Majority Of Households Research Articles

Utilization of Health Care Facilites at Malino Highland

Health is a fundamental right that every citizen in Indonesia has and every level of society has the same right to the health services. This study aims to determine the relationship between geographical factors (distance, travel time and type of transportation) and economic factors, namely the economic ability to reach health services on the utilization of health service facilities in the Malino Highland. This research uses quantitative methods with a cross sectional approach which was carried out in July-August 2023 with a total of 114 heads of household in Dusun Balanglohe, Desa Kanreapia Village, Kecamatan Tombolo Pao, Kabupaten Gowa called Malino Highland. Data collection was carried out through surveys and analyzed bivariately. The research results show that the majority of households have not utilized health services in the last one year. Travel time and type of transportation are related to health service utilization. Meanwhile, distance, income and type of insurance have no relationship with health service utilization. The government and related stakeholders need to develop strategies to increase the accessibility of health services in the Malino highlands area. As a next step, further research can be conducted to explore other factors that may influence health service utilization, such as cultural factors, education, and community perceptions of health services.

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and drinking water contamination risk levels in households of Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental human right and essential to control infectious diseases. However, many countries, including Ethiopia, do not have adequate data to report on basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Although contaminated drinking water spreads diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and dysentery, studies on drinking water contamination risk levels in households are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, closing this gap needs investigation. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 5350 households were included. A systematic, simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants. The information was gathered through in-person interviews using a standardized questionnaire. Furthermore, 1070 drinking water samples were collected from household water storage. This investigation revealed that 9.8%, 83.9%, and 4.9% of households used limited, basic, and safely managed drinking water services, respectively. Besides, 10.2%, 15.7% and 59.3% of households used safely managed, basic and limited sanitation services, respectively. Yet, 10.6% and 4.2% of households used unimproved sanitation facilities and open defecation practices. Also, 40.5% and 19.4% of households used limited and basic hygiene services. On the other hand, 40.1% of households lacked functional handwashing facilities. In this study, 12.1%, 26.3%, and 42% of households' drinking water samples were positive for Escherichia coli, fecal coliforms, and total coliforms, respectively. Also, 5.1% and 4.5% of households' drinking water samples had very high and high contamination risk levels for E. coli, respectively. We found that 2.5% and 11.5% of households and water distributors had unacceptable fluoride concentrations, respectively. The majority of households in Bishoftu town lack access to safely managed sanitation, drinking water, and basic hygiene services. Many households' water samples had very high and high health risk levels. Hence, the government and partner organizations should implement water and sanitation safety plans.

Poverty Alleviation Pattern: Top Down or Bottom Up Approach? (Indonesia and Malaysia Benchmarking)

Based on the previous research by Aspiranti et al. (2021), it was found that Indonesia and Malaysia still have impoverished communities that urgently need to improve their welfare. In the poorest areas of Malaysia, the majority of households from each ethnic group (on average, 55%) are vulnerable to poverty, while the core poor group comprises the lowest share (on average, 4%). Among household heads at different education levels, the core poor group represents the lowest share (average 4.5%), while the largest share (average 48%) is vulnerable to poverty. In Indonesia, the percentage of poor people in the poorest areas reached 9.27% in 2018, which is already below the national poverty rate of 9.82%. However, during the period of 2014-2018, the poverty line in Indonesia’s poorest areas continued to increase each year, with a 20.46% increase compared to 2014. The Indonesia Poverty Depth Index (P1) decreased from 1.72 to 1.49, indicating that the average expenditure of the poor is getting closer to the poverty line. Empirical findings from a study conducted in 2021 demonstrate that Indonesia’s poverty rate has shown improvement compared to 20 years ago. However, extreme poverty levels still persist, with income levels below $1.9 per day. In Malaysia, there are no longer people categorized as extremely poor. Based on secondary data published by the ASEAN Secretary Data, Malaysia’s high economic growth is accompanied by high per capita income, reaching $9,000 per year. As a result, Malaysians have a longer life expectancy of 78 years compared to Indonesians (68 years). However, despite Malaysia’s success in bringing prosperity to the population on an aggregate basis, there are still pockets of ethnic Malays experiencing poverty. The Malaysian government has made various efforts to alleviate poverty in these regions, but the poverty rate remains. Both Indonesia and Malaysia continue to implement poverty alleviation measures through top-down and bottom-up approaches. The study aims to benchmark the poverty alleviation models of both countries by conducting surveys in poverty-stricken areas of Indonesia (focused on Garut Regency) and Malaysia (focused on Kelantan). The research findings indicate that Malaysia’s poverty alleviation efforts are more top-down, initiated by the government through macroeconomic instruments. In West Java, the Provincial Government adopts a top-down approach by coordinating with various stakeholders to ensure program and activity synergy. Efforts to accelerate poverty reduction in West Java include the establishment of social protection, public health services, and direct financial support for families, encompassing both non-agricultural and agricultural sectors, to enhance community welfare.
 Keywords: benchmarking, poverty alleviation

