Village Clusters Research Articles

PREDIKTOR SIKAP STIGMA DAN DISKRIMINASI TERHADAP ORANG DENGAN HIV DAN AIDS (ODHA) DI KABUPATEN JEMBER

Globally, the HIV and AIDS epidemic shows stable conditions, but statistically there is still an increase in new infections in some areas including Jember District. The main barriers to HIV prevention are stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. This study aims to analyze the predictors of stigma and discrimination attitude toward PLHIV in Jember District. This was an observational study used cross sectional design. Research subjects were people aged 15-24 years amounted to 247 respondents. Determination of the sample using a multistage sampling technique, ie the determination of simple random cluster of villages and then determine the respondents of each cluster randomly systematic. Data were collected using structured interview technique with questionnaire then analyzed using chi-square test and logistic regression with 5% significance level. The results showed the majority of respondents (81.4%) stated not willing to buy food if the seller knew HIV +. Fifty percent more they disagree if female teachers who are HIV + keep teaching. Similarly, children with HIV + cannot be admitted to school with HIV negative children. The distribution of stigma and discrimination attitudes toward people living with HIV significantly differed by age, sex, education level, marital status and occupational status. The level of knowledge and residence does not differ significantly. A significant factor to be a predictor of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV is age and gender. Younger age (15-19 years) and women have a greater likelihood of being stigmatized and discriminating against people living with HIV. Dissemination of information about HIV and AIDS in adolescents aged 15-19 years is still needed to increase knowledge and accelerate the acceptance of PLHIV so that stigma and discrimination attitude toward PLWHA can be reduced.
 
 Keywords: attitude, stigma, discrimination people suffering with HIV and AIDS.

Livelihood after Relocation—Evidences of Guchchagram Project in Bangladesh

Due to climate change and its consequences to islands and coastal countries, the relocation of the people living in those vulnerable places has received a lot of attention from policy makers as well as academicians. There have been similar kinds of programs running in Bangladesh since the country’s independence in 1971, and people who are landless or victimized due to river bank erosion, cyclones, or floods have been relocated under the umbrella program called ‘Guchchagram’, i.e., cluster villages. Different ruling parties had used different names for the project due to the financial nature of the project, but none of them have significantly differed from the overall goals and objectives of relocated settlements and the betterment of the landless and extreme event victims. Particularly, this study asks how and to what extent the livelihood of relocated households has changed, and what the potentials and constraints of the relocated settlements are. Based on an empirical study at four Guchchagrams of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila, the study shows that there is a significant improvement in the livelihood conditions of the migrated people, but the locational disadvantages and access to agricultural production, the local employment market, and some of the targeted objectives of the project have not achieved. To some extent, the rehabilitated families have similar risks as they had before; however, available agricultural lands and proper allocation can reduce such livelihood risks.

Ecological restoration of village common degraded land through participatory approach for biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development in Indian Himalayan Region

