Digital Commons Network^™

The Rural Livelihood Impacts Of East Africa’S New Development Corridors, Charis Enns, Brock Bersaglio, Ramson Karmushu, Masalu Luhula, Alex Awiti

East Africa Institute

Background and rationale: Africa is experiencing a surge of investment in new development corridors, which are networks of transport infrastructure intended to open isolated parts of the continent for investment and socio-economic development. Proponents of development corridors – including governments, bilateral development agencies and multilateral development banks – present these massive infrastructure projects as a solution to the obstacles created by uneven development. Development corridors are promoted as a way of correcting the spatial disparities that exist between different regions as they are promised to intensify agricultural and industrial production, increase economic diversification, create new employment opportunities and improve access …

Tanzanian Mothers’ Cultural Beliefs And Misinformation Regarding The Reasons For Their Cesarean Sections, Victor Mathias, Eleanor Holroyd, Grace Edwards

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: In Tanzania, cesarean section (CS) rates have been steadily increasing, yet little is known about mothers’ understanding of the medical rationale for their CSs.

Aim: To identify mothers’ cultural understandings of the rationale for their CSs.

Methods: Design: A qualitative descriptive design was employed.

Setting: A government hospital in the western region in Tanzania.

Participants: A total of 117 mothers were interviewed using convenience sampling post CS.

Findings: Forty percent of the mothers were younger than 18 years, with more than 50% having had five or more live babies. Among multigravida women, 40.2% had had one or more previous …

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices And Barriers In Use Of Evidence-Based Medicine Among Resident Physicians In Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi., Megha Unadkat

Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Evidence based medicine (EBM) helps clinicians to integrate latest research evidence into their daily clinical practice. There is a need for all healthcare professions to adopt it in order to provide scientific, safe, efficient and most cost-effective care. Postgraduate residents are at the frontline of healthcare delivery and all medical institutions should strive to produce practitioners of EBM. Studies have shown that physicians are still struggling to adapt to this paradigm shift in the practice of medicine, especially in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). However, very few studies have been done in SSA and none in East Africa to explore …

Multilayered Stigma And Vulnerabilities For Hiv Infection And Transmission: A Qualitative Study On Male Sex Workers In Zimbabwe, Elleen Yuk-Ha Tsang, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jeffrey S. Wilkinson, Annis Lai-Chu Fung, Freddy Lipeleke, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Male sex workers are marginalized in most societies due to intersectional stigma between prostitution and homosexuality. In Zimbabwe, a proliferation of male sex workers in major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo has been reported. However, there is a shortage of studies that explore their lives. The current qualitative study aims to describe the practices of sex work, life contexts, and HIV risks and vulnerabilities based on in-depth interviews among 15 male sex workers in Bulawayo. Our studies suggest that the stigma against male sex workers comes from diverse sectors including culture (“homosexuality is un-African, introduced by the Whites”), religion …

A Comparison Of Two Smart Cities: Singapore & Atlanta, Karen Johnston

Faculty Publications By Year

This paper compares Singapore's top-ranked smart city strategy to Atlanta, Georgia, a city that does not make a top smart city ranking but boasts internationally recognized smart city projects.

Access And Use Of Electronic Resources By The Faculty Members And Research Scholars Of Social Sciences In Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, Neetika Sharma

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The wide-ranging use of information and communication technologies, especially the World Wide Web, has brought significant changes in the way information is generated, stored and accessed. With the rapid development and use of the internet and web-based tools and technologies the major development that is taking place in libraries is extensive availability and use of various kinds of e-resources such as online database, OPAC, CD-ROM databases, online portals in general or subject wise. Now libraries and information centers spend increasingly more funds for subscribing e-resources, even when shrinking budgets of the libraries. This paper deals with a study on the …

Reverse Contributors? African State Parties, Icsid, And The Development Of International Investment Law, Olabisi D. Akinkugbe