Leadership and Household Development in Mitooma District in Western Uganda

The pragmatic study measured the contribution of leadership on household development in Mitooma District in Western Uganda. The examination study exploited a survey correlational and descriptive research design with a quantitative approach model. A sample of 80 people were prudently chosen from 158 persons using a table advanced by Morgan & Kreijcie (1970). Evidence was collected by means of questionnaires to constitute an opinion poll. Data was assessed using Descriptive statistics such as bar graphs and Pearson linear correlation coefficient (PLCC) for quantitative dimensions. The study results came up with a significant association between leadership and household development in Mitooma District in Western Uganda. The research project concluded that a good leader is someone who is open to new ideas, possibilities, and perspectives. Being a good leader means understanding that there is no right way to do things. Therefore, a good leader is always ready to listen, observe, and be willing to change. They are also out-of-the-box thinkers and encourage their teams to do so. From the research task findings, the Educators recommended that one needs to balance all the five virtues of leadership (intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage and discipline) and exercise proper influence as a leader in order to realize proactive household development in local governments. Local government Leaders need to understand the concept of ‘continuous improvement, they also need to know that being adaptable will lead them to success. Nothing goes as per plan. Hence, there is need to be flexible and intuitive in order for a manager to hold his ground during complex situations. Government of Uganda should try to add more funds to Parish Development Model scheme so that the majority of households in local governments can access such funds in order for development to blossom in the country.

Urban Governance and Sanitation in the Peri-Urban Commune of Agoè-Nyvé 6 in Togo: Diagnosis of the Sanitation System in Adétikopé

In African cities, the ever-increasing production of wastewater and excreta poses a major management problem. The aim of this study was to take stock of wastewater and excreta management in Adétikopé in the commune of Agoè-Nyivé 6. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population of the locality of Adétikopé in terms of wastewater and excreta management, which took place from August 2022 to July 2023. It involved 5256 households in 12 villages in the locality of Adétikopé and was carried out via a field survey, interviews, observations and documentary research. The results showed that 72.60% of respondents were women. The majority of households (85.62%) had latrines, 66.40% of which had never been emptied. The remainder used a mechanical emptying truck (5.48%). Households without latrines (14.38%) defecate with neighbors (14.28%) in the open (66.67%) and in public latrines (19.05%). The same applies to wastewater from cooking, washing and dishwashing, which is most often dumped on the public highway (78.77%). Wastewater is a breeding ground for mosquitoes that cause malaria, which is the most common disease in the area. The results of this study show that wastewater and excreta are managed by most concessions in an unhealthy way and discharged into the environment. It is important to step up public awareness campaigns on the harmful consequences of poor wastewater and excreta disposal.

