Countries In sub-Sahara Africa Research Articles

Cashew Chain Value in Guiné-Bissau: Challenges and Contributions for Food Security: A Case Study for Guiné-Bissau

Guine-Bissau is a recent example of political stabilization after a recent period of instability, where the international community can play an important role in cooperation and development, but with innovation and new effective policies. Food security is certainly one of the big issues to be addressed and cashew production and respective chain value one of the main opportunities to improve the quality of life for many families. Guinea-Bissau can be considered one of the most fragile countries in Sub-Sahara Africa, but at the same time with enormous economic potential. Poverty alleviation is very much dependent from agricultural activities and agribusiness will be always at the core of the most possible solutions. Within those possible solutions the contribution of the cashew sector is crucial, which has been playing already a key role in the economy and in the family survival equation. More than 80% of the families depend from agricultural activities and most of them are linked to the production of cashew. This crop represents more than 90% of exports, and at the same time is responsible for income alleviation resources at local family base. However Cashew expansion is a very recent phenomena, with about 20 years of success, beyond all political “turmoil”. Today the country is the second biggest in Africa, after Ivory Coast, and the fourth worldwide ( also after India and Vietnam). Exports were around 20 thousand tons in 1990 and close to 200 thousand tons in the last year’s production. But the most important factors to be considered in a cash crop business is also a very “unique” structure of production, mostly family based and where the average dimension of production per family is dominantly between 1 to 2 hectares. Very much related to those structural characteristics, which vary by region is the role of this crop in the food security dimension of the families, which is calculated to represent in average 4,8/12 months of income needs for food. The research address the Caju chain value in Guine-Bissau, added value possibilities with transformation, better markets, improved institutional environment and other alternatives aiming to promote the global value creation but also the dynamics of the food system able to promote the family welfare and a sustainable development process.

Epidemiology of Hypertension Stages in Two Countries in Sub-Sahara Africa: Factors Associated with Hypertension Stages.

Studies using the revised hypertension classification are needed to better understand epidemiology of hypertension across full distribution. The sociodemographic, biological, and health behavior characteristics associated with different stages of hypertension in Ghana and South Africa (SA) were studied using global ageing and adult health (SAGE), WAVE 1 dataset. Blood pressure was assessed for a total of 7545 respondents, 2980 from SA and 4565 from Ghana. Hypertension was defined using JNC7 blood pressure classification considering previous diagnosis and treatment. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis using Stata version 12 statistical software was done to identify independent predictors. The weighted prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in Ghana was 30.7% and 42.4%, respectively, and that of SA was 29.4% and 46%, respectively, showing high burden. After adjusting for the independent variables, only age (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.14–1.53), income (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.04–3.47), and BMI (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.1–1.22) remained independent predictors for stage 1 hypertension in Ghana, while, for SA, age (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.53–3.36), sex (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08–1), and BMI (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07–1.25) were found to be independent predictors of stage 1 hypertension. Healthy lifestyle changes and policy measures are needed to promptly address these predictors.

The place of human capital development in today's economy: further evidence from Nigeria

The place of human capital development in today's economy cannot be over-emphasised. This study uses the augmented Solow human-capital-growth model to empirically determine its role in enhancing economic performance in Nigeria as well as relate the findings to similar studies in Sub-Sahara Africa countries. The results indicate that gross total capital formation, total stock of human capital and total government health expenditure are all significant growth drivers. However, the contribution of total government education expenditure to growth remains meagre in relations to other variables within the periods under review. The elasticity of output with respect to the explanatory variables returns relatively inelastic measures for all the variables.