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

International investment disputes involving African states before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) have generated significant critical inquiry. Yet, accounts of their contribution to the development of international investment law as a result of these dispute are limited. This article addresses this gap. It examines the contribution of some of the high-profile ICSID disputes involving African states to the development of international investment law. Notwithstanding the charges against African States in ICSID, I contend that the involvement of African States in ICSID Disputes has contributed to the development of international investment law. In particular, the jurisprudence that …

To Investigate How Summative Examinations Influence The Teaching Of English Language In Form Four Classes, Nthenya Mwongela Makali

Master of Education

Summative assessments for learning are examinations done at the end of a formal learning program. They are meant to determine a student’s understanding of the taught concepts and skills, and may determine the student’s exit achievement. The purpose of this study was to investigate how summative examinations influence the teaching of English language in the form four classes. A qualitative research approach was used, and data was collected from two secondary schools. The participants in the study were six teachers who were teaching English in form four classes, chosen through purposive sampling. During the study data was collected using one …

Determinants Of Occupational Injuries Among Building Construction Workers In Kampala City, Uganda, Arthur Kiconco, Nathan Ruhinda, Abdullah Ali Halage, Stephen Watya, William Bazeyo, John C. Ssempebwa, Joseph Byonanebye

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Globally, about 1000 people die and close to 860,000 people sustain injury at work daily. Injury prevention and control require contextual evidence, although most studies in Uganda have focused on general causes. Factors associated with occupational injuries among building construction workers were assessed in this study.

Methods

A cross-sectional study among building construction workers was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. A standardized semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Three hundred nineteen (319) participants were randomly and proportionately selected from 57 construction sites. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables while generalized linear modeling was used to estimate the …

Improving Access To Antenatal Care In Ngara, Tanzania Through Implementation Of The Lady Health Worker Programme, Alison L. Bailey

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Maternal mortality is one of the greatest health disparities facing the world today. A disproportionate number of women who die from pregnancy-related complications live in developing countries: the average maternal mortality in developed nations is 12/100,000, compared to 239/100,000 in developing nations; this rate is even higher in several sub-Saharan African nations. Reasons for this disparity include a lack of providers, inaccessibility to care, and poor quality of treatment in developing nations. Women living in the sub-Saharan country of Tanzania face many of these barriers, and as a result the country’s maternal mortality rate is 398/100,000. Antenatal care is an …

Barriers To Definitive Hyper-Acute Management Of Stroke At A Tertiary Facility In Nairobi, Kenya, Caroline Wangui Mithi

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Background: Stroke is a sudden neurological deficit due to a vascular cause, which can be ischaemic, haemorrhagic stroke or another cause. It is a leading cause of disability and long term functional impairment in the world. The definitive management of an acute ischaemic stroke is thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy, both of which has been shown to improve functional outcome but the utilization remains quite low in most hospitals, especially in Africa. This is due to certain pre-hospital and in-hospital barriers, and these factors have been shown to differ from country to country. Objective: To determine the pre-hospital barriers that prevent …

Generational Perceptions Of Support Among Congolese Refugees In Urban Tanzania, Julie A. Tippens

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Urban refugees frequently fall outside of the scope of humanitarian assistance programs. Despite a growing body of research describing the experiences of urban refugees in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of first asylum, little is known about generational differences in perceived support in these contexts. This phenomenological study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews and small group discussions to identify sources and meanings of support among older adult (50+; n= 23) and younger adult (18–30; n= 11) Congolese refugees in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Family and fictive kin emerged as central sources of support across age groups. However, instrumental support was sought …

Value Of Dedicated Research Time For Imgs In Obtaining Surgical Residency Training Positions: A 10-Year Review Of Applicants From A Medical College In Pakistan, Mohammad Raheel Jajja, Marvi Tariq, Salila Shoaib Hashmi, Thomas F. Dodson, Rashida Ahmed

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: International Medical Graduates (IMGs) secured greater than 10% of all general surgery (GS) residency positions in the US during the past decade. The Match process remains competitive, with a significant number of IMGs performing dedicated research before residency application. The impact of such research remains largely unknown. We aimed to provide an objective analysis of the impact of dedicated research time on obtaining a categorical GS residency position.
Design: Data for National Resident Matching Program Match results from 2008-2017 was compiled from annual Match lists of the Aga Khan University, Medical College (Karachi, Pakistan). Medical graduates provided this information …