Enhancing Rural Wellbeing: Unravelling the Impact of Economic Diversification in Sarawak

This study delves into the multifaceted dynamics of economic diversification in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, as well as the deep implications for rural wellbeing. Specifically, the aim of the study is to look into various economic diversification measures and their impact on the Iban rural community in Sri Aman, Sarawak. Sarawak, endowed with abundant natural resources and a diverse cultural legacy, has embarked on a transformative journey towards economic diversification in order to support sustainable development and enhance rural populations' livelihoods. This study used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and in-depth interviews. It was found that the majority of households have increased their income by diversifying their sources of income by engaging in both farm and non-farm activities, such as formal and informal trading, wage labour, and remittances. The benefits of livelihood diversification can be seen in the community's decreased reliance on a single activity, the development of infrastructure, the survival of the Iban culture, and the resilience of the community.

Climate Change Variability and its Impacts in Nepal

This paper aims to explore the climate variability in agriculture and discuss adaptation. Climate change has been an issue in relation to water, agriculture, and ultimately livelihood in the community. It impedes the ecosystem of nature and society. In Nepal, the temperature growth rate is increasing day by day and it reached 0.180C which contributes to climate change variability and it is contributing to the scarcity of water and hence, the impact on agricultural production. Similarly, only a small amount of available water (4.7%) in Nepal has been effectively utilized. The majority of households in Nepal depend upon agriculture and livestock. The imbalance in agriculture production is also directly related to nutrition and health. Many parts of the Karnali province have been faced with food deficiency and malnutrition. Due to the challenges, the proper utilization and sustainable use of water sources for securing food security in Nepal is imperative.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding malaria prevention and control in communities in the Eastern Region, Ghana, 2020.

In sub-Saharan Africa countries including Ghana, the malaria burden remains unacceptably high and still a serious health challenge. Evaluating a community's level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding malaria is essential to enabling appropriate preventive and control measures. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge of malaria, attitudes toward the disease, and adoption of control and prevention practices in some communities across the Eastern Region of Ghana. A cross‑sectional based study was carried out in 13 communities across 8 districts from January -June, 2020. Complete data on socio-demographic characteristics and KAP were obtained from 316 randomly selected household respondents by a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Associations between KAP scores and socio-demographic profiles were tested by Chi-square and binary logistic regression. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 26.0. Most respondents (85.4%) had good knowledge score about malaria. Preferred choice of treatment seeking place (50.6%) was the health center/clinic. All respondents indicated they would seek treatment within 24 hours. Mosquito coils were the preferred choice (58.9%) against mosquito bites. Majority of households (58.5%) had no bed nets and bed net usage was poor (10.1%). Nearly half of the respondents (49.4%) had a positive attitude toward malaria and 40.5% showed good practices. Chi-square analysis showed significant associations for gender and attitude scores (p = 0.033), and educational status and practice scores (p = 0.023). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that 51-60 year-olds were less likely to have good knowledge (OR = 0.20, p = 0.04) than 15-20 year-olds. Respondents with complete basic schooling were less likely to have good knowledge (OR = 0.33, p = 0.04) than those with no formal schooling. A positive attitude was less likely in men (OR = 0.61, p = 0.04). Good malaria prevention practice was lower (OR = 0.30, p = 0.01) in participants with incomplete basic school education compared to those with no formal schooling. Overall scores for respondents' knowledge, though good, was not reflected in attitudes and levels of practice regarding malaria control and prevention. Behavioral change communication, preferably on radio, should be aimed at attitudes and practice toward the disease.

Consumer Preference for Local and Imported Rice in Ifako- Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria

This study analyzed consumer preference for local and imported rice in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. It specifically described the socio economic characteristics of the respondents, identified the varieties of local and imported rice available in the study area, identified respondents’ rice preferences and variables affecting consumer choices in the study area. The study also identified limiting factors to the consumption of imported and local rice in the study area. Population of the study comprises of households in the study area. Three hundred and sixty respondents were selected using the two-stage sampling technique. Primary data were collected using copies of structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and logit regression analytical tools. Results of the analyses revealed that majority of households in the study area are male-headed with average age of 40.73 years, 65.83% were married with average household size of 5 persons. Ofada rice was the most available local rice while Mama gold brand was the most available imported rice in the area. Exactly 36.67% of sampled household preferred imported rice while 63.33% preferred local rice. Major constraints to imported and local rice consumption were high price and presence of stones/debris respectively. The factors influencing preference status of respondents were marital status, price (affordability), rice availability, taste, and absence of stones/debris. The study concluded that the local rice is more preferred in the study area than the imported rice. Based on the finding that price (affordability) and availability are important variables influencing preference status of respondents, this study recommends that the government should see to it that local rice is within the reach of consumers by investing in the production and processing of local rice and making credit available to rice farmers and processors. In addition, bas

An Analysis of Income Sources and Food Security Status in Haor Regions of Kishoregonj District, Bangladesh

This study aims to investigate income diversity and food security status among people living in the Haor area, with the objective of informing development policies for these regions. The research focused on assessing the socioeconomic characteristics, income diversity, and food security status of 120 randomly selected households in the Nikli and Tarail upazilas within Kishoregonj district, Bangladesh. Data was gathered through direct face-to-face interviews. The study revealed that the majority of households (91.66%) were male-headed, with an average family size of 5.10 members. A significant proportion (62.5%) of respondents fell within the 30-64 age group. Education-wise, a substantial portion (39.16%) of respondents had a secondary level of education, while 25% were employed in the agriculture sector. Approximately 45.83% of households were constructed with tin materials. The average monthly income and expenditure were Tk. 9536 and Tk. 8316, respectively. Income diversification was found to be prevalent among the respondents; however, within individual households, diversification was limited. The Simpson's and Shannon's indices of diversity for income were 0.84 and 0.88, respectively. About 25% of households were classified as ultra-poor, 29.17% as hard-core poor, and 20.83% were in the category of absolute poverty. On the positive side, 25% of the sample households were deemed non-poor. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy changes to address poverty eradication and enhance the standard of living in the study area. By understanding the socioeconomic dynamics and food security challenges faced by Haor communities, policymakers can devise targeted interventions to uplift the living conditions and well-being of the residents in these regions.

Efficiency of Resource Allocation of Large Cardamom Production: A Case for Nepal East Corridor

Aim: This research aimed to assess the resource allocation efficiency of large cardamom production in Nepal east corridors.
 Method and Duration of Research: A comprehensive analysis of socio-economic characteristics and economic aspects of large cardamom production was conducted using data collected in 2022 in eastern corridor Nepal with 480 samples.
 Result: The socio-economic characterization of large cardamom farmers revealed that the majority of households were headed by males (75.4%), and most had kacchi and semi-pakki houses (77.3%). Nuclear families were more prevalent (71.9%) than joint families (28.1%). Basic education was the most common educational level among household heads (51.7%), and Aadibasi/Janajati was the predominant ethnic group (52.9%). The study identified significant associations between family types and members abroad with the study corridors (p < 0.05). The economic analysis revealed the capital costs and labor costs involved in large cardamom production over a six-year period. Gap filling had a significant positive impact on Marginal Value Product (MVP), increasing it by 182.21 units (99.45%). However, certain factors like chemical costs had a negative impact on MVP, reducing it by 38.33 units (102.61%). Resource use efficiency analysis showed that labor for postharvest activities positively influenced MVP, increasing it by 1.52 units (34.27%). On the other hand, transportation labor had a negative impact, decreasing MVP by 9.89 units (110.11%).
 Conclusion: The study contributes valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and farmers in understanding the socio-economic and economic dimensions of large cardamom farming in the study area. Addressing gaps in production, optimizing resource utilization, and focusing on postharvest activities can lead to improved resource efficiency and higher returns for farmers. The findings are crucial for designing targeted policies and interventions to support the large cardamom farming community and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Assessing rural household’s food groups-and-sources and dietary diversity pattern in Malaita Province