Economic Benefits of Educating Girls In Developing Countries


 The main objective of this paper is to uncover economic gains and society’s benefits when investing in girls’ education with the hope that the results will lead policy makers to reconsider the current underinvestment in girls. It explores the linkage between investing in girls and potential increase in national income by examining three widely prevalent aspects of adolescent girls’ lives: early school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and joblessness in Tanzania. Secondary data have been used for some comparability to allow for cross-country comparisons of the opportunity cost of investing on girls’ education. The data come from selected developing countries in Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa that have significant vulnerabilities for adolescent girls, or validating existing conditions aggravating adolescent girls’ social exclusion, which suggest a lower value for girl-children in the society. The findings reveal that investing in girls’ education leads to lifetime earning of today’s cohort of girls that is equivalent to 68% of annual domestic product. The cost of adolescent pregnancy as a share of gross domestic could be as high as 30% or low as 1% over a girl’s lifetime. The paper concludes that, as understanding grows about how much and how quickly education can result into tangible benefits for girls, their families and their countries, there is need to summon more political will and resources to provide girls and boys equal access to quality education.

The leaking pocket: The implicit struggle for skilled health workers between private not-for-profit and public sector in Tanzania.

Introduction: Human resource for health is the core building block of an effectively functioning health system, and, competent and motivated health workers are the key drivers at all levels in health service delivery. Public health services in sub-Sahara Africa countries face severe health workforce shortages exacerbated by both outward migration and internal public to private sector migration—Tanzania is no exception. This review was conducted to characterize the extent of health workforce shortages in Tanzania, and the factors impacting on the shortage. Methods: The authors reviewed publicly available data to assess the extent of health workforce shortages within Tanzania and the range of ‘pull’ and ‘push’ factors contributing to the shortages. Results: Findings highlight significant health workforce shortages in Tanzania. Specific ‘pull’ and ‘push’ factors were identified. Pull factors are considered to be factors such as the advantages offered by new jobs, such as higher pay and better working conditions that 'pull' workers towards the new jobs. Push factors have been identified as those negative factors that 'push' workers out of their jobs, such as poor pay, working conditions, and management and governance issues. These factors impact extensively acting upon the recruitment and retention of Tanzanian health workers. The issue of health workforce flow from the public to private not-for- profit sector was particularly notable and the impact this has on the ability to provide an effectively functioning public health system in Tanzania. Conclusion: The authors conclude that opportunities exist for the private not-for- profit sector to take an active role in the production of skilled human resources for health in Tanzania.

Antibody‐mediated control of Trypanosoma vivax infection fails in the absence of tumour necrosis factor

Trypanosoma vivax causes a wasting disease affecting livestock breeding and agriculture in developing countries of sub-Sahara Africa and South America. Being an extracellular parasite, control of T.vivax has been proposed to be mediated by host antibodies. However, the use of a comparative infection model of wild-type (WT) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) knockout (TNF(-/-) ) mice shows that the latter is unable to control first-peak parasitaemia, despite the presence of specific antitrypanosome antibodies. In contrast, WT mice parasitaemia peak control coincides with a combined early onset of TNF production and induction of specific antibodies. TNF is mainly produced by liver-associated monocytes and neutrophils. In this study, no other correlation between cellular immunomodulations and peak parasitaemia control was observed, underscoring the importance of the role of TNF in the control of T.vivax infections.

Do Workers’ Remittances Promote Financial Development in Sub-Sahara Africa Countries?

This study examines the impact of workers’ remittances on financial development in 32 Sub-Sahara Africa countries. In this paper we employ dynamic panel GMM model to study the potential effect of remittances on financial development with emphasis on financial intermediation. While the study depends on credit to private sector as a measure of financial development, past level of financial development, inflation, globalisation, FDI, size of government economic and worker remittances were controlled for. Employing data from 1996 -2010, the study discovers that workers’ remittances affect financial development in a positive and significant way. This positive relationship suggests that remittances complements financial intermediation in SSA countries as exemplified by endogenous growth literature and the canonical intermediating model with the insights that remittances savings behaviour will generally influence equilibrium financial rates.

