Using Qualitative Methods to Explore Farrier-Related Barriers to Successful Farriery Interventions for Equine Welfare in India

Farriery is a critical component of healthcare services for working equids. However, in India, an informal workforce, lack of structured training facilities and non-implementation of farriery regulations pose challenges for quality farriery. Brooke India, an equine welfare organisation, has undertaken many initiatives aiming to improve farriery services, including technical training and engagement with equid-owning communities. However, this has met with varying success. The study aimed to identify factors that prevent farriers providing quality farriery services. Focus-group discussions were conducted with farriers from two districts of Uttar Pradesh with varying programme outcomes. Within each area, farriers were grouped according to previous level of engagement with Brooke programmes. Demand for services, farrier status, the external environment and technical training and knowledge were identified as key elements that affected farriery work. These factors were very context specific: in areas where brick kilns provided the majority of customers, recent closures had resulted in an increase in those farriers’ feeling of insecurity. A systems approach to improving farriery services, taking these factors into account, is advised. Mentoring-based capacity building, which is closely aligned to farrier needs and expectations, is expected to have positive results in terms of technical skill and farrier engagement.

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Implementing the systems approach in rice pest management : India context

ORYZA- An International Journal on Rice ◽

10.35709/ory.2019.56.s.6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 56 (Special Issue) ◽

pp. 136-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

RK Tanwar ◽

S Singh ◽

SP Singh ◽

Vikas Kumar Kanwar ◽

Rakesh Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systems Approach ◽

Insect Pests ◽

Rice Variety ◽

National Level ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Fine Tuning ◽

Basmati Rice ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Integrated Crop Management ◽

Chemical Pesticides

A basic IPM module for basmati rice as a part of integrated crop management accounting the pest prevalence and the information available from literature has been developed. As the module is location specific and dynamic, therefore needs regular updating and fine tuning depending on the location and pest prevalence. The technology has been successfully validated and implemented during 1998 to 2019 in Pusa Basmati 1, Taraori Basmati, Dehraduni Basmati, Pusa Basmati 1121 in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with little modification and fine tuning. Implementation of the technology resulted in increase in rice grain yield i.e., 21.6% in Pusa Basmati 1 at Shikohpur, in Uttar Pradesh 21.5% in Taraori Basmati at Chhajpur in Haryana, 19.5% in Type 3 in Uttarakhand, 14.5 to 22.7% in Pusa Basmati 1121 in Haryana and 38.2% in Pusa Basmati 1121 in Uttar Pradesh over farmer's practices (FP). In all the basmati rice trials, higher yield as well as Benefit - Cost (B-C) ratio was obtained in IPM as compared to FP. Implementation of IPM led to significant reduction in uses of chemical pesticides. In case of IPM, only 1.46 application of chemical pesticides (103.2 g a.i./ha) were undertaken in Pusa Basmati 1121 against 2.8 application in FP (1214.4 g a.i./ha) at Bambawad, Uttar Pradesh. ICAR-NRRI, Cuttack developed and validated IPM module at Sigmapur (Cuttack, Odisha) non-Basmati rice variety Pooja for four kharif seasons i.e 2010-2013 using standard agronomic practices. The trial resulted in an enhancement of 47.1% yield and 26.47 % B-C ratio over FP. Additional income of Rs. 9857/- per ha was also obtained in IPM over FP. On-Farm trial on validation of IPM module in non-Basmati rice (Pooja variety) under semi deep water conditions conducted in 10 ha during rabi 2017 at Nagapur and Basudeipur villages in Khurda district of Odisha resulted in reduction in the incidence of insect pests and diseases with higher population of natural enemies as compared to FP. Rice yield was recorded 5600 kg ha-1 in IPM as against 4900 kg ha-1 in FP. Recently, ICT based e-pest monitoring and advisory has become an important component for area wise implementation of IPM at state and national level. The programme has been successfully implemented in Odisha during 2010 and 2011 under RKVY. Implementation of the programme had resulted successful management of swarming caterpillar in 13 rice growing districts of Odisha during kharif 2010 and 2011.

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‘Don’t Put the Cart before the Mule!’ Challenging Assumptions Regarding Health-Related Treatment Practices of Working Equid Owners in Northern India

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051307 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1307

Author(s):

Caroline Nye ◽

Tamlin Watson ◽

Laura M. Kubasiewicz ◽

Zoe Raw ◽

Faith Burden

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Health Management ◽

Animal Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Treatment Practices ◽

Northern India ◽

Brick Kilns ◽

Treatment Measures ◽

Working Equids

This paper challenges assumptions that the health management of working equids among some of India’s poorest communities is mainly dependent upon income, economic influence, or access to veterinary services. Using a mixed-methods approach, hierarchies of treatment practices are revealed through an examination of the ‘lived experience’ of equid owners in brick kilns and construction sites in northern India. Semi-structured interviews with 37 equid owners and corresponding livelihood surveys, combined with data from two focus groups with professional animal health practitioners and the welfare data of 63 working equids collected using the Equid Assessment, Research, and Scoping (EARS) tool, contributed to the findings of the study. Four principal influencing factors were found to affect the decision-making practices of equid owners. Infrastructural factors, community characteristics and experience, owners’ characteristics and experience, and economic factors all impact the belief structures of equid owners. However, without verifying the validity of the treatment measures being employed, some animals are at risk from hazardous treatment behaviours. By understanding decision-making using the theory of planned behaviour, the findings of this study can provide a crucial contribution to informing future interventions involved in the health management and welfare of working equids.