In the advent of global climate change, ecological rehabilitation through keystone tree species suited to a given socio-ecological conditions has increasingly received wider attention to off-set the global environmental impact through synergizing and enhancing multiple ecosystem services beneficial to human wellbeing. Correspondingly, shortage of forest products and unsustainability of current landuse practices and associated increasing rate of conversion and degradation of remaining natural resources has jeopardized the socio-economic and decision capacity of the farmers residing in Indian sub-continent. Indigenous tree species are largely untried for these applications and represent an underexploited resource that may offer a good combination of adapting local environmental conditions together with potential to restore degraded environments and biodiversity conservation. In view of above, multipurpose tree plantation on village common degraded land in three village cluster viz., Jaminikhal, Manjgaon and Hadiya, district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India located across the latitude was established with people participation. The present study reports survival, growth, chemical properties of soil, fodder production and carbon sequestration of four year plantation at three different locations. Average highest survival rate 96.6% was recorded at Jaminikhal village cluster (JVC) compared to Manjgaon village cluster (MVC) 90.3% and Hadiya village cluster (HVC) 71.1%. Average maximum height (147.7cm) of planted tree species was recorded at JVC followed by MVC (136.2cm) and HVC (112.2cm). Annual incremental rate in circumference of the planted tree species across the sites was reported maximum 2.6cmyear−1 at JVC while minimum at HVC 2.0cmyear−1. Across sites the highest organic carbon %, total nitrogen and total phosphorus 1.06, 0.18 and 0.09 respectively was recorded at JVC and total cation exchange was also reported in the soil of JVC. Fodder biomass from natural grass was harvested maximum (9568kg/ha−1/year−1) at JVC followed by MJV (7546kg/ha−1/year−1) while minimum (6895kg/ha−1/year−1) was recorded at HVC after four year of plantation. Similar pattern was observed for the fodder biomass harvested from introduced grasses and quantified maximum (2856kg/ha−1/year−1) at JVC and minimum (1543kg/ha−1/year−1) at HVC. Appropriate strategies and frame work was developed for successful plantation such as inventorization of bioengineering measures viz., trenches, gully plugging, plantation of fodder grass, people preference for planting species and capacity building of communities for strengthening their understanding and skill to manage plantation sites.

Community transmission of type 2 poliovirus after cessation of trivalent oral polio vaccine in Bangladesh: an open-label cluster-randomised trial and modelling study

SummaryBackgroundTrivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) was replaced worldwide from April, 2016, by bivalent types 1 and 3 oral polio vaccine (bOPV) and one dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) where available. The risk of transmission of type 2 poliovirus or Sabin 2 virus on re-introduction or resurgence of type 2 poliovirus after this switch is not understood completely. We aimed to assess the risk of Sabin 2 transmission after a polio vaccination campaign with a monovalent type 2 oral polio vaccine (mOPV2).MethodsWe did an open-label cluster-randomised trial in villages in the Matlab region of Bangladesh. We randomly allocated villages (clusters) to either: tOPV at age 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks; or bOPV at age 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks and either one dose of IPV at age 14 weeks or two doses of IPV at age 14 weeks and 18 weeks. After completion of enrolment, we implemented an mOPV2 vaccination campaign that targeted 40% of children younger than 5 years, regardless of enrolment status. The primary outcome was Sabin 2 incidence in the 10 weeks after the campaign in per-protocol infants who did not receive mOPV2, as assessed by faecal shedding of Sabin 2 by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The effect of previous immunity on incidence was also investigated with a dynamical model of poliovirus transmission to observe prevalence and incidence of Sabin 2 virus. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02477046.FindingsBetween April 30, 2015, and Jan 14, 2016, individuals from 67 villages were enrolled to the study. 22 villages (300 infants) were randomly assigned tOPV, 23 villages (310 infants) were allocated bOPV and one dose of IPV, and 22 villages (329 infants) were assigned bOPV and two doses of IPV. Faecal shedding of Sabin 2 in infants who did not receive the mOPV2 challenge did not differ between children immunised with bOPV and one or two doses of IPV and those who received tOPV (15 of 252 [6%] vs six of 122 [4%]; odds ratio [OR] 1·29, 95% CI 0·45–3·72; p=0·310). However, faecal shedding of Sabin 2 in household contacts was increased significantly with bOPV and one or two doses of IPV compared with tOPV (17 of 751 [2%] vs three of 353 [1%]; OR 3·60, 95% CI 0·82–15·9; p=0·045). Dynamical modelling of within-household incidence showed that immunity in household contacts limited transmission.InterpretationIn this study, simulating 1 year of tOPV cessation, Sabin 2 transmission was higher in household contacts of mOPV2 recipients in villages receiving bOPV and either one or two doses of IPV, but transmission was not increased in the community as a whole as shown by the non-significant difference in incidence among infants. Dynamical modelling indicates that transmission risk will be higher with more time since cessation.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Community health promotion and medical provision for neonatal health-CHAMPION cluster randomised trial in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana (formerly Andhra Pradesh), India.

