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Disparity in prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in children under five among agricultural, pastoral, and agro-pastoral ecological zones of Karamoja sub-region, Uganda: a cross sectional study
(BMC Pediatrics, 2022-05-30) Okidi, Lawrence; Ongeng, Duncan; Muliro, Patrick Simiyu; Matofari, Joseph Wafula
Background: Undernutrition accounts for nearly half of under-five child mortality in developing countries where
household nutrition is largely dependent on agriculture. Despite the strong influence of agroecology on agriculture
in those countries, limited information exists on whether undernutrition in children under five varies with agro
ecological location.
Methods: Using Karamoja sub-region of Uganda, one of the most food insecure parts of Eastern Africa as a case area,
and applying a multi-stage sampling procedure, and a structured questionnaire, this study examined in a comparative
manner, the prevalence and predictors of undernutrition in children under five among the agricultural, pastoral,
and agro-pastoral ecological zones. Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to establish the disparity in
prevalence of undernutrition and household contextual characteristics, respectively. Binary logistic regression was
used to determine the predictors of undernutrition in children under five among the three agro-ecological zones. The
level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting ranged from 36 to 58% but varied with agroecology
in terms of the peak age ranging from 6 to 37 months. Child characteristics, feeding practices, household economic
factors, sanitation factors, and caregiver characteristics that predict undernutrition among children under five were
identified (p ≤ 0.05). Caregiver handwashing after using latrine (p = 0.005) and diarrhoea in a fortnight (p < 0.001)
increased the likelihood of stunting in pastoral agroecology only whereas cereal storage in both sacks and granary
in agro-pastoral zone was associated with reduced likelihood of both underweight (p < 0.001 and p = 0.014) and
stunting (p = 0.011 and p = 0.018), respectively. A male child was more likely to be underweight and stunted in
pastoral (p = 0.002 and p = 0.011) and agro-pastoral (p = 0.017 and p = 0.002) agroecology, respectively. Household
expenses reduced the likelihood of both underweight and wasting in pastoral (p = 0.013 and p = 0.005) and
agricultural (p = 0.011 and p = 0.021) agroecology, respectively. Flour storage duration increased the stunting
likelihood in pastoral (p = 0.032) and agro-pastoral (p = 0.006) agroecologies
Conclusion: This study has revealed that, in a food insecure developing country setting such as Karamoja sub-region
of Uganda, undernutrition among children under five varies with agroecology. Thus, nutritional interventions in such
locations should be agroecology specific.
Mentoring Feedback to Support Teaching: Changes in Teacher’s Practice in Government Aided Secondary Schools in the Acholi Sub-Region
(Creative Education, 2022-04-25) Okumu, John Bismarck; Ogwang,Tom Henry; Opio, George; Kilama Teddy Ajok
This article presents changes in practices of teachers in government aided secondary schools in the Acholi Sub-region taking part in mentoring feedback to improve teaching processes. Data was collected using questionnaire survey, interviews and documentary analysis with teachers, Director of studies, Deputy head teachers, Head teachers. Results describe that quality mentoring feedback is a significant contributor to professional and academic success as this helps mentors share professional experiences at different stages of teachers’ career. The study concluded that mentoring feedback improves teacher practices and further helps them to learn new activities which maintain their relevance in the contemporary world. The study recommends that mentoring guidance should focus on giving feedback, social interaction, instructional practices and clarity in teaching that have direct measurable impacts on students learning.
The need for an educational paradigm shift in sub-Saharan Africa
(HAMK Unlimited Professional, 2023-12-21) Ojok, Karlo; Kimatu, Josphert N.; Mutambo, James; Okidi, Lawrence; Ruhiu, Samuel; Määttänen, Satu; Laitinen, Eija
Teachers have traditionally been regarded as transmitters and learners as receivers of knowledge. This paradigm is now shaken up with calls to reform the pedagogical practices from teacherdominated to learner-centered methods, to improve the quality of education, and subsequently employment opportunities of graduates. This article discusses the current status quo of teaching and learning in African higher education institutions, and the knowledge required to facilitate an educational paradigm shift towards student-centered methods. In an effort to jumpstart this paradigm shift, the article proposes a research study on teaching perceptions, to determine the factors that contribute to implementing student-centered approaches.
Examining the relationship between farmers’ characteristics and access to agricultural extension: Empirical evidence from northern Uganda
(Taylor and Francis, 2022-06-02) Okello,Daniel Micheal; Akite,Irine; Atube,Francis; Kalule,Stephen Wamala; Ongeng,Duncan
Purpose
This study aimed at assessing how farmers’ access to agricultural extension is linked to farmers’ choice of extension service providers, and the crops and livestock activities engaged in at the farm level.
Methodology/Design/Approach
Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 342 farming households. Data analyses were conducted using the descriptive statistics and Probit binary regression model.
Findings
Results show that farmer access to agricultural extension depends on farmer district location, experience, group membership, use of pesticides, crop and livestock production diversity, and information source diversity. Furthermore, results show that gender, marital status, experience credit access, group membership, and livestock production diversity are the main drivers of farmers’ choice of service providers for an agricultural extension at the farm level. Lastly, leading determinants of access to agriculture for individual farm enterprises include farmer location (district), gender, marital status, education, experience, land owned, access to credit, group membership, ownership of mobile phones, and market information source diversity.
Practical Implications
Differentiated targeting of agricultural extension across farmer demographic structures and production objectives is not only influenced by varying factors but also important for ensuring that extension services are responsive for food and cash generation needs of local communities.
Theoretical Implications
This study deepens the literature on farmer access to agricultural extension with results demonstrating differences in factors that determine farmers’ choice of service providers for agricultural extension and the kind of crop and livestock activities engaged at the farm level.
Originality/value
This research is of high value as it presents empirical results on factors associated with the provision of agricultural extension services where there are many providers and where extension services is targeting different agricultural enterprises.
Determinants of finger millet farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change in northern Uganda
(Discover Agriculture, 2025-06-14) Atube, Francis; Ojara, Bosco Christopher; Labeja, Luis Richard; Okello, Daniel Micheal; Okumu,Charles Nelson
Weather variability has had great negative impacts on crop production in rain-fed agricultural systems that dominate sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, farmers usually undertake several climate change adaptation strategies to cope. This study assessed climate change adaptation strategies developed by finger millet farmers and the determinants to their choice of adaptation strategies in Kitgum District. This was achieved through a cross-sectional study involving 370 randomly selected smallholder farmers from Kitgum district. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions as well as key informant interviews. Collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis in the case of qualitative data and multivariate regression analysis in the case of quantitative data. Results showed that majority of finger millet farmers perceived weather variability in terms of decreased rainfall levels, prolonged dry spells, and unpredictable precipitations within the last twenty years. The visible effects include low yields of finger millet, poor seed germination, general millet failure causing low production, and increased food insecurity. The most common adaptation strategies were planting different types of crops to cater for failed crops, planting millet early to take care of the shortened length of the rainy season, and farmers adopting drought-resistant varieties of finger millet. Choice of these climate adaptation options depended on gender of household heads, age, size of land owned, education levels, belonging to a farmer group, and access extension service. The findings of this study imply that more effort is to improve the dissemination of weather-related information, provide training on climate-smart agriculture, and boost adaptation planning at the grassroots to empower millet farmers in the effort to increase millet production while practicing appropriate adaptation strategies to the effect of weather variability.