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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.
Continuous Professional Development and Teachers Improved Pedagogical Skills in Secondary Schools in Gulu City
(East African Journal of Education Studies,, 2023-12-18) Okumu,John.Bismark; Opio,George
Teacher’s pedagogical skill is a pre-requisite for effective teaching in secondary schools worldwide. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) has been considered to be one of the best educational practices in building capacity of teachers to enable them implement the curriculum more effectively. CPD ensures that all school staff are proficient in teaching learning and are capable of supporting all learners in the school. Dedicating time to CPD is vital to ensure every staff member learns and grows within their role. The current study assessed whether Continuous Professional Development improved teachers’ Pedagogical skills in teaching. In a mixed method study,
Raw data was gathered using surveys and interviews. Data was examined using SPSS version 18.0. Findings showed that 90% of the teachers agreed that Continuous Professional Development enhanced teacher’s pedagogical skills in secondary schools. The study concludes that continuous professional development is a vehicle for administrators’ and teachers’ improvement; it helps teachers enhance and acquire new ideas and skills and build confidence and competencies in teaching in secondary schools. It was recommended that CPD should be a routine so that all secondary school teachers’ capacity is developed to make them more effective in handling students. School administrators should consider CPD in their programming in terms of budgeting, allocation of study leave, facilities, and incentives.
The mix of good nutritional attitude and poor nutritional knowledge is associated with adequate intake of vitamin A and iron from wild fruits and vegetables among rural households in Acholi subregion of Northern Uganda
(Food Science & Nutrition, 2018-10-25) Okidi, Lawrence; Odongo, Walter; Ongeng, Duncan
Nutritional knowledge and attitude of a population greatly affect intake of essential micronutrients. Much of the understanding on the impact of nutritional knowledge and attitude on nutrient intake has been derived from studies conducted among affluent societies using commercial food products. However, information on the link between status of nutritional knowledge and attitude on intake of essential nutrients from wild fruits and vegetables among rural communities is largely lacking. This study examined the status of nutritional knowledge and attitude associated with intake of vitamin A and iron from wild fruits and vegetables among rural households in Acholi subregion of northern Uganda. A cross- sectional study design making use of individual household questionnaire and proximate dietary recall of a calendar year consumption period involving 248 randomly selected rural households was applied. Results showed that households had good nutritional attitude but poor nutritional knowledge. Status of knowledge was dependent on nutrition training (p = 0.028; coefficient, β = 0.710) and age of the respondent (p = 0.044; β = −0.023), whereas status of attitude was predicted by age of the respondent (p = 0.014; β = 0.048).
Consumption of wild fruits and vegetables contributed adequately to the dietary vitamin A and iron requirements of the households. The results have demonstrated that intake of vitamin A and iron from wild fruits and vegetables among rural households is associated with good nutritional attitude but poor nutritional knowledge. A concerted effort is necessary to improve household nutritional knowledge for better utilization of wild fruits and vegetables.
The Extent of Contribution and Challenges of Women Council Representatives Performance in Decision Making Process: The Case of Gulu District Local Government (2016-2020)
(Journal of Gender Related Studies, 2024) Ojok, James Onono; Owor, Arthur; Ojok, Karlo
Purpose: The study aimed at presenting the struggle of women councilors to remain active and relevant while participating at the Gulu district council politic and interrogates the challenges they face while exercising their legislative duties.
Methodology: The research deployed qualitative methods of data collection including key informant interviews, focus group discussions, document review like council minutes. The study used in-depth interviews, focus group discussion based on the research questions derived from the objectives of the study. Meanwhile some data were quantified just for easy presentation purposes of the study data.
Findings: This study argues that Women Councilors at local level are disadvantaged at the council decision making process and general council political participation compared to their male counterparts due to many factors that include biological, level of education plus the abstract environment already set by the patriarchy society. This study also adds that in the case of Gulu district, one of the post war conflict districts in Uganda, even the local media is hostile to the
women councilors as they majorly report only negative things about them and not give them a positive projection in the press although beyond that, the study also notes that the media in question majorly rely on male councilors as their news sources and not the women councilors denying- female commiserate voices in their stories.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended legislative training for women councilors and the use of local languages in extreme cases at the district council level to allow free expression of the group who could not comprehend English for council debates. The study also recommended gender mainstreaming in the local press to uphold deliberate gains by donors and the government on gender mainstreaming and inclusiveness at local level.
Performance of local and local x improved chicken crosses under semi-intensive management system in Northern Uganda
(Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2023-05-19) Ochora, Samuel; Kasima, Junior Senyonga; Okot, Wilfred Marion; Ndyomugyenyi, Elly Kurobuza
Despite the efforts to improve Uganda’s chicken production through crossbreeding, limited research has been conducted to establish the performance of local x improved chicken crosses under the dominant management systems used by chicken rearing households. The current study aimed to assess the performance of local x improved chicken crosses under semi-intensive management system in Pader and Agago districts of Northern Uganda, where crossing of local with imported Kuroiler chickens has been promoted over time. A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire and observation was conducted in two purposively selected sub-counties per district among 246 respondents to establish the sociodemographic characteristics of chicken farmers and reasons for crossing. Using a Completely Randomised Block Design, an experiment was set up to compare the performance of local chickens and local x improved chicken (Kuroiler) crosses in terms of egg production and hatchability. All respondents practiced crossing with the aim of enhancing egg production in their chicken flocks. Under semi-intensive management system, hatchability of the eggs from crossbred chickens did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) from that of the eggs laid by the local chickens. In conclusion, although crossbred chickens exhibited hybrid vigour in terms of egg production under free range and semi-intensive systems, the hatchability of the eggs from crossbred chickens raised under semi-intensive system did not differ from that of eggs from local chickens. Future research should consider establishing the quality attributes of eggs of the local x improved chicken crosses in the dominant management systems among chicken keeping households in Uganda.