The Effects Of Rurality And Cost Of Transportation On Time Of Evolution And Disease Complexity At Diagnosis For Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Colombia, Miguel Paredes

Public Health Theses

Patients in Colombia affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) face significant geopolitical and socioeconomic barriers to accessing diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to understand how the geosocial characteristics of a patient’s area of residence affect time to medical consultation and disease status at consultation. An observational cross-sectional study was performed of individuals with CL who consulted at a local clinical referral center (CIDEIM) in Cali and Tumaco, Colombia. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable simple and ordinal logistic regression analyses were done to examine how area of residence (urban or rural) and cost of transportation to the nearest urban center may influence …

Bacterial Contamination And Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern Of Isolates From Stethoscopes At A Referral Hospital In Tanzania, Elichilia R. Shao, Nancy P. Somi, Emmanuel G. Kifato, Daniel W. Gunda, Semvua B. Kilonzo, Balthazar M. Nyombi

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Background

Nosocomial infections pose a challenge to the medical field and are a global safety issue for both patients and health care providers. In developing countries, the magnitude of the problem remains underestimated and literature is very scarce. Some nosocomial infections spread via contaminated medical equipment such as stethoscopes. No data reported from Tanzania about the potential role of stethoscopes in spreading these infections.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine bacterial contamination and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) from February to April 2014. One hundred medical doctors and medical students were randomly selected …

Reviewing The Preclinical Curriculum In A Problem Based Learning Driven Medical Program: Challenges And Strategies, Manori Amarasekera, Paul S. Noakes, Brian D. Power

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

In order for medical curricula to remain progressive and contemporary, continuous review is critical to ensure that the learners are directed to achieve the intended goals and become workforce ready. We developed a framework for continuous curriculum review at the School of Medicine Fremantle (The University of Notre Dame Australia), taking the key aspects of a curriculum review process into consideration. In planning and implementing the review process we identified several challenges, including management of metadata, work load on staff members, and evaluation. These challenges were addressed successfully by applying necessary strategies using limited resources. The framework we have developed …

Street Children: A Focus On Dominican Republic (Research Report), James Okina, Isaac King, Salma Moran, Wainright Acquoi

No Existe - Dominican Republic

Over 150 million children are living in the streets across the world today (UNICEF, 2006). The Dominican Republic which is case in point is one of the many countries where children’s rights are not being protected, and the public welfare of children is not a priority, particularly in the case of street children, thereby increasing children’s encounter with challenges and exposure to risks. The lack of sufficient data creates a conundrum reflecting how bad this situation currently is, but growing concerns have proven how detrimental the challenge is to both children and the future of the country. Despite these alarming …

The Use Of Force Against "Rogue States", Amb. Todd F. Buchwald

Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law

The article focuses on use of force law which has evolved with respect to the kinds of threats posed by the two categories of rogue states.

Determination Of Medication Adherence And Related Factors Among People Living With Hiv/Aids In A Turkish University Hospital, Erdal Ceylan, Ayşegül Koç, Ahmet Çağkan İnkaya, Serhat Ünal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Widespread use of antiretroviral treatment (ART) has led to decrease in the incidence of HIV/AIDS-related mortality. Besides the availability of ART, medication adherence is essential for treatment success. There is a scarcity of data reported from Turkey regarding ART adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine medication adherence and related factors among PLWHA in Turkey.Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 158 PLWHA, who were being followed up at Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic of Hacettepe University Hospital. Data were collected using an individual questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Morisky Medication Adherence …

Relationship Between The Cervical Microbiome, Hiv Status, And Precancerous Lesions, Cameron Klein, Daniela Gonzalez, Kandali Samwel, Crispin Kahesa, Julius Mwaiselage, Nirosh Aluthge, Samodha Fernando, John T. West, Charles Wood, Peter C. Angeletti

