Curtis M. Jolly

HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Kumasi, Ghana

OBJECTIVE To assess HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Kumasi, Ghana. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 104 adults from the four sub-districts in Kumasi was conducted. RESULTS Four stigma constructs, employment-based discrimination, screening and identification of HIV positive people, revelation of HIV status and social contact stigma were determined based on reliability measures from responses to the questionnaire. Regression analysis showed that participants with higher educational attainment were more likely to favor policies denying employment to PLWHA (p<0.05), but disapproved of revealing HIV sero-status (p<0.05). Muslims were more likely than Christians to agree with identifying PLWHA (p<0.05) and more likely to advocate revealing HIV sero-status (p<0.05). Males were more likely to favor revealing HIV status (p<0.05). Employed persons were more likely to have social contact with PLWHA (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings are useful in guiding the design of interventions against HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Kumasi.

Association between aflatoxin exposure and health characteristics, liver function, hepatitis and malaria infections in Ghanaians

Purpose. We examined the relationship between various health parameters and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) albumin adduct levels in plasma.Design. A cross‐sectional field study was conducted in four villages in the Ashanti region of Ghana.Methods. A survey on socio‐demographic and health characteristics was administered to 162 volunteers and blood (20 ml) was donated by 140 participants. AFB1 albumin adduct levels, liver function, hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) and malaria infections were determined.Results. AFB1 levels ranged from 0.12 to 2.995 pmol mg−1 albumin (mean±standard deviation = 0.89±0.46) and was categorized based on the median as low (<0.80 pmol mg−1) or high (⩾0.80 pmol mg−1) and used in the analyses. By multivariate analysis, significantly higher levels of AFB1 were obtained for participants who reported symptoms of acute aflatoxicosis: history of yellow mouth (odds ratio = 5.5, confidence interval = 1.04–29.07, p = 0.04); history of sore swollen stomach (odds ratio = 4.54, confidence interval =...

Incidence of Health Crises in Tourists Visiting Jamaica, West Indies, 1998 to 2000

BACKGROUND Tourism is important to the Jamaican economy accounting for approximately 25% of the gross domestic product. Health problems in tourists could have significant impact on the health of the local population, the scarce health service resources, and the tourist industry. This study was conducted to identify health problems most commonly occurring in tourists visiting Jamaica and examine how these problems are managed. METHODS Records of health problems occurring in tourists who visited principal tourist areas on the north coast from June 1998 to June 2002 were reviewed for the type of illness and how the problem was handled. The data were analyzed using Epi-Info software (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA) and Statistical Analysis System software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). RESULTS Accidents were the most common health crises reported by tourists. Gastrointestinal, respiratory, and cardiovascular problems occurred less frequently. Those less than 40 years of age more frequently reported accidents or injury, gastrointestinal problems, and drug abuse, whereas respiratory and cardiovascular problems were more common among those above 40 years of age. Cardiovascular problems, drug abuse, and death were more common in men than in women. Hotel nurses handled most of the cases and were more likely to refer patients to private physicians or hospitals than to public hospitals (p <.05). Factors influencing the way the crisis was handled were age (p =.0441); who handled the crisis (p <.0001); and the method of payment (p =.0072). The factors that influenced hospitalization were gender (p =.0615); who handled the crisis at the onset (p =.0497); how the crisis was dealt with (p =.0336); and previous health problems (p =.0056). Men were more likely to be hospitalized and to be referred to a public hospital than women. Medical insurance covered the costs for 11% of tourists, and 75% paid out of pocket. CONCLUSION The information provided by this study can be used to implement changes to reduce health problems in tourists and improve emergency health services in tourist areas.

Agricultural response functions for limited resource farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

The von Liebig, Cobb-Douglas, and Quadratic functions were evaluated using Generalized Least Squares on fertilizer response data for crops grown in Ghana and Mali. This was done to determine which model is most likely to overestimate fertilizer use. Model fit varied for crops and soil types. The von Liebig was slightly superior, based on prediction criteria and number of significant variables. The von Liebig functional form also produced the most conservative optimum yield estimates and input levels, while the Cobb-Douglas was most likely to overestimate yield and hence input use, but produced the highest net returns for cotton.

A multiperiod programming evaluation of brackishwater shrimp aquaculture development in Indonesia 1989/1990–1998/1999

Brackishwater shrimp aquaculture was economically evaluated to determine the best mix of aquaculture enterprises in Indonesia. Data were compiled for three categories of brackishwater shrimp aquaculture systems: Extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive, as well as for different farm sizes, small-scale (2 ha), medium-scale (5 ha), large-scale (10 ha) and extra large-scale (30 ha). These data were used to simulate the enterprise combination for the shrimp-producing regions in Indonesia. Model results showed that small-scale and medium-scale semi-intensive systems were the best strategies for shrimp aquaculture development in Indonesia. Extensive systems entered in solution only if there were skilled labor constraints. Risk analysis revealed risk-expected net present income trade-offs and declining risk with declining expected net present income for all regions.

A DEMAND ANALYSIS FOR CRUSTACEANS AT THE U.S. RETAIL STORE LEVEL

This study used a LA/AIDS model to estimate demand system for crustacean species, shrimp, crab, crawfish and lobster at the U.S. retail store level. Shrimp demand is price elastic; crab, crawfish and lobster are price inelastic. Shrimp price significantly affects market shares of crustacean products. Shrimp has more substitutes than other crustaceans, and lobster has less substitutes than others. The demand for crab and lobster grow faster than the demand for shrimp and crawfish when expenditure increases. Promotion has positive effects on market shares and sales volume of own products and negative effects on cross-products. Shrimp price-reduction promotion strategies will be effective in term of raising shrimp sales value. Marketing programs that increase consumers’ marginal utility with an additional small increase in the selling price of crab, crawfish and lobster products will be feasible, and bring higher sale values.

The effect of animal traction on labour productivity and food self-sufficiency: The case of mali

Abstract The effects of animal traction (AT) on Malian labour productivity (area planted per labour unit and yield per hectare) were analysed. A farm budgeting technique was used to analyse net farm returns from the use of AT. A logistic regression model was used to study the effects of AT on food self-sufficiency. AT helped farmers increase total surface area cultivated, but not necessarily the area cultivated per active labour unit. The yield per hectare of food crops decreased with the use of AT, but that of cash crops increased. Total farm income was higher for all equipped farmers than for non-equipped ones, but income per active labour unit was highest for traditional farmers. The acquisition of AT did not ensure food self-sufficiency. Farmers with AT attained food self-sufficiency only when AT enhanced labour productivity.

Economics of production of channel catfish, ictalurus punctatus, female x blue catfish, I. furcatus, male hybrid fingerlings and foodfish

Abstract Tie profitability of the channel‐blue hybrid catfish fingerlings and foodfish was compared to that of the channel catfish using enterprise budgets and sensitivity analyses. Average total costs of production were 15.0–22.5 per cent less for hybrids fingerlings, even if hybrid fry were bought at a price twice as high as that for channel catfish. Average total costs were

A goal programming evaluation of fisheries development plans for Sri Lanka's coastal fishing fleet, 1988–1991

33.00 per 1000 fingerlings and

Present and Future Trends in the U.S. Catfish Industry: Strategies and Concerns for Millennium Years

44.00 per 1,000 fingerlings for hybrid and channel catfish fingerlings, respectively. The net returns to land, labor, and management were