BackgroundIn the mid-2000s, neonatal mortality accounted for almost 40% of deaths of children under 5 years worldwide, and constituted 65% of infant deaths in India. The neonatal mortality rate in Andhra Pradesh was 44 per 1,000 live births, and was higher in the rural areas and tribal regions, such as the Nagarkurnool division of Mahabubnagar district (which became Nagarkurnool district in Telangana in 2014). The aim of the CHAMPION trial was to investigate whether a package of interventions comprising community health promotion and provision of health services (including outreach and facility-based care) could lead to a reduction of the order of 25% in neonatal mortality.Methods and findingsThe design was a trial in which villages (clusters) in Nagarkurnool with a population < 2,500 were randomised to the CHAMPION package of health interventions or to the control arm (in which children aged 6–9 years were provided with educational interventions—the STRIPES trial). A woman was eligible for the CHAMPION package if she was married and <50 years old, neither she nor her husband had had a family planning operation, and she resided in a trial village at the time of a baseline survey before randomisation or married into the village after randomisation. The CHAMPION intervention package comprised community health promotion (including health education via village health worker–led participatory discussion groups) and provision of health services (including outreach, with mobile teams providing antenatal check-ups, and facility-based care, with subsidised access to non-public health centres [NPHCs]). Villages were stratified by travel time to the nearest NPHC and tribal status, and randomised (1:1) within strata. The primary outcome was neonatal mortality. Secondary outcomes included maternal mortality, causes of death, health knowledge, health practices including health service usage, satisfaction with care, and costs. The baseline survey (enumeration) was carried out between August and November 2007. After randomisation on 18 February 2008, participants, data collectors, and data analysts were not masked to allocation. The intervention was initiated on 1 August 2008. After an inception period, the assessment start date was 1 December 2008. The intervention ended on 31 May 2011, and data collection was completed on 30 November 2011. Primary analyses followed the intention to treat principle. In all, 14,137 women were enrolled in 232 control villages, and 15,532 in 232 intervention villages. Of these, 4,885 control women had 5,474 eligible pregnancies and gave birth to 4,998 eligible children. The corresponding numbers in intervention villages were 5,664 women, 6,351 pregnancies, and 5,798 children. Of the live-born babies, 343 (6.9%) in the control arm and 303 (5.2%) in the intervention arm died in their first 28 days of life (risk ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.90, p = 0.0018; risk difference −1.59%, 95% CI −2.63% to −0.54%), suggesting that there were 92 fewer deaths (95% CI 31 to 152) as a result of the intervention. There were 9 (0.16%) maternal deaths in the control arm compared to 13 (0.20%) in the intervention arm (risk ratio 1.24, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.90, p = 0.6176; 1 death was reported as a serious adverse event). There was evidence of improved health knowledge and health practices including health service usage in the intervention arm compared to the control arm. Women in the intervention arm were more likely to rate their delivery and postnatal care as good or very good. The total cost of the CHAMPION interventions was US$1,084,955 ($11,769 per life saved, 95% CI $7,115 to $34,653). The main limitations of the study included that it could not be masked post-randomisation and that fetal losses were not divided into stillbirths and miscarriages because gestational age was not reliably reported.ConclusionsThe CHAMPION trial showed that a package of interventions addressing health knowledge and health seeking behaviour, buttressing existing health services, and contracting out important areas of maternal and child healthcare led to a reduction in neonatal mortality of almost the hypothesized 25% in small villages in an Indian state with high mortality rates. The intervention can be strongly justified in much of rural India, and is of potential use in other similar settings. Ongoing changes in maternal and child health programmes make it imperative that a similar intervention that establishes ties between the community and health facilities is tested in different settings.Trial registrationISRCTN registry ISRCTN24104646

