Determinants of improved cookstove adoption and its benefits in Ethiopia.

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.

Current Status of Quality Assurance Scheme in Selected Undergraduate Medical Colleges of Bangladesh

This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out to determine the current status of Quality Assurance Scheme in undergraduate medical colleges of Bangladesh. This study was carried out in eight (four Government and four Non- Government) medical colleges in Bangladesh over a period from July 2015 to June 2016. The present study had an interview schedule with open question for college authority and another interview schedule with open question for head of department of medical college. Study revealed that 87.5% of college had Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) in their college, 75% of college authority had regular meeting of academic coordination committee in their college, 50% of college had active Medical Education Unit in their college, 87.5% of college authority said positively on publication of journal in their college. In the present study researchers interviewed 53 heads of department with open question about distribution, collection of personal review form, submission with recommendation to the academic co-coordinator, and annual review meeting of faculty development. The researchers revealed from the interviews that there is total absence of this practice which is directed in national guidelines and tools for Quality Assurance Scheme (QAS) for medical colleges of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Education Vol.13(1) January 2022: 33-39

The Data Life Aquatic

This paper assesses data consumers’ perspectives on the interoperable and re-usable aspects of the FAIR Data Principles. Taking a domain-specific informatics approach, ten oceanographers were asked to think of a recent search for data and describe their process of discovery, evaluation, and use. The interview schedule, derived from the FAIR Data Principles, included questions about the interoperability and re-usability of data. Through this critical incident technique, findings on data interoperability and re-usability give data curators valuable insights into how real-world users access, evaluate, and use data. Results from this study show that oceanographers utilize tools that make re-use simple, with interoperability seamless within the systems used. The processes employed by oceanographers present a good baseline for other domains adopting the FAIR Data Principles.

Student Participation in Quality Assurance Processes of HEIs the Omani Context

Quality assurance and accreditation are the most pronounced words in the education sector. Quality culture involves all stakeholders in the process. Students who are the major stakeholders play a vital role in the QA process of an institution. The role of students in QA process in Oman context has been covered by conducting interviews from both students and staff members. The current study has been conducted on all the 13 branches of University of Technology and Applied Sciences. An online interview schedule was arranged with five students and two staff members from each branch. The list of students and staff was collected from the quality assurance department of UTAS branches. The results of the study showed that students are actively participating in various programs. The main hindrances to student involvement are low awareness about QA processes, time constraints, and low student representation towards QA processes. The implication of this research is important for HEIs, OAAA, academic researchers, and higher education stakeholders.

Impact of Farmer FIRST Project on Livelihood of Farmers

Under the farmer FIRST project about 400 beneficiary farmers were provided access toimproved agricultural technologies in Khordha district. Skill training and demonstration ofmodules on improved technologies on Crop, Horticulture, Livestock and Fishery wereconducted. Following the DFID framework (1999) the impact on livelihoods of farmerswas measured through finding a comparative position of physical, social, financial, humanand natural assets of the farmers before and after the adoption of the interventions. Astructured interview schedule was developed and data was collected from 87 randomlyselected beneficiaries by personal interview method twice (before i.e., in 2016-17 and afterthe intervention i.e., in 2019-20). The mean value of overall standard of living of adoptedfarmers derived through the addition of the index values of five assets was worked out tobe 2.84 in the post-adoption period against 2.41 in the pre-adoption period. Paired samplet-test indicates the positive and significant impact of the project on the livelihood of thebeneficiaries.

Constraint Perceived by Osmanabadi Goat Keepers in Latur Region of Maharashtra State

A present ex-post-facto study was conducted to identify the perceived constraints of Osmanabadi goat keepers in the Latur region. A total of 120 goat keepers were equally selected across Latur and Osmanabad districts using the multistage random sampling technique. The data was collected by personal interview method using a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. The study revealed that kid mortality, lack of financial support, and nonavailability of insurance facilities were the major perceived constraints of overall Osmanabadi goat-keeping households. Among small goat keepers, kid mortality and lack of breeding bucks were significantly greater perceived constraints than medium goat keepers. Higher labor wages and non-availability of grazing land were severely perceived limitations of medium goat keepers, whereas fodder scarcity to large goat keepers. Small, medium, and large Osmanabadi goat keepers of the Latur region need constraints-specific interventions through veterinary institutes or relevant extension agencies to examine and address varied perceived constraints.