Tax effort performance in sub-Sahara Africa and the role of colonialism

Governments in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) have tended to rely unduly on foreign aid and debt financing for the provision of public goods such as health, basic education and infrastructure. Domestic tax revenue could play a significant role in funding such expenditures. However, to date tax revenue collection in SSA has only averaged about 15% of GDP. In this paper we employ cluster analysis to enhance our understanding in the variations in tax effort performance amongst SSA countries. Past studies of tax effort performance in SSA have resorted to economic events or factors to explain the tax effort performance. We argue here that it is necessary to consider historical events to provide a fuller explanation. We provide evidence to show that the different colonial policies pursued in SSA have had a long lasting and profound effect on the countries' tax revenue performance.

Genetics of ?1 Anti-Trypsin (AAT) Deficiency

Since the first description of alpha one antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) by Laurell and Eriksson in 1963, it has become a common but under-recognized genetic condition that predisposes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disease [1]. The prevalence of AATD is variable among different geographic areas and ethnic groups, where prevalence of the PiS allele is highest for countries in Southern Europe (Iberian Peninsula) and Sub-Sahara Africa. On the other hand, maximal PiZ frequencies (2-4%) are found in the southern regions of the Scandinavian countries [2].

Determinants of Fertility Decline in Botswana

Botswana exhibits a medium fertility rate (i.e.4.0-5.0 births per woman). One of the three countries in sub-Sahara Africa (Kenya and Zimbabwe are the other two) reported to be experiencing incipient fertility decline, an indication of the subcontinent's entry into the second phase of the fertility transition after undergoing significant changes in the proximate determinants of fertility over the past few decades. The magnitude and socioeconomic and demographic determinants of the declines in the three countries have become major preoccupations of researchers. This article examines some aspects of these topical issues in relation to fertility trend in Botswana. It also draws attention to the need to develop intellectual capacity for studying these phenomena and provide adequate and reliable information and appropriate tools for monitoring and evaluating demographic trends in the sub-continent.

English

Soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion and soil acidity associated to Aluminium (Al) toxicities are the main soil related constraints to agricultural development in many countries of sub-Sahara Africa. The lime plays an important role in improving soil acidity and hence favours plant nutrition. The aim of this study was to map out the available limestone deposits and to determine their selected quality. The selected quality of limestone (CaO, MgO and fineness factor) was analyzed using ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA) method. The global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of limestone deposits were taken. The collected data were processed using Arc GIS 9. The fineness factor was determined by mechanically sieving the lime through a stag of 4 sieves of various aperture dimensions (2, 1, 0.5 and 0.2 mm). The map showed that the limestone deposits are scattered in Northern and Western provinces with more concentration in Northern region. Mpenge limestone had an average of 40% ±4.2 of CaO and 3% ±0.9 of MgO. However, its fineness factor of 63% ±2.01 found to be in good range. Gishyita deposit was heterogeneous in CaCO3, its CaO was 50% ± 20.02 indicating high variability within mines where CaO reached < 30%. Mashyuza deposit in Rusizi region had 50% ±3.4 of CaO and moderate MgO of 3% ±0.6. However, its fineness factor was 55.6% ±1.6 .The difference in lime quality observed in this study was possibly due to the origin of limestone rocks. However, the fineness factors were below the acceptable level because of non-additional grinding and lack of technological skills in producing lime. Therefore, this study recommends the use of grounded limestone after fine grinding. Key words: Limestone deposit sites, CaO, MgO, fineness factor.