Efficacy of an enhanced linkage to HIV care intervention at improving linkage to HIV care and achieving viral suppression following home-based HIV testing in rural Uganda: study protocol for the Ekkubo/PATH cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThough home-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing (HBHCT) is implemented in many sub-Saharan African countries as part of their HIV programs, linkage to HIV care remains a challenge. The purpose of this study is to test an intervention to enhance linkage to HIV care and improve HIV viral suppression among individuals testing HIV positive during HBHCT in rural Uganda.MethodsThe PATH (Providing Access To HIV Care)/Ekkubo Study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial which compares the efficacy of an enhanced linkage to HIV care intervention vs. standard-of-care (paper-based referrals) at achieving individual and population-level HIV viral suppression, and intermediate outcomes of linkage to care, receipt of opportunistic infection prophylaxis, and antiretroviral therapy initiation following HBHCT. Approximately 600 men and women aged 18-59 who test HIV positive during district-wide HBHCT in rural Uganda will be enrolled in this study. Villages (clusters) are pair matched by population size and then randomly assigned to the intervention or standard-of-care arm. Study teams visit households and participants complete a baseline questionnaire, receive HIV counseling and testing, and have blood drawn for HIV viral load and CD4 testing. At baseline, standard-of-care arm participants receive referrals to HIV care including a paper-based referral and then receive their CD4 results via home visit 2 weeks later. Intervention arm participants receive an intervention counseling session at baseline, up to three follow-up counseling sessions at home, and a booster session at the HIV clinic if they present for care. These sessions each last approximately 30 min and consist of counseling to help clients: identify and reduce barriers to HIV care engagement, disclose their HIV status, identify a treatment supporter, and overcome HIV-related stigma through links to social support resources in the community. Participants in both arms complete interviewer-administered questionnaires at six and 12 months follow-up, HIV viral load and CD4 testing at 12 months follow-up, and allow access to their medical records.DiscussionThe findings of this study can inform the integration of a potentially cost-effective approach to improving rates of linkage to care and HIV viral suppression in HBHCT. If effective, this intervention can improve treatment outcomes, reduce mortality, and through its effect on individual and population-level HIV viral load, and decrease HIV incidence.Trial registrationNCT02545673

Short-term impacts of an unconditional cash transfer program on child schooling: Experimental evidence from Malawi

This study analyzes the impact of a positive income shock on child schooling outcomes using experimental data from an unconditional cash transfer program in Malawi. Since households receive the cash and parents are responsible for making spending decisions, we also examine the intervening pathways between cash transfers and child schooling. Data comes from a cluster-randomized study of Malawi's Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP). After a baseline survey, households in village clusters were randomly assigned to treatment and control arms with treatment villages receiving transfers immediately and control villages assigned a later entry. We test for treatment impacts on a panel of school-aged children (6–17) using a differences-in-differences model. After a years’ worth of transfers, we find the Malawi SCTP both improves enrollment rates and decreases dropouts. The main intervening pathway between the program and schooling is education expenditures, suggesting that the cash improves the demand for education by reducing financial constraints.

Integrated Fodder and Livestock Development in Uttarakhand: NGO's Initiatives

For years, it has been widely assumed that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) put significant and positive effects on the economy of poor households in developing nations. The Integrated Fodder&Livestock Development Project (IFLDP) implemented through an NGO named Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG) was selected for the study. The project's prime mandate was livestock and fodder development which had been implemented in a phased manner since 2008 and completed in March 2014. This paper examines the impact of this intervention in terms of animal husbandry practices, production and income in a cluster of villages in Uttarakhand State. For the study, a list of all beneficiaries of the NGO was prepared and a sampling frame with all the beneficiaries of the project in each of the three clusters was drawn. Finally 40 beneficiaries were chosen from each of the clusters by simple random sampling, thereby making a total of 120 respondents. The analysis depicted that the technological empowerment through IFLDP was maximum in case of artificial insemination and fodder preservation practices. Green and dry fodder was also found to be increasing in the villages by the initiatives of the project.

