Utilisation of HIV services by female sex workers in Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive phenomenological study

This study focuses on female sex workers as a key population group that suffers a degree of vulnerability according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Key populations refer to people at heightened risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to specific behaviours and social and legal environments which increase their vulnerability to the virus. Key populations are disproportionately affected by HIV, yet they have less access to HIV services compared to the general population. The coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and its restrictive measures have further widened the inequalities and gaps in accessing HIV services for this group. A descriptive phenomenological study was undertaken to explore female sex workers' experiences of utilisation of HIV services during COVID-19. The study setting was the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with 10 female sex workers. Purposive sampling coupled with snowballing was utilised for recruiting participants. Data were analysed guided by the seven-step Colaizzi technique. Rigour was ensured through adhering to Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness criteria. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the livelihoods of sex workers and their utilisation of HIV services. There was limited access to HIV services due to an initial lack of travel authorisation letters and financial challenges experienced by study participants. In addition, the quality of care in health care facilities was further compromised by poor screening processes and reduced provider-client interactions. Maintaining access to HIV services for female sex workers during pandemics is critical for the country to attain HIV epidemic control.

Exploration of Knowledge, Perception and Adaptation Strategies of the Mbita Fisher Community to CC/ CV

Decreasing livelihoods of fishers’ communities is blamed on consequences of global warming and climate change impacts. Food security and livelihoods of the world’s 36 million fishers and the nearly 1.5 billion consumers rely on fish for their dietary animal protein. Past studies concentrated on fisher communities and climate variability in marine waters and oceans; mainly investigating the impact of climate variability on fish distribution and production. Limited research has addressed the interaction between impacts of climate change on the fishing activities on inland and fresh waters such as in Lake Victoria and how the fishers are coping and adapting. This article discussion focuses on Lake Victoria shore location of Mbita where the livelihood activity of local community is fishing. The interactive field study was guided by these two research objectives to: Determine the fishers’ knowledge and perception of climate change and variability in Mbita sub-county. Establish the effect of gender in climate change adaptive activities among the Mbita county fishers. The study used a constructivist epistemology and the mixed methods research design to help it achieve its findings. Yamane’s formula (1964) is used to get the sample size of 388 respondents from a population of 13191 fishers. Primary data was collected through use of questionnaires, interview schedules for KII and FGDs. Secondary data collection was collected through reviewing of documented information, such as the fish catch data and climate (temperature/rainfall data) of Mbita for the last 30 years data to get the trend of these elements and to determine climate variability and change. Content validity of the instrument was done through experts; supervisors. Reliability was attained through test and re-test Data analysis was accomplished through use of computer based software (SPSS). Presentation was done in descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings were:-there was gender discrimination in access and control of key fishing resources which support adaptive activities that makes women more vulnerable to CC and CCV hazards and disasters. The study found that majority fishers had clear perception of CC but only 46% had knowledge of CC. The fishers relied more on indigenous knowledge and meteorological forecasts were too technical and considered irrelevant. The study further found that erratic variations in temperatures and rainfall were greatest stressors with statistical significant p-value = of 0.02. Wet seasons destroyed infrastructure, increased weather-borne diseases and endangered the fishers’ lives while dry and hot season resulted in insufficient fish catches and near starvation food consumption. Statistically loss life and access to food were significant at p-value of 0.001 and p-value of 0.000 respectively. The study found that CCA requires access and control of factors of production which were traditionally under the control of male fishers making women more vulnerable and susceptible to surviving through chamas and table banking activities. Statistically access to and control was significant to adaptation at p-value of 0.000. The study concluded that lack of alternative livelihood opportunities/options is the major constraints to adaptation for people living in the Lake Victoria region escalated with limitation of skills outside fishing industry, limitation of other employable professional skills including lack of capital. The study recommends a transdiciplinary consientization of adaptive strategies which can translate into flexible and sustainable CCA gender inclusive livelihood activities. Future research should explore participatory action research on environmental influences affecting CCA by comparing findings across other beaches.

