scholarly journals Food wastage and implications for food safety with special reference to marriage ceremonies

Author(s):  
Waseem Akram ◽  
Iqbal Javed

This study estimates the quantity of food waste and its causes in the marriage ceremonies in district Sargodha, Pakistan. A questionnaire was prepared for the collection of data on food waste. Before final data collection, a pilot survey was conducted and some changes have been made as per suggestions of the stakeholders. Every marquee and marriage hall were visited several times for data collection and data about 255 events of marriage ceremonies was collected. Along with empirical data, the focus group discussions and interviews were organized with managers and the staff of the marriage halls and marquees. Their experience and views were also recorded for the theoretical understanding of the science of food waste and its causes. The study concludes that, on average, every individual waste 183 grams of food in a marriage ceremony in district Sargodha. From theoretical side, it is concluded that guest’s unawareness about food waste and the typical behaviour of the guests are the major reasons of food waste in marriage ceremonies. While on the empirical side, the major reason of food waste is the buffet serving that causes to increase the quantity of food waste very significantly.

Author(s):  
Muhammad Akber Sajid ◽  
Muhammad Riaz Khan

Print media semiotic discourses are one of the best sites for ideological investment and their role is very significant in the production and dissemination of certain ideology. The aim of the present study is to critically decode the semiotic discourse(s) of Pakistani English newspaper DAWN (daily) with special reference to the representation of Pak- Us relationship through the analysis of the semiotics discourses. The data for the present research has been collected from the mentioned newspaper. The time span for data collection ranges from October 2018 to December 2018. Out of ten (10) caricatures which represent Pakistan attempting to survive at its own rather than depending on America one was purposively selected for linguistic and semiotic analyses. The study is descriptive and utilizes qualitative research design. For this purpose, the researchers have devised an amended research model by drawing upon Fairclough (1995), Kress (2010) and Kruger’s (2000) research models to analyse linguistic, semiotic and focus group discussions data. The semiotic analysis has also been validated by incorporating the remarks of focus group participants. Based on the analysis of data the study concludes that noting is absolute in politics as far as Pak- Us relations through semiotic discourses are concerned. Additionally, the research reveals that print media semiotic discourses work insidiously to represent socio- political changes by employing linguistic and meta-linguistic devices and techniques.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Muslimah Muslimah ◽  
Dian Ayubi

Measles and Rubella (MR) is a disease that is highly contagious and usually occurs in children aged 9 months until the age of 15 years. One effort that can be done to reduce the incidence of the disease is through health promotion about the importance of immunization. Purpose the promotion was packaged in the form of advertisements on electronic media with the aim of building perceptions that the importance of immunization for public health. Methods this research was a qualitative study with a method of collecting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The number of informants in this study was 19 mothers who had children aged 0.9 to 15 years in one of the Puskesmas work areas in Merangin District, Jambi Province. Before the data collection process, all informants were asked to see two MR immunization advertisements. Results that immunization advertisements are interesting and contain humor. Meanwhile, informants who did not give MR immunization to their children tended to be negative towards MR immunization advertisements and tended to ignore the effects that arose if they did not give immunizations to their children. The recommendation that MR immunization advertisements should avoid using the fear arousal method and use the pay off idea method in those ads


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Karim ◽  
Don de Savigny ◽  
Serge Ngaima ◽  
Daniel Mäusezahl ◽  
Daniel Cobos Muñoz ◽  
...  

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie ◽  
Rebecca K. Frels

<p>Although focus group discussions (FGDs) represent a popular data collection tool for researchers, they contain an extremely serious flaw: FGD researchers have ultimate power over all decisions made at every stage of the research process—from the conceptualization of the research, to the planning of the research study, to the implementation of the research study, to the dissemination of FGD findings. Yet, exercising 100% control over all decisions in FGD research can be detrimental for some participants, especially for under-represented, underserved, and marginalized populations. Thus, in this article, we introduce a new type of participant-directed FGD, which we call a <em>critical dialectical pluralist FGD</em>, wherein participants are maximally empowered to make decisions at every stage of the mixed research process. We outline the stages of critical dialectical pluralist FGDs and provide a real-life example of this approach.</p>


Author(s):  
Manik Ulan Dewi ◽  
K. Tresna Adhi ◽  
Dyah Pradnyaparamita Duarsa

Background and purpose: Consumption of iodized salt is essential to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. One of the key success of iodized salt program is distribution. This study explored the consumption and logistical distribution patterns of iodized salt among housewives in Subamia Village Tabanan District.Methods: The study was a qualitative with data collection using two focus group discussions (FGD) of 6 active and 6 inactive cadres. Indepth interviews were conducted with two health staffs, two community leaders, one staff of Trade/Industrial Office at Tabanan District and one salt seller. Data was analysed using thematic method.Results: Respondents prefered uniodized salt because of several reasons including less bitter, tastier and cheaper than iodized salt. Moreover, the distribution of iodized salt regulated by the government was reported to be impeded the salt distribution, this resulted in the difficulty of villagers to access the iodized saltConclusion: Appetizing flavor, access and no local regulations on distribution of iodized salt is the cause of low consumption of iodized salt in Subamia Village Tabanan District.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Siti Hasliah Salleh ◽  
Nor Ashikin Mohamed Yusof ◽  
Zamri Mohamed ◽  
Shadiya Mohamad Saleh Baqutayan ◽  
Amirah ‘Aisya Badrul Hisham ◽  
...  