Pattern analysis of schistosomiasis prevalence by exploring predictive modeling in Jiangling County, Hubei Province, P.R. China

BackgroundThe prevalence of schistosomiasis remains a key public health issue in China. Jiangling County in Hubei Province is a typical lake and marshland endemic area. The pattern analysis of schistosomiasis prevalence in Jiangling County is of significant importance for promoting schistosomiasis surveillance and control in the similar endemic areas.MethodsThe dataset was constructed based on the annual schistosomiasis surveillance as well the socio-economic data in Jiangling County covering the years from 2009 to 2013. A village clustering method modified from the K-mean algorithm was used to identify different types of endemic villages. For these identified village clusters, a matrix-based predictive model was developed by means of exploring the one-step backward temporal correlation inference algorithm aiming to estimate the predicative correlations of schistosomiasis prevalence among different years. Field sampling of faeces from domestic animals, as an indicator of potential schistosomiasis prevalence, was carried out and the results were used to validate the results of proposed models and methods.ResultsThe prevalence of schistosomiasis in Jiangling County declined year by year. The total of 198 endemic villages in Jiangling County can be divided into four clusters with reference to the 5 years’ occurrences of schistosomiasis in human, cattle and snail populations. For each identified village cluster, a predictive matrix was generated to characterize the relationships of schistosomiasis prevalence with the historic infection level as well as their associated impact factors. Furthermore, the results of sampling faeces from the front field agreed with the results of the identified clusters of endemic villages.ConclusionThe results of village clusters and the predictive matrix can be regard as the basis to conduct targeted measures for schistosomiasis surveillance and control. Furthermore, the proposed models and methods can be modified to investigate the schistosomiasis prevalence in other regions as well as be used for investigating other parasitic diseases.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about goiter among population in Shendi provence. River Nile state of Sudan

Background: Globally, about 2 thousand million people are affected by iodine deficiency. The aim of this study is to Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding goiter among population in Shendi Provence. River Nile State of Suda. Methods: This study was conducted as a community based descriptive Cross – sectional study. In this study 636 households were included .Questionnaire were used as tools for data collection. The households were selected through a multistage cluster-sampling technique, three cluster stage was used (The locality was divided into four administrative units, All administrative units were divided into cluster villages or block and The required number of households in each village and block was selected by following the systemic random sampling technique) 636 respondents were selected. Results: The study was found that (58.5%) of respondents were recognize goiter disease as an enlargement of thyroid gland. More than sixty (63.4%) were aware of the causes of goiter and its symptoms, (56%) were aware of iodine. More than half of respondents (55.8%) were aware of sources of iodine, (47%) of respondents were aware of foods contain iodine and its types. In addition, study revealed that (41%) of participant were aware of iodized salt. Moreover (48%) of respondents consider that iodized salt is necessary. The results revealed that only 82 (12.9%) were applied Preventive measures. Conclusions: The overall knowledge of respondent regarding goiter were found to be good, they had negative attitude towards goiter and they had proper practice in consumption of food contain.

Dietary Intake of Minerals, Vitamins, and Trace Elements Among Geriatric Population in India.

The geriatric population is at a high risk of developing deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and trace elements and their related deficiency signs and symptoms. Scarce data is available on the dietary intake of essential micronutrients among geriatric subjects in India. Hence, to fill the gap in the existing knowledge, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during 2015-2016 in District Nainital, Uttarakhand State, India. A total of 255 geriatric subjects were enrolled from 30 clusters (villages) identified by using population proportionate to size sampling methodology. Data were collected on sociodemographic profile and dietary intake of essential micronutrients (24-h dietary recall, food frequency questionnaire) from all the geriatric subjects. A high percentage of geriatric subjects did not consume the recommended daily intake for essential micronutrients such as energy (78%), protein (78%), calcium (51%), thiamine (33%), riboflavin (64%), niacin (88%), vitamin C (42%), iron (72%), folic acid (72%), magnesium (48%), zinc (98%), copper (81%) and chromium (89%) adequately. Food groups rich in essential micronutrients such as pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, other vegetables, fruits, nonvegetarian food items, and milk and milk products were consumed irregularly by the subjects. The overall intake of energy and essential micronutrients was inadequate among the geriatric population in India, possibly due to poor quality and quantity of the diet consumed.