Disaster Coping Strategy Practiced by the Affected People for their Livelihood Due to Climate Change

The purpose of the study were to (i) determine the disaster coping strategy practiced by the affected people (ii) assess the socio-economic profile of the respondents, (iii) ascertain the contribution of selected characteristics of the people and (iv) identify the constraints of disaster coping strategy practiced by the affected people. The study was conducted at Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District. Data were collected from a sample of 302 respondents, randomly selected from disaster affected population. Age, education, family size, farm size, disaster affected land, annual income, training received, extension media contact, knowledge on disaster coping strategy, environmental awareness, household assets, credit facilities, IGAs, water and sanitation condition, risk orientation, awareness about SSNP, perception of Climate Change (CC), perception of disasters and scope of work in vulnerable situation constituted the independent variables, while disaster coping strategy practiced was the dependent variable. For measuring the disaster coping strategy practices, a 4-point rating scale was used against 50 items taking 10 items from each of five components of human needs e.g. 1) food preservation, collection and management, 2) agricultural products protection, 3) maintaining social network, 4) safeguard of health and sanitation, and 5) protection of housing and shelter. Numerical values and scales were used to measure the personal attributes. Regression and path analysis were employed to determine the contribution among the variables. For exploring relationship between the two variables Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (r) was used. The majority (77.8 per cent) of the respondents had regular coping strategies compared to 22.2 per cent were found to have occasional coping strategies in the study area. Among 19 independent variables 16 were found significant relationship with the dependent variable. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that six variables namely education (23 per cent), participation in IGAs (3.6 percent), awareness of SSNPs (2.9 percent), disaster affected land (1.2 percent), farm size (1.9 percent) and perception of CC (1 percent) were the important contributing variables which combined explained 33.6 of the total variation of practice of coping strategy. Path analysis indicated that disaster affected land (0.589) had the highest positive direct effect while farm size (0.643) had the highest positive indirect effect to the disaster coping strategy practice. The major constraints for practicing disaster coping strategy in the study area were ‘Lack of knowledge and skills of affected people‘, ‘Lack of relief materials during disaster‘, ‘Lack of technologies‘, ‘Weak weather forecasting‘, ‘Less motivation’, ‘Low sanitation & health coverage’ and ‘Lack of communication during disasters’,. To cope up with the challenges of the disasters, the people used reduction of food intake per meal, putting goods above flood level, keeping women and children in safer places, using boiled and tube well water, providing health care support to the sick family members, transfer important documents to the safer places, increasing level of homestead with soil, taking relief, credit, religious fasting, using mosque/temple as campaigning center, borrowing principal food from neighbor, use savings, migration, livestock sell, and social interconnectedness as the major coping strategies to survive the situation and improve their livelihood.

A Micro Level Investigation of Costs & Returns of Different Agro-ecosystems in Kashmir Region of Jammu and Kashmir: India

The basic objectives of the study were to enquire in to the involvement of various types of costs, the returns per rupee invested and the benefit thereof in different agro-ecosystems in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in general and valley of Kashmir in particular, especially the sampled districts. This study was based upon primary and secondary data. A multi-stage random sampling was utilised for collection of date from 432 respondents of four different agro-ecological zones. For major crops, the cost of cultivation were estimated by concept utilised by Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), Government of India. The results revealed that fruit crop agro-ecosystem is highly remunerative than field crop and crop agro-ecosystems, though the fruit crop involve huge of investment in terms of different costs. The livestock based agro-ecosystem is also dominant in some parts of the Kashmir region with declining trend. The results revealed that the gross returns of paddy and apple, livestock and cash crop were Rs. 23250, Rs. 321000, Rs. 108920 and 106915 respectively. This study had its applicability in the daily routine life of any household dwelling in the sampled agro-ecosystems. The study could be of utmost importance in selecting the crop in which the region/agro-ecosystem had specialisation or absolute advantage.

Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and Livelihood Vulnerability in Rainfed Regions of India: A Gender-environment Perspective

This study has attempted to investigate the nature and magnitude of livelihood vulnerability in the Bundelkhand region, India. A multistage sampling technique has been used to select study sites and collect farm-level data of 200 households using a well-structured and pre-tested schedule. The findings revealed that female-headed households are relatively more exposed to changing climate than are the male headed households. Due to the lack of basic amenities and common-pool resources, the livelihood vulnerability score was highest for female-headed households. Therefore, to improve the livelihood security of vulnerable households’ measures like identifying vulnerable groups, providing innovative, practical and easy to use methods to visualize the extent and dimensions of livelihood vulnerability are imminent. The framework used to analyze and identify specific interventions would help in building livelihood resilience for the most vulnerable people within a community.

Assessing the Alternative Livelihood Options for Climate Change Vulnerable Coastal Fishing Villages in Kerala, India

Fisheries and allied sectors provide means of livelihood to millions of people around the world. In India more than 14.5 million individuals depend on fisheries for their livelihood, with Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala being the main three marine fish producing states of the country. The social and economic contribution of fisheries as a sector cannot be ignored or go unnoticed. Similarly the impact of climate change on fisheries and its resultant impact on the livelihood of fisheries dependent communities cannot be ignored. To address these pertinent issues, we first need to understand the impact of climate change on fisheries and the need of alternative livelihood options from the perspective of the direct stakeholders i.e. fishermen. This study is an endeavour to look at the need of Alternative livelihood options (ALOs) because of climate change among the coastal communities in Poonthura and Elamkunnapuzha villages of Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulum respectively. Among the 222 marine fishing villages of Kerala, Poonthura and Elamkunnapuzha are the major fishing villages from the South West hotspot locales of India. The examination investigated different socioeconomic aspects, for example, fishing activity, basic household data, economic as well as historic and cultural dependence on fishing, employment and occupational structure, income distribution and assets, physical capital, financial capital, social capital, and exposure and awareness of the fishermen families to climate change by interviewing 1259 fishermen from Poonthura and Elamkunnapuzha. The study conducted in the most climate change vulnerable marine hotspots of Kerala (Elamkunnapuzha and Poonthura) explains the problems and prospects of the inhabitants in the sector and the importance of Alternative Livelihood Options (ALOs) in climate change adaptation.

Economic Appraisal of Water-Ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir: India

Aims: The aims of the current paper is to provide a comparative analysis of the water ecosystem in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in India and to highlight economic potentiality of the two nerve tributaries; “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” to the farmers and other communities of the Kashmiri society. Study Design: The temperate region of Kashmir valley is bestowed with many water bodies in the form of springs, lakes and rivers. Kashmir region is world famous for its lakes viz; “Dal Lake”, “Wulur Lake”, “Mansbal Lake”, “Anchar Lake”, “Nigeen Lake”; springs viz; Kokarnag, Verinag, Achabal and “River Jhelum” etc. “Dal Lake” and “River Jhelum” are known to be the nerve tributaries of the valley and various communities are dependent on these water bodies for their livelihood. Methodology: Contingent valuation method and willingness to pay techniques were used to analyse the data and interpret the results. Results: The results revealed that economic value associated with the selected water bodies was worth millions of US$. Most of the population in the valley depends on these water bodies for their livelihood. In addition, the results reveal that over the years, pollution and encroachment of these water bodies has increased manifold reducing the width, depth and recreational value of these water bodies. Though every stakeholder is willing to pay for the restoration of these water bodies, however, little or no attention is being paid by the local government towards their, management, sustenance and conservation. Conclusion: The study concludes that over the years, due to growth of population in the valley along with the ever increasing influx of floating population in terms of tourist arrivals, the selected water bodies (Dal Lake & River Jhelum) came under heavy stress, culminating into the deterioration of their aesthetic and recreational value besides drastic reduction in their revenue generation for their poor water quality and mismanagement. The restoration of these water bodies, which in addition of providing employment to the stakeholders in huge numbers also generate revenue worth millions of US$, demands devising a pragmatic policy by the government towards their conservation and restoration of their lost glory through efficient management and monitoring system.