Access to and availability of various food sources is not an issue in rural communities. However, there is no guarantee that households are not affected by nutritional inadequacy, which is still a problem in most underdeveloped nations. A mixed-methods study was conducted to determine the HDDS through the snowballing method for the last 12 months’ food groups-and-sources and the 48-h diet recall. Ninety-eight households in two rural communities surrounding Sikwafta (zone one) and Malu’u (zone two) participated in the interview between April and May 2019. The results were then analyzed through SPSS and QDA MINER. The aim is to analyze the household dietary patterns of the communities between the two zones. The study also hypothesizes that the dietary pattern of households has not changed. Results showed that a total of nine food groups were consumed: grain, white roots, tubers, plantains, oils/fats (95.90%), condiments (83.70%), and meat/poultry/sea foods (77.60%). The majority of the food consumed comes from the gardens, followed by other food sources, which make up the average HDDS of five. A correlation analysis found a statistically significant relationship between HDDS and total meal (0.504*), with no relationships between demographics. When comparing 48-h food sources-and-groups to the previous year, there was little to no difference in accessibility and availability. This implies that the majority of households are likely to achieve their nutritional needs within the parameters of their dietary trend. Even though households have adequate access to food, there is a significant need to improve their nutritional needs, even if they consume the average amount of the required food groups.

One Health and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities: A One Health Pilot Study.

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face barriers in accessing animal healthcare and are exposed to disproportionate environmental health exposures leading to increased risk of disease. A One Health approach has been promoted to address public health risks and improve human, animal, and environmental health outcomes in communities. We undertook a pilot One Health study in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland collecting animal, human, and environmental health data from 82 households. We performed a descriptive analysis and assessed the association between human and environmental health exposures and animal health outcomes. Most households were not crowded (82.9%) but did report a high level of environmental health concerns (86.6%). The majority of households owned cats and dogs (81.7%), with most animals assessed as healthy. There was no association between human and environmental health exposures and animal health outcomes. As most households experienced concerns regarding housing conditions, environmental health programs should prioritise improving household factors. There was also strong support for animal healthcare (including access to medicines and veterinarians, education programs and population management), indicating that a One Health approach is desired by communities.

Household socio-economic determinants of food security in Limpopo Province of South Africa: a cross sectional survey

BackgroundDespite the strong commitment at both national and international levels to eradicate hunger and achieve household food security, by 2030 food insecurity remains a public health problem. South Africa is amongst the countries with the highest rate of income inequality in the world and extremely high levels of absolute poverty. The Gini coefficient in South Africa is estimated at 0.68 Although South Africa may be food secure at a national level, large numbers of households within the country are food insecure approximately 52% of the rural households in Limpopo Province of South Africa were considered severely food insecure. It has been noted that the majority of households in South African informal settlements and rural areas were moderately or severely food insecure due to lack of access to food which was directly related to income. Rural areas have assets that can be explored to support households. The adult population above 18 years in South Africa make up 78% of the 5.9 million population with about 40% living in rural areas, this study explored household food insecurity in adults in rural environments. The current study aimed to explore the socioeconomic and dietary determinants of household food insecurity among the adult population in the Limpopo Province.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was used, and data were collected using a validated pre-tested questionnaire. The participants were recruited from households in Limpopo province. Multiple linear regression was computed to explore the influence of socioeconomic and dietary practices on food insecurity.ResultsThe study included 699 randomly selected participants of which the majority earned a monthly income ≤ 3000 ZAR, and 31.8% experiencing hunger in the past 30 days at the time of study. The dietary practices of the participants were found to be associated with household food insecurity. The study found that large family size, being female in South Africa, low household income and low rate of regular breakfast intake were significant determinants of household food insecurity (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn summary, most of the households were poor and approximately one-third were food insecure. The implementation of sustainable employment policies, and food-based approaches and targeting rural household food production could significantly reduce food insecurity in the rural area.