Paula Brown Glick: A Retrospective

Paula Brown Glick: A Retrospective

Knowledge, attitude and practice about malaria in south-western Saudi Arabia: A household-based cross-sectional survey.

This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning malaria and malaria prevention among rural populations residing in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. This was a household-based cross-sectional survey, using structured questionnaire that was developed and distributed among households selected randomly from 19 villages (clusters) located in a southwestern region of Saudi Arabia, north of the border with Yemen. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A majority of respondents (98.4%) reported that they had heard about malaria, but only 21.7% reported that they had sufficient information about the disease. Surprisingly, the most popular source of information was the internet and social media (proportion responding positively in parenthesis) (25.5%), followed by family (21.7%), while information from health facilities contributed only 12.4%. A majority of respondents were aware that malaria is a communicable (89.1%) and deadly (70%) disease; however, only 30.2% of the respondents responded that malaria is a treatable disease. Almost all of the aware respondents (97.5%) were inclined to seek treatment from health facilities, and 63.2% preferred to seek treatment within 24h of presenting with symptoms. Regarding personal precautions, the most common practice adopted by respondents was indoor residual spraying IRS (47.3%), followed by anti-mosquito spraying (29.8%), mosquito bed nets (13.2%) and combined anti-mosquito sprays and nets on windows (4.7%). This KAP study did not show any statistically significant differences in KAP due to age; however the practices of preventive measures against malaria differed significantly by nationality (Saudi versus non-Saudi). We conclude that most populations living in the villages have an acceptable level of knowledge and awareness about malaria and seek timely treatment. However, the positive attitudes and practices in relation to personal protection and prevention measures against malaria require marked improvement. The obvious gap between the knowledge and practice related to malaria prevention requires innovative strategies based on local evidence that well suits the local circumstances to promote and encourage the adoption and practice of personal protective measures.

Assessing the interruption of the transmission of human helminths with mass drug administration alone: optimizing the design of cluster randomized trials

BackgroundA method is outlined for the use of an individual-based stochastic model of parasite transmission dynamics to assess different designs for a cluster randomized trial in which mass drug administration (MDA) is employed in attempts to eliminate the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in defined geographic locations. The hypothesis to be tested is: Can MDA alone interrupt the transmission of STH species in defined settings? Clustering is at a village level and the choice of clusters of villages is stratified by transmission intensity (low, medium and high) and parasite species mix (either Ascaris, Trichuris or hookworm dominant).ResultsThe methodological approach first uses an age-structured deterministic model to predict the MDA coverage required for treating pre-school aged children (Pre-SAC), school aged children (SAC) and adults (Adults) to eliminate transmission (crossing the breakpoint in transmission created by sexual mating in dioecious helminths) with 3 rounds of annual MDA. Stochastic individual-based models are then used to calculate the positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively, for observing elimination or the bounce back of infection) for a defined prevalence of infection 2 years post the cessation of MDA. For the arm only involving the treatment of Pre-SAC and SAC, the failure rate is predicted to be very high (particularly for hookworm-infected villages) unless transmission intensity is very low (R0, or the effective reproductive number R, just above unity in value).ConclusionsThe calculations are designed to consider various trial arms and stratifications; namely, community-based treatment and Pre-SAC and SAC only treatment (the two arms of the trial), different STH transmission settings of low, medium and high, and different STH species mixes. Results are considered in the light of the complications introduced by the choice of statistic to define success or failure, varying adherence to treatment, migration and parameter uncertainty.