Utilization and Incidence of Adverse Drug Reactions to Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy Among Pregnant Women in an Ambulatory Care Facility in Southwestern Nigeria

As increasing number of countries in sub-Sahara Africa is changing to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as first or second line treatment for malaria, hence, post-marketing surveillance of ACT use in vulnerable population is a necessity. This study aimed at evaluating the extent of use and assessing the incidence of adverse reactions to artemisinin-based combination therapy among pregnant women in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinic of Adeoyo Maternity Hospital in Ibadan, between 15th March and 16th May, 2008. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered to 140 consented pregnant women at the study site. Of these, 134 (95.7%) properly filled questionnaires were subsequently analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Chisquare was used for tests of proportions, with p&lt;0.05 considered statistically significant. More than three fourth, 120 (89.6%) of the respondents had malaria in their current pregnancy. Of these, 115 (95.8%) took antimalarial drugs. Of the cohort, 70 (60.9%) took ACT group of antimalarials with 42 (60.0%) of the respondents having their administered ACTs prescribed by physician, 15 (21.4%) took ACTs on recommendation or advice by other healthcare professionals, while 13 (18.6%) took the ACT on selfinitiated basis. Fifteen (21.4%) utilized the ACT during the first trimester. Incidence of experiences of adverse reactions to ACT was generally mild, &lt;10% for most of the reactions. The majority, (75.0%) did not report the reactions to health care practitioners, mostly for reason of tolerability of the adverse reactions (50%). The use of ACT for malaria treatment among pregnant women in Ibadan, is common. Efforts to monitor the use of ACTs among this group of vulnerable population are recommended. Furthermore, institutionalization of a functioning and effective mechanism to increase awareness and improve reporting of adverse effects of ACT generally is also suggested.Keywords: Malaria, artemisinin-based combination therapy, pregnancy, adverse drug reaction, Nigeria

The Pathways Commission Report: Relevance for Accounting Higher Education in Developing Countries

This article highlights the relevance of the Pathways Commission report (PCR) to accounting higher education in one of the developing regions of the world. Using qualitative research method and triangulation it examines the issues surrounding the provision of accounting higher education in the Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) region. The commentary is conducted against the backdrops of the growth in both the demand and supply of higher education, the globalization of accounting curricula and advances in information technology. The findings are three. First, despite the heterogeneity and the gap between rich and poor nations, many of the recommendations of the PCR are relevant to SSA countries. Second, consistent with theory, policies that lead to high quality accounting education and research have aspects of capability, duality, and endogeneity in moving a nation from one development stage to the next. Third, the commentary conjectures that the globalization of the content of professional education and the emergence of transnational-virtual universities are more than likely to continue to change the landscape of accounting higher education and the labor process in the region.

Scleral buckling for retinal detachment in Ibadan, Sub-Saharan Africa: anatomical and visual outcome

BackgroundScleral buckle surgery is not a commonly performed surgical procedure in Sub-Saharan Africa due to a paucity of trained vitreo retinal surgeons. The aim of the study was to review sclera buckle procedures with a view to evaluating the anatomical and visual outcomes.MethodsCase records of patients that had scleral buckle surgery at the Retina Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between 2007 and 2010 were reviewed. Information retrieved included patients’ demographics, duration of symptoms, and presenting vision. Other information included site of retinal break, extent of retinal detachment, involvement of the fellow eye, and macular involvement. Postoperative retina reattachment and postoperative visual acuity were also recorded. Proportions and percentages were used to analyze data.ResultsForty five eyes of 42 patients were studied with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The mean age was 47.7 years (±17.6 years). The median duration before presentation was 3 months (range: 5 days – 156 months). Subtotal retinal detachment was found in 35 eyes (77.8%) while total retinal detachment occurred in ten eyes (22.2%). Thirty four eyes (75.6%) had “macular off ” detachments. At 6 weeks, there was an improvement in visual acuity in 23 eyes (51.1%), while visual acuity remained the same in nine eyes (20%) and was worse in 13 eyes (28.9%). Anatomical attachment was seen in 43 eyes (95.6%) on the operation table, in 40 eyes (90.9%) at first day postoperatively and in 32 eyes (86.5%) at 6 weeks after surgery.ConclusionOutcome of sclera buckle surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment may be improved in developing countries of Sub Sahara Africa if adequate awareness is created to educate the populace on early presentation.