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Quantifying the Impact of Mounted Load Carrying on Equids: A Review

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11051333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 1333

Author(s):

Syed S. U. H. Bukhari ◽

Alan G. McElligott ◽

Rebecca S. V. Parkes

Keyword(s):

Carrying Capacity ◽

Creatine Kinase Activity ◽

Serum Cortisol Level ◽

Load Carrying Capacity ◽

Gait Symmetry ◽

Brick Kilns ◽

Potential Marker ◽

Load Carrying ◽

The Impact ◽

Working Equids

There are approximately 112 million working equids in developing countries, many of which are associated with brick kilns. Brick kilns and overloading are associated with welfare problems in working equids. Understanding equids’ abilities and influencing factors are important for both effective performance and welfare. Traditionally, measurement of the amount of ‘bone’ was used, and more recently, gait symmetry has been identified as a potential marker for loading capacity. Assessment of stride parameters and gait kinematics provides insights into adaptations to loading and may help determine cut-off loads. Physiological factors such as the ability to regain normal heart rates shortly after work is an important tool for equine fitness assessment and a more accurate measure of load-carrying capacity than absolute heart rate. Oxidative stress, plasma lactate, and serum creatine kinase activity are reliable biochemical indicators of loading ability. For monitoring stress, salivary cortisol is superior to serum cortisol level for assessment of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and is related to eye temperatures, but this has yet to be interpreted in terms of load-carrying ability in equids. Further research is needed to standardize the evidence-based load-carrying capacity of working horses and donkeys.

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Understanding Reproductive Health Services in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India: A Dalit Feminist Approach

Contemporary Voice of Dalit ◽

10.1177/2455328x211028128 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 2455328X2110281

Author(s):

Priti Chandra

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Indian Society ◽

Reproductive Health Services ◽

Qualitative Research Design ◽

Dalit Women ◽

Eastern Uttar Pradesh

The identity of women cannot be seen in isolation but one that exists along with other constituents that intersects with class, race, sexuality and caste also. Being a woman, a person is already at periphery, adding caste to it makes more vulnerable. Thus, Dalit women are more subjugated in Indian society whether it is about leading a normal life or availing reproductive health services. This study primarily draws from a Dalit feminist perspective to understand the subjectivity and nuisances of the Dalit women who avail reproductive health services. While availing reproductive health services, the sort of discrimination the Dalit women face are denial in providing reproductive health services, creating and observing distance with the Dalit women by the health practitioners, and also promotion of privatization of healthcare services. The study is based on qualitative research design basically, participant observation, in which the total 27 married women were selected for the in-depth interview, among them 16 women were from the Dalit community and 9 women were from the so-called upper caste community. This research was conducted from February to April 2015 in Mau district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.

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Confusion and Making Sense of Menstruation: A Micro-level Study of Village Khagawal, Chandauli District, Uttar Pradesh

Space and Culture India ◽

10.20896/saci.v7i3.523 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 86-98

Author(s):

Sumedha ◽

Suman Singh

Keyword(s):

Information Overload ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Menstrual Disorders ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Entire Process ◽

Making Sense ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

Grass Root ◽

Micro Level

Menstruation is a natural process which has significant and irrevocable changes on a woman’s life. Navigating the entire process is no small feat, and the added confusion in the age of information overload often complicates the situation rather than simplifying it. In India, discourses surrounding menstruation are still restricted to sanitary napkins while overlooking menstrual disorders, understanding and examining the agencies responsible for it. Many a time, ancient pearls of wisdom are being dismissed as taboos without apprehending its deeper sciences which helped women in traversing the entire process since time immemorial. This research is an attempt to view menstruation holistically by giving importance to a woman’s personal experiences and to find out how menstruation is integrated into the local culture. To accomplish the research, we conducted a questionnaire survey amongst 40 females aged 13-49 years and three focus group discussions to explore the coping mechanisms, the grass-root problems the rural girls and women face during menstruation in village Khagawal located in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh. The findings revealed that rudimentary information concerning menstruation was present amongst the respondents— the respondents are aware of the traditional knowledge and ways but completely ignorant regarding the scientific roots of the practices. Some facets of hygiene need to be addressed.