Personal meaning of recovery among persons with schizophrenia

Background: Recovery in mental illness is not synonymous with cure. Personal recovery approach consider recovery as a process and not as an outcome. This approach takes into account the subjective meaning of recovery by assessing how a person has learned to accommodate and live with an illness. Aim: To study the personal meaning of recovery among persons with schizophrenia. Method: This article presents the findings of a qualitative study about what ‘recovery’ means to persons with schizophrenia. A semi structured interview schedule was prepared based on literature review and expert opinion. Twenty participants who met the inclusion criteria and personally consider themselves recovering/recovered from schizophrenia were selected for the in-depth qualitative interviews. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Meaning of recovery from each participant’s perspective was recorded. Findings: The results indicate factors that patients deem important for their recovery are, absence of symptoms, regaining functioning, being able to work, having adequate emotional stability and not being on medicines. The findings are examined in the background of the previous studies and suggestions for clinical practice and research is also discussed. Conclusion: Recovery is far more than remission of symptoms. Persons with mental illness has their own criteria of recovery, which could be very distinct from the clinical definition. Current study findings can help in identifying meaning of recovery through the perspectives of persons with mental illness and in developing and implementing recovery-oriented services.

INFORMATION NEEDS OF WILDLIFE HUNTERS IN KWARA STATE: IMPLICATION FOR EXTENSION SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA

Access to accurate, timely and reliable information has crucial roles in production efficiency of wildlife hunters. An understanding of information needs could propel actors in the agricultural information business to provide information that will meet the needs. To this end, the present study investigated the information needs of wildlife hunters in Kwara State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Primary data collected with the use of interview schedule were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result revealed that hunters’ group (M = 2.48) and consultation with older/experienced hunters (M = 2.02) were the prominent channels of information accessible to the hunters. Information on market situation (M = 2.16), games search techniques and ethics (M = 2.07) and hunting locations (M = 1.98) were the major areas of information needs of the hunters. Also, lack of awareness of extension information source (M = 1.96), inaccessibility of extension workers (M = 1.86) and trust of the information source (M = 1.79) were the major identified obstacles to accessing information from extension channels. The study further showed that age of the hunters, level of education and years of experience have a significant relationship with their information needs at p < 0.05. The study concluded that the hunters have ample information needs and recommends that an arm of extension service operation should be devoted to wildlife with the mandate of hunters’ education on vital areas of wildlife management for improved livelihood.

Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Economy of Tokumbo Vehicles Trade in Borno State: Implications for Counselling

The study was an opinion survey that investigated the influence of covid-19 pandemic on the economy of Tokumbo vehicles trade in Borno State, Nigeria. Population of the study comprised of all fairly used secondhand car dealers in the State. However, 150 Tokumbo car dealers constituted the sample. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used in selecting sample. Researchers designed 18 items Structured Interview Schedule (SIS) tagged “Car Dealers Interview Schedule (CDIS)” and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were the instruments used to elicit data for the study. The CDIS was divided into two parts (A & B). Part A collected information on demographic characteristics of the respondents while Part B elicited data on sources of capital for the Tokumbo dealers, brand of Tokumbo vehicles and the influence of covid-19 pandemic on Tokumbo trade in Borno State, Nigeria. The CDIS was validated by three experts in the field of Business Administration of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State and a coefficient of 0.74 was obtained using Cronbach alpha reliability method for the internal consistency which was considered relevant and adequate for the study. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentage and bar graph were used in analyzing data collected for the study. Three objectives and three research questions piloted the study. Results of the study revealed loan and personal savings as some of the sources of capital for dealers in Tokumbo vehicles in Borno State. Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot were some of the brands of Tokumbo cars in the study area while rent, loan repayment and gross reduction in sales were some of the effects of covid-19 pandemic on the trade in Tokumbo vehicles in Borno State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, implications for counselling, conclusions and recommendations were made.