Showing papers by "Japan International Cooperation Agency published in 2009"

Malnutrition among children in rural Malawian fish-farming households

Abstract: To estimate the impact of fish farming operated at household level on nutritional status among children 6-59 months of age, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Zomba district, Malawi. Anthropometric measurements of 66 children in each type of household (fish-farming and non-fish-farming households) and structured interviews with their parents were undertaken. A total of 21 background variables were employed and examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, a lower prevalence of malnutrition was detected among the children in fish-farming households than those in non-fish-farming households in all the malnutrition indicators, i.e. stunting, underweight and wasting. In particular, a significantly lower prevalence was detected among the children in fish-farming households than those in non-fish-farming households in both severe (P=0.045) and global underweight (P=0.042). 'Higher proportion of income from fish farming to total income', 'more frequent intake of oil and fats other than never/seldom' and 'breastfeeding practice for the appropriate duration' are the protective factors against being underweight. Household fish farming may have indirectly contributed to lower prevalence of underweight through increasing frequency of intake of oil and fats by strengthening households' purchasing power. The study supports 12 months as the threshold for appropriate breastfeeding duration.

Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: evidence from Malawi.

Abstract: This article examines the effect of AIDS-related mortality of the prime-age adult population on marriage behavior among women in Malawi. A rise in prime-age adult mortality increases risks associated with the search for a marriage partner in the marriage market. A possible behavioral change in the marriage market in response to an increase in prime-age adult mortality is to marry earlier to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS risks. We test this hypothesis by using micro data from Malawi, where prime-age adult mortality has drastically increased. In the analysis, we estimate the probability of prime-age adult mortality that sample women have observed during their adolescent period by utilizing retrospective information on deaths of their siblings. Empirical analysis shows that excess prime-age adult mortality in the local marriage market lowers the marriage age for females and shortens the interval between the first sex and first marriage.

Identification of Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, and Asaia Strains Isolated in Thailand Based on 16S-23S rRNA Gene Internal Transcribed Spacer Restriction and 16S rRNA Gene Sequence Analyses

Abstract: Twenty-six strains of acetic acid bacteria were isolated from fruits, flowers and related materials collected in Thailand. They were divided into three genera, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter and Asaia, by phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. On the basis of 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (16S-23S rDNA ITS) restriction and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, fourteen isolates assigned to the genus Acetobacter were divided into five groups: 1) Group 1A or A. tropicalis (one isolate); 2) Group 2A or A. orientalis (four isolates); 3) Group 3A or A. pasteurianus (five isolates); 4) Group 4A or A. syzygii (one isolate); and 5) Group 5A or A. ghanensis (three isolates). The eleven isolates assigned to the genus Gluconobacter were divided into three groups: 6) Group 1B or G. frateurii (four isolates); 7) Group 2B or G. japonicus (six isolates); and 8) Group 3B or unidentified (one isolate). The remaining isolate was placed into: 9) Group 1C or unidentified, which was assigned to the genus Asaia and considered to constitute a new species on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization.

Seed fertility of F1 hybrids between upland rice NERICA cultivars and Oryza sativa L. or O. glaberrima Steud.

Abstract: NERICA (New Rice for Africa) cultivars were crossed with Oryza sativa L. and O. glaberrima Steud. All the F1 hybrids between NERICA and two strains of O. glaberrima were highly sterile, while the F1 hybrids of NERICA with two cultivars of O. sativa showed differing levels of fertility depending on the cross combinations. NERICA cultivars were classified into three groups: (1) those compatible with both ssp. indica and ssp. japonica of O. sativa (i.e. NERICA12, NERICA15, NERICA16, NERICA17 and NERICA18); (2) those compatible with japonica but incompatible with indica (NERICA3, NERICA4, NERICA7, NERICA8, NERICA9, NERICA11, NERICA13 and NERICA14); and (3) incompatible with both types (NERICA1). In the first group of NERICA cultivars, four cultivars from NERICA15 to NERICA18 are derived from the same cross of CG 14/3*WAB 181-18, and they have the cytoplasm of CG 14, from an O. glaberrima strain. No ‘bridging cultivar’ between both cultigens was found in NERICA cultivars, but some NERICA cultivars were compatible with both japonica and indica. This finding is very useful for improvement of NERICA cultivars through hybridization.

Investment in home-based maternal, newborn and child health records improves immunization coverage in Indonesia.

Abstract: Summary Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys show that the ownership of home-based immunization records among children aged 12–23 months increased from 30.8% in 1997 and 30.7% in 2002–3 to 37% in 2007. In 2002–3, 70.9% of children who owned records had received all vaccines by the time of the survey, whereas 42.9% of children who did not own records had been fully immunized. An Indonesian ministerial decree of 2004 stated that the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCH handbook) was to be the only home-based record of maternal, newborn and child health. The increased immunization coverage seen would be a reflection of MCH handbook implementation, through raising awareness of immunization among community and health personnel and children's parents or guardians and allowing more accurate measurement of immunization coverage.

Social capital formation and local capture in decentralization the case of Zambézia, Mozambique

Abstract: This article traces the roots of social capital formation in Zambezia, Mozambique, using data from the fieldwork and introducing the analytical framework of social knowledge, and examines the issue...