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Nearly all cervical cancers are causally associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). The burden of HPV-associated dysplasias in sub-Saharan Africa is influenced by HIV. To investigate the role of the bacterial microbiome in cervical dysplasia, cytobrush samples were collected directly from cervical lesions of 144 Tanzanian women. The V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and deep sequenced. Alpha diversity metrics (Chao1, PD whole tree, and operational taxonomic unit [OTU] estimates) displayed significantly higher bacterial richness in HIV-positive patients (P = 0.01) than in HIV-negative patients. In HIV-positive patients, there was higher bacterial richness in patients with …

Small Business Sustainability Strategies In The Tanzanian Construction Materials Industry, Seraphia Robert Mgembe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners in the construction materials industry play a significant role in economic development through gross domestic product and employment. However, like other small business owners, many owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry close their businesses within 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study grounded in the resource-based theory was to explore the strategies that owners of small businesses in the construction materials industry operating in Tanzania used to sustain business for longer than 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 purposefully selected owners of small businesses in the construction materials …

Publication Output Of Professional Librarians In Public University Libraries In Ghana, Theophilus Fiawotoafor Mr., Perpetua S. Dadzie Prof., Musah Adams Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examines publication output among professional librarians in four public universities in Ghana. The major objectives of the study were to determine publication output of the professional librarians and investigate the challenges confronting publication efforts of the professional librarians, among others. The mixed methods approach was employed for the study. The questionnaire was used to collect data from 47 professional librarians and four university librarians were also interviewed. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyse the quantitative data collected through the questionnaire, while content analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data that was …

Challenges Of School Libraries And Quality Education In Tanzania: A Review, Andrew Malekani, Christian Mubofu Cm

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Quality education is fundamental for pupils’ advancement in any country. School libraries are said to be the second class for pupils because of the important role they play in enhancing the quality of education. School libraries are the avenues for cultivating pupils’ morals, the important facade for improving pupils’ education quality and for effective facilities for developing special technical education, serving as a friendly place for increasing pupils’ total education quality. The general idea for school libraries is to intensify the quality of education in schools through provision of adequate facilities such as chairs, tables, textbooks and qualified library staff …

Citations Analysis Of Lis Theses Submitted To Kuvempu University And University Of Mysore, Vinay Kumar D, Sangeetha M

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

A Citation analysis on 8289 citations cited in 59 LIS doctoral theses submitted to Kuvempu University (15 theses) and University of Mysore (44 theses) has been carried out to know the citation pattern. The data was collected using Shodhganga e-theses database. The study found that a total of 6883 journal citations were cited in 59 theses. The journal ‘Scientometrics’ has been cited 651 times and stands first in the rank list of journals. Annals of Library and Information Studies which is an Indian LIS journal stands in the third position in the rank list with 130 citations. The Bradford’s law …

3d Printing In Low Resource Healthcare Settings: Analysis Of Potential Implementations, Alenna Beroza

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

3D printing has gained significant momentum in the past ten years, and its unique advantages make it especially ideal for use in low resource healthcare settings, where many designs have already been successfully implemented. Yet, little has been studied on how 3D printing can be sustainably and functionally implemented in low resource healthcare systems as a manufacturing practice. In this report, three business models are proposed for this implementation: In-House Operator, Independent Operator, and Print Farm. These models were then tested over four months in Kisumu county, Kenya, at two workshops and seven public hospitals. I worked with local medical …

Knowledge Of Hiv/Aids Among Older Adults (50 Years And Above) In A Peri-Urban Setting: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study, Reindolf Anokye, Enoch Acheampong, Amy Budu-Ainooson, Edmund Isaac Obeng, Emmanuel Tetteh, Yvonne Sabby Acheampong, Curtis Edward Nettey-Marbell

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: In the absence of vaccine or cure, public knowledge about Human Immune Virus (HIV) is a central tool for curbing HIV epidemic. This study sought to assess the knowledge of HIV among older adults (50 years and above) at the Methodist Faith Healing hospital, Ankaase, Ghana. Methods: Using a descriptive study design, older adults (50 years and above) who visited the Ankaase Methodist Faith Healing hospital were randomly sampled for the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data which was analyzed quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16.0). Results: A total of 100 respondents …