Assessing rural households’ biomass consumption patterns in three Upazilas in Khulna district of Bangladesh

In developing countries, rural households instinctively burn huge amounts of biomass fuel, which has become a concern at present. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess the consumption pattern of biomass fuel in relation to socio-economic factors in rural households in the three upazilas (subdistricts) in Khulna district of Bangladesh. The consumption pattern of biomass fuel was assessed by multistage random sampling techniques with a semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that households incorporate a variety of fuel sources, of which 97% use various types of biomass fuel, e.g., firewood, leaves and twigs, coconut shell and coir, crop residues, cow dung, etc. The average monthly household biomass fuel consumption was 193 kg, with a monthly expenditure of 5.86 USD. The largest share of biomass fuel was derived from firewood, which amounted to 105 kg per month. The middle income group and Kacha (clay) type households consume more biomass than other types of households. The major sources of biomass fuel were found in their home gardens and agricultural lands. These biomass fuels are mainly used for domestic cooking, and most of the households in the study area used general stoves. Among commonly available species, ten firewood species were identified as the most preferred by the majority of households in the study area. Insights from our research may be utilized to promote accessibility to clean energy for households in Bangladesh and other countries alike.

A Study on the Hydropower Energy Generation by Utilizing Domestic Water Supply

Majority of households around the globe are connected to primary water supply grids that supply water for domestic use throughout the year. In many instances, the companies supplying water to these households maintain header pressure between the maximum and minimum as a guarantee for the water to reach the consumers. This paper is, therefore, aimed at investigating the potential of this pressure in driving turbines for power generation so that the energy could be stored in rechargeable batteries which can be utilized whenever needed. Two sets of experimental setups were developed with turbines arranged both in series and parallel. The experiments were conducted using three working pressures, such as 1.5, 3.2 and 5 bar. It was observed that the turbine mainly depends on the water flow rate, where the higher flow rate is achieved in working pressure of 5 bar which is 33 LPM and 6 Watt generated. The power produced was increased to 12 W with a slight pressure drop of 0.1 bar after the second turbine. However, the drop in pressure was observed to be slightly higher for the lower working pressure. The turbine cut-off pressure was 0.4 bar. Moreover, it was also evidenced that arranging the turbines in parallel has also resulted in an enhanced power generation.

BOHEMIA a cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of an endectocide-based one health approach to malaria in Mozambique: baseline demographics and key malaria indicators

BackgroundMany geographical areas of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in rural settings, lack complete and up-to-date demographic data, posing a challenge for implementation and evaluation of public health interventions and carrying out large-scale health research. A demographic survey was completed in Mopeia district, located in the Zambezia province in Mozambique, to inform the Broad One Health Endectocide-based Malaria Intervention in Africa (BOHEMIA) cluster randomized clinical trial, which tested ivermectin mass drug administration to humans and/or livestock as a potential novel strategy to decrease malaria transmission.MethodsThe demographic survey was a prospective descriptive study, which collected data of all the households in the district that accepted to participate. Households were mapped through geolocation and identified with a unique identification number. Basic demographic data of the household members was collected and each person received a permanent identification number for the study.Results25,550 households were mapped and underwent the demographic survey, and 131,818 individuals were registered in the district. The average household size was 5 members and 76.9% of households identified a male household head. Housing conditions are often substandard with low access to improved water systems and electricity. The reported coverage of malaria interventions was 71.1% for indoor residual spraying and 54.1% for universal coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets. The median age of the population was 15 years old. There were 910 deaths in the previous 12 months reported, and 43.9% were of children less than 5 years of age.ConclusionsThe study showed that the district had good coverage of vector control tools against malaria but sub-optimal living conditions and poor access to basic services. The majority of households are led by males and Mopeia Sede/Cuacua is the most populated locality in the district. The population of Mopeia is young (< 15 years) and there is a high childhood mortality. The results of this survey were crucial as they provided the household and population profiles and allowed the design and implementation of the cluster randomized clinical trial.Trial registration NCT04966702.

