Total Household Size Research Articles

Pastoralists’ Choice of Response Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Semi-arid areas of Narok, Kenya

Crop farming and pastoralism are the main economic activities in the semi-arid lands of Narok County, Kenya. Like many semi-arid areas in the country, the region has been experiencing climate change and variability. This has caused the farmers and pastoralists to adopt various response strategies to the changing climate. This study aimed to document the strategies that the pastoralists had adopted for livestock production and the factors that influenced their decision. The study was conducted in all the four wards of Narok East in 2016. A cross-sectional survey research design was used, whereby 223 household heads were interviewed using a semi- structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess pastoralists’ response strategies, while a multivariate probit model in conjunction with Principal Component Analysis was used to determine the factors that influence their choice of the response strategies. Results showed that herd reduction, transhumance, new breeds of livestock and fencing were the most widely adopted strategies. Results of the multivariate probit analysis showed that gender, level of education and age of the household head, total household size, receiving weather information and land tenure system were all significant factors in influencing a farmer’s choice of response strategy. This study therefore recommends that farmers be empowered to access improved livestock breeds, education on climate change aspects and information on accurate and timely weather forecasts be availed to farmers.

Influence of Rural Out-Migration on Household Participation in Community Forest Management? Evidence from the Middle Hills of Nepal

Rural out-migration was a rare socio-economic phenomenon when community forestry began in the 1980s in Nepal. Now, out-migration significantly influences nearly every aspect of rural livelihoods in the country. However, it is unclear how out-migration affects community forestry governance, which is essential for sustainable rural development. Therefore, this paper addresses the following research question: Does rural out-migration affect forest users’ participation in community forestry decision-making and management practices? This paper draws on data collected from an extensive survey of 415 households from 15 community forest user groups in 2 Mid-Hill districts of Nepal. The research used ordered-logit regression to model the impacts of out-migration on participation in forest management and decision-making, while controlling for a number of other socio-economic factors. The model results show that total household size and number of internal migrants, together with multiple resource characteristics and institutional attributes, were major factors affecting participation in decision-making and forest management. However, the number of international migrants did not have a significant role in determining the levels of the participation. This study provides valuable insights for future community forestry policymaking that aims to address the effects of out-migration on community forest management in Nepal.

The association between antibiotics and community-associated Staphylococcus aureus colonization in the United States population: Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization is a seriously opportunistic infection. However, there is a lack of research of relationship between antibiotics and S aureus colonization in the general population. Through a cross-sectional investigation, this study intends to establish the parameters related to S aureus nasal colonization, specifically the function antibiotics play in colonization. The key information from 2001 to 2004 was abstracted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including information on general demographics, health care status, antibiotic prescription, diabetes, alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoke exposure. The participants colonized with methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA), or methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) were defined as the case group, and the control group was subjects without positive S aureus colonization. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the variables associated with MSSA and MRSA colonization. The records of 18,607 individuals were included, involving 13,205 cases without S aureus colonization, 5195 cases with MSSA, and 207 cases with MRSA. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the risk of MSSA colonization was significantly reduced with fluoroquinolone use (75% risk reduction, P = .02), sulfonamide use (98% risk reduction, P < .01), tetracycline use (81% risk reduction, P < .01) and antibiotic combination therapy (risk reduction 76%, P < .01). Female, race and total household size were strongly associated with MSSA carriage. On the other hand, regarding MRSA colonization, fluoroquinolone use, long-term care, and former smoker were positively associated with MRSA colonization, while high income was negatively associated with MRSA colonization. More proper use of broad-spectrum antibiotics contributes to reducing MSSA colonization. Former smokers should also practice better personal hygiene to limit the possibility of MRSA colonization.

Analysis on the influencing factors of residents dispose of discarded masks base on Probit regression model

Objective Understanding the influencing factors of discarded masks disposed by residents in Dongguan City during the period of COVID-19 epidemic, so as to provide basis for avoiding the environmental pollution caused by discarded masks in the future. Methods Using random sampling way to make an Internet questionnaire survey among 1042 permanent residents in Dongguan city and using Probit regression model to analyze the current situation and influencing factors of disposing the discarded masks. Results The installation of disposal bins, residents’ environmental concern level and education level positively influenced the residents’ disposal behavior, while the residents’ age and total household size negatively influenced the residents’ willingness to dispose. These influencing factors are basically consistent with those derived from other scholars’ studies on residents’ willingness to dispose of household waste, it shows that residents do not treat the disposal of discarded masks differently from other household waste and ignore the potential environmental hazards of discarded masks. Conclusion In order to motivate residents to properly dispose of discarded masks, it is necessary to clarify and standardize the requirements for discarded mask disposal and increase publicity to enhance the public’s awareness of environmental concerns and hygiene. To avoid environmental problems such as microplastics brought by discarded masks, disposable masks should be replaced by reusable elastic respirators; the use of polypropylene in masks should be reduced; new mask materials should be developed.