Analysis of Effective Broodstock Management and Breeding of Patin Siam (Pangasius hypophthalmus) in BBAT Jambi

Abstract: Aiming to analyze biological character of reproduction and to realize effective breeding activity, annual patin breeding activity 2006 was examined in JFADC Indonesia. Females of two generations, strain of 2001 and 2003 were induced during the year. Various parameters, such as body weight, collected egg weight, number of 1g egg, harvested larvae, were recorded in every trial of breeding. After collecting all of data in 2006, correlation of productivity with fish size and age were analyzed integrating data. All female were also identified by using PIT tag system and alteration of maturity was monitored monthly, observing development of abdomen, from January to June. Accumulated parameters during the year showed negative correlation of egg somatic index (ESI) with fish body weight. Furthermore, hatching rate showed declined tendency as increasing body weight, suggesting less productivity by too-big female. All of elder female performed low productivity due to the low reading of some parameters such as ESI, hatching rate, larvae number/kg. Proportion of matured female was quite high from January until April. Individual monitoring of maturation showed quick reproduction of gonad in 2 month, from January to March, suggesting active reproductive stimulation on this season. Other many females also performed high gonadal maturity and its duration until April in many case. However, maturation has decreased suddenly on May and low maturation had lasted until November. It suppose due to the seasonal alteration of precipitation and remains as awkward issue for stable patin production in Jambi. Keywords: breeding, Asian catfish, egg somatic index , maturation ABSTRAK Evaluasi kegiatan pembenihan patin siam Tahun 2006 di BBAT Jambi Indonesia dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk analisa karakter biologi reproduksi ikan patin siam dan untuk mewujudkan kegiatan pembenihan yang efektif. Betina dari 2 generasi yaitu generasi 2001 dan 2003 dipijahkan selama Tahun 2006. Beberapa parameter seperti bobot tubuh, bobot telur yang diovulasikan ( egg somatic index ), jumlah 1 gram telur, dan jumlah larva yang dihasilkan dicatat setiap kegiatan pemijahan. Data yang terkumpul dan dianalis, hubungan produktivitas dengan ukuran dan umur induk dievaluasi secara terpadu. Semua betina ditandai dengan menggunakan PIT tag system ( micro chip ). Perkembangan kematangan gonad dimonitor tiap bulan. Data yang terkumpul menunjukkan adanya korelasi negatif antara egg somatic index dengan bobot tubuh ikan. Selain itu daya tetas cendrung menurun dengan meningkatnya bobot tubuh.. Semua betina yang lebih tua menunjukkan produktivitas yang rendah, hal ini ditunjukkan dengan rendahnya ESI, daya tetas dan jumlah larva/kg induk. Prosentase induk matang gonad cukup tinggi dari bulan Januari sampai April. Pengamatan kematangan gonad per individu menunjukkan siklus reproduksi yang cepat dalam 2 bulan.dari Januari sampai Maret. Beberapa induk lain ditemukan dengan tingkat kematangan gonad yang tinggi pada periode tersebut sampai bulan April. Secara umum tingkat kematangan menurun secara drastis pada bulan Mei dan kematangan yang rendah sampai bulan Nopember. Kata kunci : pembenihan, patin siam, egg somatic index , kematangan

Chapter 2 Urban disaster risk analysis, action planning and implementation management

Abstract: Risk assessments are the very basis on which planning and implementation are carried out. In the context of urban risk management, the assessment processes are complex to understand as they involve multi-sectoral parameters. Many of the issues involved are of technical nature, but this also requires focus on the principles behind the assessment process including participatory assessment tools. Action planning is a participatory, short-term, visible, output-oriented process that enables urban community groups to plan the development of risk reduction actions in their locality and to lead the implementation of the action plans. There are three kinds of actions that emerge from an action planning process: (i) those that can be implemented by the community groups themselves, (ii) those that need some external help for implementation, and (iii) those that can only be implemented by specialized agencies from outside the community. Implementation management processes thus need to look at how internal systems can be established to operationalize self-action, and to coordinate external interventions.

Disability and Returns to Education in a Developing Country

Abstract: In this paper, we estimate wage returns to investment in education for persons with disabilities in Nepal, using information on the timing of being impaired during school-age years as identifying instrumental variables for years of schooling. We employ unique data collected from persons with hearing, physical, and visual impairments as well as nationally representative survey data from the Nepal Living Standard Survey 2003/2004 (NLSS II). After controlling for endogeneity bias arising from schooling decisions as well as sample selection bias due to endogenous labor participation, the estimated rate of returns to education is very high among persons with disabilities, ranging from 19.4 to 33.2%. The coexistence of these high returns to education and limited years of schooling suggest that supply side constraints in education to accommodate persons with disabilities and/or there are credit market imperfections. Policies to eliminate these barriers will mitigate poverty among persons with disabilities, the largest minority group in the world.

Prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis from 1999 through 2007 in Nauru, a Set of Solitary Island in the Southern Pacific

Abstract: As part of the Pacific Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PacELF), baseline surveys were conducted in 1999 and 2004 in Nauru to determine the prevalence of filariasis by rapid immunochromatotraphic test (ICT). In 1999, the survey demonstrated a filariasis prevalence of 0.26%, and Nauru was classified as a non-endemic country at the time. In 2004, the prevalence resulting from the survey was 1.66%. Since it exceeded 1.0%, this high prevalence warranted the implementation of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) according to WHO guidelines and gave rise to an urgent need to re-establish the filariasis policy in Nauru, as the target year for filariasis elimination in the Pacific is 2010. The present study was conducted to determine the current prevalence of filariasis, to decide whether implementation of the MDA program is necessary, and to compare the demographic characteristics of participants according to the ICT test results. Blood sampling and interviews, based on a simple questionnaire asking about filariasis-related symptoms, were conducted by trained health staff members. A total of 1,513 people were enrolled for the survey in January 2007. Filariasis positivitiy was detected in three subjects (0.2%) by ICT test. Nauru was reconfirmed as a non-endemic country and therefore did not require the MDA implementation. The prevalence did not vary significantly according to the demographic characteristics. The three seropositive cases did not have any filariasis-related symptoms. However, two of the three positive cases of filariasis lived in the same district and the other lived in a neighboring district. To assess the interruption of filariasis transmission, further surveys are recommended.