The risk of development (or disaster) depends on the nature of the development itself and the potential disaster in the development area. However, the risk of disasters is a matter of perception. It depends on how an individual or group of individuals see or assess the characteristics of a phenomenon. Even it is subjective; it is vital to understand what risks people consider to be acceptable, especially the local players involved in the development works. Therefore, this paper presents how the local players perceive disaster risk in underground utility development. These local players were the authorities at the federal and state level, industry players, and academicians. Series of focus group discussions were conducted for data collection purposes, and the data was analyzed narratively. One aspect is the perception of disaster risk occurrence; either the disaster affects the development or otherwise. In turn, this evidence-based information could be one of the essential feeders to policymakers and disaster managers on what disaster risk reduction programmes have a better chance of being accepted by the local players. The success of this kind of programme is essential for sustainable underground utility functions for the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-140
Author(s):  
Malima Zacharia ◽  
Michael Andindilile

Abstract This study investigated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges (SWOC) associated with the power of radio in communicating forests information to enhance community responsiveness to forest conservation in Tanzania. Data collection entailed the analysis of the content of a series of Urithi Wetu (Our Heritage) programme produced and aired by the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) radio, conducting interviews with key informants, administering questionnaires with citizens living adjacent to forests, and holding focus group discussions (FGDs) with the villagers in the study area. The study established that, to some extent, radio presents some opportunities for easy communication of forest conservation information in a bid to influence communities to take the intended conservation action. On the other hand, the study found that factors such as poor packaging of forest information, lack of participation of the rural-based citizens in the programmes, and poverty among community members limited the power of the radio to influence effectively citizens to conserve forests.


Author(s):  
Anita Marianata

This study aims to determine the implementation of housing development policy for low income communities in Kelurahan Dusun Besar, Singaranpati Subdistrict, Bengkulu City. This study uses a qualitative desciptive method and the data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and documentation method. The results shows that the implementation of Rusunawa (simple rented flats) policy development in Kelurahan Dusun Besar has not been appropriate with expectation. The physical condition of Rusunawa is not habitable, because the construction of Rusunawa has not finished or neglected until now. From the 96 residence in total, only 23 units were inhabited. The Rusunawa management also did not collect the rent, due the condition of facilities in Rusunawa was not adequate such as unavailable water supply. Besides, the Rusunawa management recognized that there was no authority resignation directly from the government of Bengkulu City to the management, so that the managers did not know exactly when these flats will be resolved or the rent expense will be charged. Moreover, there was no program to improve the economy of low-income communities, so the empowerment of low- income communities living in Rusunawa was impossible. Keywords: Implementation of Policy, Housing Policy, Socio-Economics, Low-Income Communities


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarice Ambale ◽  
Brian Ngatia ◽  
Jonathan Nthusi

Abstract Background: Sepsis continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. One of the most important portals of entry for infections is the umbilical cord. Proper care of the cord can prevent many of these cases of sepsis and hence reduce neonatal mortality rates. In Kenya, the use of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) gel was introduced to scale in 2016 and received with mixed reactions in some hospitals with reports of medication errors and ineffectiveness being received. This study sought to find out the knowledge, practices and attitude on its use in Kangundo Level 4 hospital. Methodology: The study was carried out at Kangundo level 4 hospital between June and August 2019. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study with both quantitative and qualitative components. A questionnaire was used for the quantitative data collection while focus group discussions were held for the qualitative data collection. Ethical approval was sought prior to commencement of data collection. Results: A total of 19 clients and 24 healthcare workers were interviewed and two focus group discussions held. All the 19 clients had delivered in the hospital and only three were first-time mothers. Education on how to use chlorhexidine (CHX) was given to 16/19 (84%) of the clients interviewed. Duration of application varied among clients; 4 days 5/19(26%), 7 days, 12/19 (64%) and until the stump falls off, 2/19 (10%). Twenty of the 24 HCWs (83%) interviewed advised the patients on cleaning the cord prior to application of CHX, frequency of application varied from OD 15/24 ( 62%), BD 3/24 (13%) and TID 6/24( 25%). Two FGDs were held for HCW; lack of training and clear instructions on how to use the gel as major contributors to ineffectiveness of CHX. Conclusion and recommendation: There was poor understanding on the use of CHX among both clients and HCWs at Kangundo level 4 hospital. Cleaning of the stump prior to gel application is important to prevent accumulation of the dry gel and allow contact with the wound. There is need for training and development of a standard operating procedure on use of CHX.


2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 1104-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subarna Chakravorty ◽  
Amy Tallett ◽  
Cara Witwicki ◽  
Harriet Hay ◽  
Catherine Mkandawire ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo develop patient-reported experience measure surveys for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to understand their healthcare and lived experience in the UK and for their use in future to inform healthcare service development.DesignPicker methodology was used as follows: (1) qualitative scoping by focus group discussions; (2) questionnaire development through stakeholder consultations; (3) construct validation of questionnaires through cognitive testing; and (4) further assessment of construct validity by a nationwide pilot survey.SettingPatients with SCD and their carers were eligible. Focus group discussions took place in non-hospital settings, arranged out of hours. Cognitive testing took place in specialist sickle cell clinics. The pilot survey was available to UK participants only and was administered through web-based questionnaires, face-to face completion and in sickle cell community events.ParticipantsThirty-three patients and carers took part in the focus groups, 21 participants undertook cognitive testing and 722 respondents completed the pilot survey.ResultsFindings highlighted a widespread prevalence of poor knowledge about SCD among healthcare providers and the public. Poorer experience of care was present in the emergency setting compared with planned care, of which lack of timely provision of pain relief was of concern. Adolescents and young people reported significantly poorer experience of care in several domains compared with children or adults.ConclusionsThe new surveys functioned well, with good evidence of validity, and were accessible to the SCD patient population, supporting their future use in assessing patient experience to inform service delivery and improvements in care quality.


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