Oestrus synchronization with fixed-time artificial insemination in smallholder pig production systems in north-east India: Success rate and benefits

Pig production is an important component of the farming systems that are practised in the north-eastern region of India and it has special significance for improving the socio-economic status of tribal farmers in the region. In an effort to optimize the production efficiency of rural pig production systems, the potential influence of oestrus synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) on synchronizing husbandry programmes was investigated. A total of 117 crossbred sows, selected from various village production units, were randomly allocated to two (control and treatment) groups. The sows in the treatment group (n = 81) received 800 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), followed by 500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 72 hours after the eCG injection. The sows in the control group (n = 36) served as the untreated control. The onset of oestrus, oestrus signs, oestrus intensity, and duration of oestrus were observed after treatment. The oestrus sows were inseminated twice at 24 h and 36 h, respectively, after hCG injection at various village production units. Results revealed that 86.4% of sows in the treatment group exhibited all the behavioural and physical signs of oestrus. The average interval between treatment and onset of oestrus was 84.8 ± 2.43 hours. The mean oestrus intensity of sows in the treatment group was 2.3 (when assessed on a scale of 1 to 3), which did not differ significantly from the oestrus intensity exhibited by the control group. The duration of oestrus varied from 36 to 56 hours in the treated sows, which was significantly longer when compared with the duration of oestrus in the control group. The study obtained a farrowing rate of 82.6% and litter size of 9.2 ± 0.32 after oestrus synchronization with timed insemination. Oestrus synchronization facilitated the insemination of a batch of sows at particular locations covering two to three village clusters, which drastically reduced the transport costs for the semen. Oestrus synchronization facilitated the effective implementation of AI by coordinating the insemination of batches of sows, thus reducing shipping and insemination costs. Improving heat detection contributed to shortening the weaning to oestrous interval in smallholder pig production system, which in turn decreased production costs. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords : Assisted reproduction, farrrowing rate, insemination cost, reproduction efficiency

Determinants of Sanitary Practices in Rural Odisha

Proper sanitation, hygiene and cleanliness are some of the key indicators of quality of life. The present paper attempts to study the status of sanitation in rural Odisha and explore its determinants. The paper is based on both primary as well as secondary data. The relative position of districts in rural sanitation is analysed with help of census data. The analysis observes that there is a significant regional divide in ‘access to toilets’ across the districts of Odisha. The backward districts are lying way below the relatively advanced coastal districts of the state. Moreover, for an investigation at a disaggregated level, we had taken 109 households from a village cluster for a case study. The study observes that caste category, occupation and government subsidy are the important factors influencing the sanitary practices of the study areas. The paper advocates for continuance of government subsidy with better targeting, and a massive awareness drive by the government to change the sordid state of open defecation in the state.

Livestock ownership, animal source foods and child nutritional outcomes in seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundSub-Saharan Africa currently has the highest prevalence of malnutrition worldwide. In children under the age of 5 years, malnutrition can have long-term effects on physical and cognitive development, with implications at the national scale. Theoretically, livestock-based interventions are well placed to overcome constraints faced by micronutrient and/or food-based interventions. However, there is limited empirical evidence to support this hypothesis.MethodsThis study utilised agriculture, nutrition and anthropometry data from the Millennium Villages Project to investigate relationships between livestock ownership, animal source foods (ASF) consumption and child nutritional outcomes across seven rural village clusters in Sub-Saharan Africa. Village clusters were located in different agro-ecological zones and included: Bonsaaso, Ghana; Mayange, Rwanda; Mwandama, Malawi; Tiby, Mali; Pampaida, Nigeria; Potou, Senegal; and Ruhiira, Uganda. Data from 1624 households (including 1543 children) were included in the analysis.ResultsOverall, the proportion of children with stunting, underweight or wasting across the seven village clusters was 40, 18 and 5%, respectively. Livestock ownership, ASF consumption and child nutritional outcomes varied between village clusters. Households that owned livestock were generally more likely to consume associated ASF. For example, the proportion of households that consumed milk was higher in households that owned cows compared to those that did not in Pampaida, Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05), while poultry meat consumption was generally higher in poultry-keeping households in Mayange and Ruhiira (P < 0.05). The relationship between ASF consumption and anthropometric measurements was complex, ranging from positively to negatively associated depending on the food commodity and village cluster. For instance, in Ruhiira, the mean weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) was significantly higher (better) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days, while in Potou, mean WAZ was significantly lower (worse) in children from households that consumed eggs in the last 30 days (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThis study contributes to the growing body of research that investigates the relationships between livestock ownership, ASF consumption and nutritional outcomes in children. Our results reveal complex patterns that vary across agro-ecological zones. More research is needed to assess seasonal variations in these factors, effects of gender roles on intra-household distribution of ASF, as well as effects of zoonotic food-borne diseases on nutritional status of children in these sites.