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Systemic Participatory Action Research and Learning within Large-Scale Operational Programs to Eradicate Bonded Labor in India

International Review of Qualitative Research ◽

10.1177/1940844720933235 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 140-159

Author(s):

Pauline Oosterhoff ◽

Danny Burns

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Large Scale ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Methodological Innovation ◽

Brick Kilns ◽

Bonded Labor

This paper describes the implementation of a large-scale systemic participatory action research program which was designed to encourage community-based solutions to bonded labor in India. The program focuses on workers in brick kilns and stone quarries and, to some extent, on sex workers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and on cotton-mill workers in Tamil Nadu. It runs in parallel to programmatic interventions by local NGOs. The paper looks at the methodological challenges of fully engaging a mostly illiterate, extremely marginalized population on a highly political and complex issue in order to generate community-led solutions, and the process of taking that to scale. The program resulted in extensive methodological innovation and substantive changes to the lives of villagers.

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Community engagement for malaria elimination in contested areas of the Karen/Kayin State, Myanmar: A case study on the Malaria Elimination Task Force

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.13965.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 22 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Andrea König ◽

Ladda Kajeechiwa ◽

May Myo Thwin ◽

Suphak Nosten ◽

Saw Win Tun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Malaria Elimination ◽

Task Force ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Mutual Understanding ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Team Members ◽

Complex Landscape ◽

Key Dimensions ◽

Context Specific

Background: This study evinces how the community engagement (CE) approach of the Malaria Elimination Task Force (METF) in the Karen/Kayin State of southeast Myanmar contributed to generating participation in program activities, such as early detection and treatment, malaria blood surveys and mass drug administration. Methods: We investigated the CE approach through ethnographic and key-informant unstructured interviews as well as focus group discussions and participant observation with program participants METF team members. Interview transcripts were analysed manually applying inductive content analysis. Results: In the context of the Thai-Myanmar border, CE had two main dimensions: The first was to enable the politically sensitive entry of the program into intervention areas, the second was to create mutual understanding among the METF team and people from the population and gain trust. For the first, the METF needed to acknowledge, get permission and communicate with a complex landscape of governing actors and leaders. For the second, creating mutual understanding meant to spend time learning about villagers’ lifeworlds and adapting engagement accordingly to create understanding of the program in resonance with these lifeworlds. Gaining trust meant to leverage leadership and build trust through informal “horizontal” engagement and acts of caring. Three key dimensions of villagers’ lifeworlds that appeared most crucial for staff to learn about were: villagers’ experience with the outside world; leadership and governing relationships to villagers: authority and distrust; and their perceived need for malaria care. Conclusions: Successful CE is highly context specific. CE success was based on the adaptability of the approach towards the complex political and socio-cultural contexts of the different areas of the Karen/Kayin State. Hence, CE is not a fixed approach or strategy defined before entering the setting, but constantly evolving based on the encounters with stakeholders and people of the population.

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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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Light and shadow in the Brazilian graduate studies system in health

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/0102-311x00006514 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 1591-1597 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Reinaldo Guimarães

Keyword(s):

Evaluation System ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Graduate Programs ◽

Health Sector ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Supply Side ◽

Graduate Studies ◽

Current Role ◽

Light And Shadow

The author discusses the challenges faced by the Brazilian graduate studies system with an emphasis on the human health sector. He identifies imbalances in the supply side of knowledge, a prime territory for graduate programs, while highlighting that a proper conceptualization of such imbalances is incomplete if it fails to incorporate the demands for scientific and technological knowledge coming from healthcare services, industry, and society. He draws on concepts from technology economics involved in the innovation systems approach. The article highlights the historical and current role of Brazilian Graduate Studies Coordinating Board (Capes), particularly its evaluation system, as an essential device for overcoming the existing challenges in Brazilian graduate studies. The author concludes by suggesting some conceptual adjustments in the agency’s work.

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ERP Modules for Industry-Institute Interaction, Training and Placement, and Alumni Management

Enterprise Resource Planning Models for the Education Sector ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-2193-0.ch012 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 178-184

Author(s):

P. A. Khatwani ◽

K. S. Desai

Keyword(s):

Academic Performance ◽

Skill Development ◽

Management Training ◽

Academic Institution ◽

Technical Training ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Soft Skill ◽

Erp System ◽

Knowledge Database ◽

Small Term

Industry-institute interaction, training, and placement are very important aspects to be considered while designing any system to improve the methodologies for the education sector. This chapter deals with the different modules related to industry institute management, training and placement, alumni database, and management to be covered while designing an erp system for improving these most important areas for any academic institution. Some of the modules to be covered in industry-institute management are as follows: database of industries, industrial visits for enhancing knowledge of students as well as faculty, regular lectures from speakers from industry, providing technical training to staff from industry by means of workshop/seminar/small term courses, and providing technical/consultancy services to industry. Some of the modules to be covered in training and placement management are as follows: database of industries, vocational training to students for enhancing their knowledge, database of students and their academic performance, arrangement of programmes for soft skill development, guidance to students for written exam, group discussions, and personal interviews. Some of the modules to be covered in alumni management are as follows: database of alumni, networking of alumni, interaction with alumni for different issues like industrial visits, placement, guest lectures, institutional developments, et cetera.

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