Modeling the adoption and use intensity of improved maize seeds in Benin, West-Africa: Double-hurdle approach

Improved maize seeds are one of the main factors that can contribute to improving maize productivity. This paper was carried out with the aim of identifying the determinants of adoption and improved maize seeds’ intensity use on households in all areas favourable to maize production in Benin using pooled data on 490 producers. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentage, frequency distribution, t and chi-square tests were used to summarize the characteristics of the sampled producers. Cragg's Double Hurdle model was also used to categorize producers who adopted or who did not adopt improved maize seed and those who intensified the use of improved maize seed. The results showed that literacy, easy access to improved seed, specific training received on the use of improved varieties and gender, affected the adoption of improved maize seed while easy access to improved seed, maize yield, relationship with extension services, total household size, age squared, number of experience years in maize production, and distance from the producer to where the seed was purchased had a significant influence on the decision to intensify the use of improved maize seed. The fact that the variable easy access to improved seeds affected not only the adoption of improved seeds but also the intensification of their use, confirmed that access to improved seeds was an indisputable success factor for the intensification of improved seed use. Giving producers the capacity to obtain improved maize seed that was financially and geographically improved was a very important aspect to be considered by policy makers in the definition of agricultural policies. Predisposing factors for access(perception of varieties, attitudes towards the choice of new varieties, knowledge and management of these varieties)and capacity factors for access(income, availability of seeds in the environment, and seed prices)must be considered. The establishment of a wide seed distribution network through government and non-governmental organizations or private actors could, therefore, be important to reduce transaction costs and improve access to improved maize seed, and then increase the rate of adoption and continued use of improved seed.

Factors Associated to the Non-adherence to Vaccination Appointments in the Ngambe Health District, Littoral Region, Cameroon: A Case Control Study

Background: Vaccination is what is strongly recommended in protecting against childhood diseases. The Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in Cameroon started in 1976 as a pilot project and became operational all over the country in 1982 where vaccination is seen a fundamental right of every child in the country. However, rural areas have lots of constrains to the effective implementation of vaccination programs some of which are population-related.&#x0D; Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between some factors and adherence to vaccination appointments in Ngambe Health District; a typical rural health district in Cameroon.&#x0D; Methods: This was a case control study where the vaccination records of health facilities in the district were reviewed and parents who respected their vaccination appointments formed the controls while those who missed a vaccination appointment were the cases. They were then traced for interviewed and data analyzed using Epi infos version 3.5.4.&#x0D; Results: Out of 94 parents, 37.2% had missed a vaccination appointment. In parents older than 36, the odds of missing an appointment was 11 (95%CI 3.69-34.43) while those with &lt;4 children were 0.10 less likely to miss an appointment (95%CI 0.04-0.28). Parent’s education, household size and ANC attendance also influenced adherence to vaccination appointments. After adjustment, only age and whether or not child was born in the hospital remained statistically significant associated with adherence.&#x0D; Conclusion: User related factors influence uptake of vaccination services in the Ngambe Health District of Cameroon; a rural area, some of which are age of the parents, number of children the parent has and the total household size. Therefore, adding to the availability of vaccines, a high-level political commitment aimed at increasing utilization of health services and effectively taking vaccination to the population are indispensable.

Is Household Composition Associated With Repeat Fight Injuries in Adolescents Living in Urban Neighborhoods?