Prevalence and Management Strategies of Perceived Intestinal Parasitic Infections by Households in Imo State Nigeria

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections (intestinal worms) are major public health problems, especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and management strategy of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) employed by households.&#x0D; Methodology: The study was carried out in Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria. Faecal samples from 1200 school children, aged 6-13 years were examined using the Kato Katz method and formol-ether concentration techniques. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. The level of significance was set at P&lt; 0.05.&#x0D; Results: The total prevalence of IPIs was 19.3%, which comprises eight parasites namely; Ascaris lumbricoides (3.4%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%), hookworm (1.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.2%), Taenia spp (0.5%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.3%), Entamoeba coli (3.7%), and Giardia lamblia (4.2%). There was high awareness of possible signs and symptoms of IPIs. Albendazole, Pyrantel pamoate and Mebendazole were the three most frequently used drugs and intermittent deworming with them was effective against the intestinal worm. The impact of deworming on the prevalence of intestinal worms was higher among children dewormed every 4 months, compared with other groups. Self-medication was a major practice amongst the study population. Households (33.9%) delayed up to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms before giving the child medical attention. The majority of households used plant extracts as alternative medication.&#x0D; Conclusion: The management approaches in the study area were good although they did not regard IPIs as a serious public health problem for a growing child.

Bio-energy potential of available livestock waste and surplus agriculture crop residue: An analysis of 602 rural districts of India

The majority of households in rural India use cow dung and crop residue for cooking, which contributes to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. After being used for cooking and other agricultural purposes, surplus crop residue left uncollected and burned openly accountable for notorious air pollution episodes in India. Air pollution and clean energy are critical challenges in India. Utilizing locally available biomass waste can be a sustainable solution to reducing air pollution and energy poverty. However, formulating any such policy and its practical implementation requires a clear understanding of currently available resources. The current study presents the first district-scale analysis of the cooking energy potential of locally available biomass (livestock and crop waste) if converted to energy by anaerobic digestion processes for 602 rural districts. The analysis indicates that rural India needs 1927TJ/day (2.75 MJ/capita-day) energy to meet the cooking energy demand. Utilizing locally available livestock waste can generate 715 TJ/day (1.02 MJ/capita-day) of energy, equivalent to 37 % of the demand. Only 2.15 % of districts have 100 % potential for cooking energy demand by utilizing locally produced livestock waste. Using surplus crop residue for energy can provide 2296 TJ/day(3.27 MJ/capita-day) of energy. If locally utilized, surplus residue can meet 100 % of energy demand in 39 % of districts. Combining livestock waste and surplus residue can produce 3011 TJ/day(4.29 MJ/capita-day) of energy, fulfilling >100 % of energy demand in 55.6 % of rural districts. Furthermore, converting agricultural waste into clean energy has the potential to reduce PM2.5 emissions by 33 % to 85 % in different scenarios.

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Household on Non-Timber Forest Product Dependency from Chilimo Forest, Ethiopia

Non-timber forest products are very important in providing basic needs, cash deposits, and home consumption to forest-adjacent communities. Several socio-economic factors influence household dependence on non-timber forest products. This study focused on analyzing the socio-economic factors determining a household’s dependency on non-timber forest products from the Chilimo forest in Dandi, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied to analyze the data. The main NTFPs extracted by local communities in the study area included honey, fodder, wild vegetables, medicinal plants, firewood, and charcoal. Thus products are used for home both consumption and commercial purposes. Availability of the non-timber forest product also influenced its extraction from the forest (χ2 (2,432) = 4.973, p&lt;0.084). A majority of households (87%) who got NTFPs explained that this resource availability had decreased when compared to ten years ago, thus diminishing their chances of getting NTFPs possibly due to the degradation of the forest. Based on the results from logistic regression factors like age, the career of a household head, and distance to the market had a significant positive correlation on household NTFPs exploitation dependency. Household that lives near the forest has more advantages to extracting NTFPs from the forest than those who live further away. Also, land size, formal education, and household need for fuel wood were positively correlated with the local household, dependency on NTFPs from the Chilimo forest.