methods in identifying codes and themes.SettingsThis study was conducted in two sweeper communities in Dhaka city.ParticipantsParticipants were Dalit men and women (in-depth interviews, mean age±SD 30±10; and focus group discussions), and the community leaders and non-governmental organisation workers (key informant interviews).ResultsThe health status of members of these Dalit groups is determined by an array of social, economic and political factors. Dalits (untouchables) are typically considered to fall outside the caste-based social structure and existing vulnerabilities are embedded and reinforced by this identity. Dalits’ experience of precarious access to healthcare or poor healthcare is an important manifestation of these inequalities and has implications for the economic and social life of Dalit populations living together in geographically constrained spaces.ConclusionsThe provision of clinical healthcare services alone is insufficient to mitigate the negative effects of discriminations and to improve the health status of Dalits. A better understanding of the precise influences of sociocultural determinants of health inequalities is needed, together with the identification of the strategies and programmes needed to address these determinants with the aim of developing more inclusive health service delivery systems.

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Perceptions on community media for effective acculturation in Nigerian indigenous languages

Community Development Journal ◽

10.1093/cdj/bsaa011 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Chimaobi Onwukwe

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Survey Design ◽

Indigenous Languages ◽

Community Media ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Local Content ◽

Transient Nature ◽

Qualitative Survey ◽

Key Informant

Abstract This study examined perceptions on the effectiveness, attendant challenges and remedies of community media for effective acculturation in Nigerian languages. The qualitative survey design was adopted with focus group discussions and key informant interviews of 50 purposively chosen informants. It was perceived that community media could serve as veritable platform for effective acculturation in Nigerian languages since they would engender the setting of acculturation in Nigerian languages as national objective or goal. It was further held that the strengths of community media for acculturation were in being goal-defined, ensuring local content and diversification. The study identified that as palatable as the proposal for community media for effective acculturation in Nigerian languages is, it would be fraught with some set-backs or challenges that were very much surmountable. Perceptions pointed towards transient nature of community media and funding as challenges as well as multibased funding as one remedy. Immediate establishment of community media for the purpose of acculturation in Nigerian languages was recommended.

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