Different Points of a Continuum? Cross Sectional Comparison of the Current and Pre-contact Psychosocial Problems among the Different Categories of Adolescents in Institutional Care in Nigeria

BackgroundThe combination of adverse social indicators and a predominantly youthful population puts Nigeria, and indeed many countries of sub-Sahara Africa, at the risk of explosion in the number of youth coming in contact with the juvenile justice system. Despite this risk, custodial childcare systems in the region are still poorly developed with both juvenile offenders and neglected adolescents coming in contact with the systems being kept in the same incarcerating facility. The needs of these different groups of adolescents may be different. Knowing their common and unique needs can inform common prevention strategies and ensure that specific service-needs of different categories of adolescents in institutional custody are met.MethodsData on the family background, pre-contact social circumstance, neurological and anthropometric profiles, and certain aspects of mental health of adolescents drawn from two juvenile justice institutions in Nigeria were obtained. The results for the adolescents on ‘criminal code’ and those admitted as a case of child neglect were compared using chi-square and odd ratios.ResultsParticipants were 211 adolescents comprising of 158 on ‘criminal code’ and 53 declared as ‘neglected’. A lot of similarities were found. For instance, the prevalence of parental separation, family transition, experience of street-life and lifetime exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress was equally high among the two groups of adolescents. The adolescents on ‘criminal code’ however had significantly higher prevalence of conduct and alcohol/substance use disorders while the child neglect group had poorer anthropometric profiles and higher prevalence of neurological disorders.ConclusionsChild neglect and juvenile delinquency in Nigeria may truly be different points of a continuum. There are however fundamental differences that can warrant specific prevention strategies and tailor-made service provision while in custodial care.

CORRUPTION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA: A DISCOURSE OF CORE ISSUES

Nigeria is rich in natural and human resources, with a population of over 150million people; the most populous country in Africa. At the time of her politicalindependence, on 1st October 1960, Nigeria excelled in production of agriculturalproduce such as groundnut, palm oil, cocoa, cotton, beans, timber and hides andskinsThen, during the oil boom period of the seventies Nigeria made headlines withher oil wealth, as a country richly endowed with oil and natural gas resourcescapable of financing a number of important projects to meet basic consumptionand development needs (Salisu, 200:2). With per capital income of around $1,100during the late 1970’s Nigeria was regarded as the fastest growing country in Sub-Sahara Africa (Salisu, Ibid). Yet it remains predominantly underdeveloped due tothe scourge of corruption that has corroded it.Corruption denies the ordinary citizen the basic means of livelihood, it worsenunemployment and erodes our image as a nation and as individual (Danjuma Goje2010:1). It has undermined Nigeria’s economic growth and developmentpotential, with a per capital income of $340, Nigeria now ranks amongst the leastdeveloped countries in the World Bank League table (Salusi, op.cit). Nigeria’shigher education system once regarded as the best in Sub-Sahara Africa is in deep

Analysis of barriers and success factors affecting the adoption of sustainable management of municipal solid waste in Nigeria

The poor state of solid waste management in cities of developing countries is fast assuming the scale of a major social/environmental challenge. The main drivers of the waste problem in Nigeria, for instance, are poverty, high population and urbanization growth rates, compounded by a weak and underfunded infrastructure. The gravity of this problem is perhaps best reflected in the level of attention given to it in the United Nations Millennium Declaration in September, 2000. Three of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Declaration have waste or resource efficiency implications. In response to the waste challenge many developed countries have embarked upon ambitious environmental reforms, recording remarkable advances in best practises and sustainable management of their Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The same cannot be said for most countries in Sub-Sahara Africa, however, as a result of several barriers militating against sustainable MSW management. Adopting a questionnaire interview methodology, this study surveyed 1557 respondents' drawn from households, business and waste policy-makers in Abuja, Nigeria. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences, (SPSS). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to carry out a between subjects multiple comparison of respondents views on the barriers as well as success factors affecting MSW management in the case study area. Findings point towards the need for a sustained public education programme on waste prevention and reuse as the panacea to waste problems in Nigeria. Based on the findings, a case is made for the adaptation of globally successful waste management best practises and strategies to suit local conditions.

Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Smallholder Cotton Producers in Zambia

Agriculture in Sub-Sahara Africa is considered as an engine of economic growth and has the potential to reduce rural poverty of smallholder farmers through increased food security and household income. However, most of Sub-Sahara Africa countries are faced with low agricultural productivity and this has undermined the potential to reduce rural poverty. The study focused on smallholder cotton producers in Zambia. Cotton is grown in Central, Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia and is an important cash crop which contributes over $60 million to the economy. It also supports over 150,000 households. However, the productivity of smallholder cotton farmers in Zambia is low, around 800 kg per hectare or less. While in West Africa productivity is over 1000 kg per hectare. Agricultural productivity is defined as a measure of the value of output for a given level of inputs. Efficiency is defined as the actual productivity of a farm relative to maximal potential productivity. This shows that efficiency is related to productivity though it is productivity at maximum or minimum values. The study used the 2008 supplemental survey data collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Central Statistics and Food Security Research Project. Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) this study determines the technical, allocative and economic efficiency indices of a sample of 812 (population estimates 150,801) cotton producers in Zambia. Using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, the study determines the factors influencing technical, allocative and economic efficiency variations. Results show that the mean technical, allocative and economic efficiency indices in cotton production are 46%, 37% and 20% respectively. This means that Zambian cotton farmers could reduce input use and production cost without altering the output by improving technical and allocative efficiency by 54% and 63% respectively. Female-headed households, number of years spent in school by the household head, leaving crop residues, the value of productive assets and off-farm income are some of the factors found to positively influence the technical, allocative and economic efficiency. The study found that cotton farmers are relatively inefficient and there is room to improve efficiency among smallholder cotton farmers in Zambia. Some socio-economic and farm-specific factors have a positive influence on efficiency. The study recommends that cotton stakeholders should devise strategies of involving more women in cotton production, improve access to productive assets, and encourage adoption of conservation farming crop residue retention as the means to improve cotton production efficiency.

Global financial crisis and trade slowdown in Sub-Sahara Africa: panel VAR analysis for growth and poverty outcomes

The global financial crisis hit the economies of most commodities exporting countries of Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) mainly through trade and commodities prices collapse. Theoretical and empirical literature postulates debilitating effects of these on growth, poverty and sustainable development outcomes. This study utilised aggregate data on selected SSA countries and panel vector autoregressions method to obtain an empirical gauge of these effects. This study documents a positive influence of trade on growth rates, while both trade and growth indicate potentials for poverty reduction in SSA. These findings raise important policy concerns for sustainable development, growth and poverty outcomes in SSA countries. For policy, this study recommends efforts directed at a pro-poor trade expansionist policies, diversification of the export base and spending programmes that create jobs, ensure the delivery of core services and provide safety nets at country levels, while at global level, efforts to support trade fin...

Prospects for wood products trade under the new partnership for Africa’s development

This paper evaluates the prospects for the development of inter-and intra-regional wood products trade in the countries of Sub-Sahara Africa using Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon as case study. A total of 517 wood processing firms comprising 121 in Ghana, 258 in Nigeria and 138 in Cameroon were surveyed through the use of structured questionnaire and physical observation of production site to assess the appropriateness of existing technologies, capacity-building needed for more efficient industrial processing vis-a-vis the technology, environmental and market situations. Result shows that trade among nations in the sub-Sahara region can be strenghtened with the adoption of common policy to secure better deals for the wood products export from this region to markets outside the region. Sub-regional trade arrangement also has a huge potential for creating employment, income and wealth for the populations and states concerned. There is need to direct resources towards the most productive ends; need to conserve foreign exchange through increased diversification of exportable products and domestic production of value added products targetted towards foreign exchange conservation and substitution.