Trend Analysis and Challenges of Adaptations to Climate Change in Hararghe, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, climate change is a key emerging threat to the livelihoods of rural poor and marginalized groups. Hence, an adaptation measures to the changing climate is critical, which in turn require the perception that the climate is under a changing. The study was conducted in a selected rural Kebeles of Chiro district, Hararghe, Ethiopia to analyze the trends of climate change and explore the challenges for adaptation over the last three decades. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies have been employed. Thirty years of historical climate data were collected from National Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia. INSTAT+3.37 version software and Mann-Kendall trend test was employed to analyze the data. Socio-economic survey data were collected from three rural Kebeles of Chiro district. A total of 75 households, 25 households from each kebele were recruited after clustering of villages and randomizing the samples. SPSS version 16.0 was employed to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed that the annual mean temperature over Chiro district was 20.3oC, showing an increasing trend by 1.8oC/ year and average annual rainfall was 927 mm/year, showing a decreasing trends by 19.2 mm/year in the last three decades. The mean annual maximum and minimum temperature in the study area was 27.87 and 12.72oC, respectively. Moreover, the study shows that all seasons had a positive temperature trend. Results of survey data indicated that 83 and 79% of the sampled households have well perceived the increasing trends in annual temperature and decreasing trends in annual rainfall, respectively. Therefore, farmers in the area have been already practicing adaptation mechanisms, primarily, planting cash crops: coffee (Coffee arabica) and Khat (Catha edulis), and animal fattening. However, lack of timely and easily accessible information on agriculturally important weather elements were the major challenges in addition to the scarcity of lands.

Strategies for Doubling Farmers’ Income in Nutri-Cereals by 2022: Impact of Reduction of Yield Gaps and Inclusion of Fallow and Wasteland under Cultivation

To achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the study has suggested a practical measure of increasing focus on production of millets in the country. For increasing the productivity of millets and consequently income of farmers, the study has looked into the impact of reduction in yield gap and inclusion of fallow and waste lands under cultivation. The study has also suggested a way to absorb the additional production of millets in the country. Several value-added products of millets have been reported whose demand can be created and farmers’ income can be increased. In addition, policy and incentive support for federating farmers, farm gate warehouse and processing in village clusters, linking farmers to the value chains of both nutri-grains and nutri-fodder and the platform of e-NAM can enable better price and enhanced income to farmers.

Study of Integrated Rural Electrification System Using Wind-Biogas Based Hybrid System and Limited Grid Supply System

This paper presents modeling of system having wind-biogas based hybrid system operating in parallel with limited grid supply system to meet the rural demand, of a cluster of villages continuously. In this integrated rural electrification system (IRES), a fixed part of the power is supplied by the grid and the remaining power, required by the load under steady state and also the variations, is taken care by a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES). The wind energy converting system (WECS) uses a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) and synchronized in the hybrid system through a voltage source converter (VSC). The other source considered in the hybrid system is biogas-genset equipped with electronic speed governor and synchronous generator (SG) with automatic voltage regulator (AVR). The variation in load and/or input wind power to WECS may cause deviation in frequency and voltage and to maintain these parameters at nominal values, the power generated by biogas-genset is controlled, through governor control. The basic control schemes for frequency and magnitude of system voltage may not ensure limited grid operation. Therefore the system model is unique as it considers the dynamics and control of system voltage angle also. The main contribution of this paper is the system dynamic model development and its performance study. Proportional integral (PI) controllers are used in the model and their values are optimized using integral square error (ISE) criteria. Finally, the system simulation results have been shown for step deviations in load and/or input wind power to the WECS.