The association of household composition with violence-related injury risk has not been explored in the at-risk urban adolescent population. We hypothesize that, similar to the unintentional risk association, higher adult:child ratio, lower household size, and the presence of a grandparent are protective and thus associated with lower risk for repeat fight injury in this population. This is a cross-sectional study of 10- to 15-year-old adolescents who were evaluated in two urban, pediatric emergency departments (EDs; Baltimore, MD, Philadelphia, PA) for a peer fight-related injury between June 2014 and June 2016. Logistic regression was used to test for associations between each household composition measure of interest and youth self-report of a medically attended fight-related injury within the prior 12 months. Of 187 eligible youth, 62 (33%) reported at least one such repeat fight-related injury. With control for potential confounders, youth with past fight injuries did not differ in adult:child ratio (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.9, 1.9] ) or household size (adj OR = 0.9, 95% CI: [0.8, 1.1]) but were more likely to have a grandparent residing in the household (adj OR = 3.3, 95% CI: [1.4, 7.9]). Our data demonstrate a positive association between presence of a grandparent in the household and risk for repeat fight injury in urban adolescents without a corresponding association with adult:child ratio or total household size. Further study should explore differences among the households of urban adolescents with and without grandparent presence to further understand this association and define the mechanisms that may contribute to these findings.

Factors Influencing Farmer’s Choice of Crop Production Response Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Narok East Sub-county, Kenya

Climate change is considered one of the most serious threats to sustainable development in the world. As a sector, agriculture is very dependent on climatic conditions, which makes it extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. The semi-arid areas of the world are especially more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. The purpose of this study was to determine how farmers adapt to changing climate in Narok East, and determine the factors that influence their choice of response strategies. Data was collected from 223 household heads using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics to determine how farmers adapt to climate change and variability while Principal Component Analysis and a multivariate probit model were used to assess the factors that influence the choice of response strategies. The results showed that early planting, increased use of manure, use of terraces, increased use of inorganic fertilisers, and planting short season crops were the most widely used strategies while the least used were planting agroforestry trees, crop diversification and irrigation. Results of the multivariate probit model showed that the age of the household head, total household size, level of education of the household head, noticing changes in mean annual rainfall and onset of rains, receiving weather information, and the land tenure system were all significant factors that influence the choice of the response strategy. This study, therefore, recommends boosting more education and climate change awareness for the farmers of Narok East Sub-county.

Entropy Based Modelling for Estimating Demographic Trends.

In this paper, an entropy-based method is proposed to forecast the demographical changes of countries. We formulate the estimation of future demographical profiles as a constrained optimization problem, anchored on the empirically validated assumption that the entropy of age distribution is increasing in time. The procedure of the proposed method involves three stages, namely: 1) Prediction of the age distribution of a country’s population based on an “age-structured population model”; 2) Estimation the age distribution of each individual household size with an entropy-based formulation based on an “individual household size model”; and 3) Estimation the number of each household size based on a “total household size model”. The last stage is achieved by projecting the age distribution of the country’s population (obtained in stage 1) onto the age distributions of individual household sizes (obtained in stage 2). The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by feeding real world data, and it is general and versatile enough to be extended to other time dependent demographic variables.

Assessment of hired labour use and food security among rural farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between hired labour use and food security among rural farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. It determined the food security status of rural farming households and investigated the determinants of hired labour use. A four-stage random sampling technique was used to select 135 rural farming households from which data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and the Tobit regression model were the analytical tools used for the study. The study revealed that only about half of the households (51.1%) were food secure and that there is a positive correlation between the hired labour use and their food security status. Dependency ratio, age and educational qualification of the household head, total household size, and household income significantly influenced hired labour use (p&lt;0.01). The study recommends the need for agricultural credit schemes in Nigeria to accord higher priority to older farmers and poor rural households. In addition, extension education which emphasizes agriculture as a business rather than a mere way of life should be promoted among farmers.

Maize Productivity and Production Strategies: An Analysis of Kenyan Smallholder Agriculture

Against the background of low agricultural productivity and considering that maize is a major staple food crop in Kenya, smallholder farmers' maize production strategies and the subsequent productivity determinants were examined using data from a 1998 farm household survey. Three modelling strategies were used: A probit model to capture the determinants of seed varietal choice, and of maize production in pure stand; a tobit to model the determinants of fertiliser use intensity; and a two-stage least square analysis to model maize productivity. Results show that likelihood of farmers using hybrid seed is influenced by the prices of seed and fertiliser, land size and total household size. However, livestock asset value reduces the likelihood of hybrid seed use. Land size and hybrid seed increases the likelihood of farmers adopting pure stand maize production strategy whereas education, prices of fertiliser and maize, and access cost reduce the likelihood. The intensity of fertilizer use is determined by market access costs, while family labour and fertiliser use intensity, and the level of education influence farm household maize yields. [IJARD Vol.3 2002: 17-27]