Effects of Climate Shocks and Climate Adaptation through Livelihood Diversification on Gendered Welfare Gaps in Northern Ghana

Globally, addressing poverty levels and inequality remained one of the topmost priorities and has been accorded the first position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although Ghana as a whole is faring well in poverty reduction over the past decades, poverty levels and inequalities remains high in the northern parts. This study analysed the gendered welfare gap and the effects of climate change and livelihood diversification on the welfare gap. Through multistage sampling, 432 households were selected and interviewed using a questionnaire. A selectivity bias corrected Oaxaca Blinder model was estimated using household per capita consumption expenditure as a measure of households’ welfare. The result shows that there is a significant welfare gap of $45.85 (GH₵211.85), an equivalent of 11.4% between male headed and female headed households. Controlling for selectivity bias revealed that the observed gender welfare gap was underestimated. Livelihood diversification had positive significant effect on the explained component of gender welfare gap. Climate change/variability had positive significant effect on welfare gap through the explained component and a negative significant effect through the unexplained component. Therefore, observed climate change and variability led to an increase in gender welfare gap by 64.62%, while the unobservable returns from climate factors contributed to a reduction in gender welfare gap by 193.26%. Since addressing unobservable climate factors is limited, there is the need to improve the climate characteristics of women. Although livelihood diversification is a necessary condition, policies such as training and education that would ensure that females also have higher returns from such strategies are sufficient to address gender welfare gaps. To improve the welfare of farmers in the midst of climate change, animal rearing should be promoted among maize crop farmers. Similarly, government’s policy of one district one factory should consider improving agro-processing opportunities in the region into commercial activities.

Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS Culture): An Innovation and Climate Resilient Practice by the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest Dependent Rural Communities of Bangladesh

To adapt to the emergent global climate impacts, the local communities of Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts in South-Western Bangladesh have spontaneously promoted a number of social innovation using their innovative ideas and traditional knowledge. The present study highlights on this practice called as Community Mangrove Aqua-Silvi-Culture (CMAS) to cultivate some floral and faunal species of the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem. CMAS is a plot of swampy land with 1 to 1.5 feet deep water bordered by a dyke of 0.5 to1.5 feet height from the water level. The mangrove plant species in CMAS includes Goalpata (Nypa fruticans), Goran (Ceriops tagal), Keora (Sonnerata species), Hargoza (Alanthus ilicifolius), and Baen (Avicennia Species). Besides, there is a canal of about 2-2.5 feet depth that runs along the farm dykes where fish (Telapia, Vetki, Amadi, Tengra, Carps), shrimp (Bagda) and crabs are cultured. For in depth analysis of CMAS, face-to-face interview was conducted in 18 CMAS farms to know about the cultivation method, cost-benefit aspects, environmental and social impact of this unique culture. The farm owners opined that after 13 to 14 months of plantation, which is the shortest in comparison with traditional practice, Golpata and Goran can be harvested usually in January to February. On the other hand, farming seasonality of fish and shrimps varies species to species. However, most of the fish species can be harvested in between May to June in each year. Interestingly, CMAS culture doesn’t need much care and maintenance costs. It is expected that the detailed analysis of CMAS will help the Sundarbans depended local communities more climate resilient.

ESTRATEGIAS DE ADAPTACIÓN Y MEDIOS DE VIDA DE LAS FAMILIAS INTEGRANTES DE LA FUNDACIÓN CONSEJO VEREDAL -FCV-, MUNICIPIO DE CALARCÁ, QUINDÍO / ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AND LIVELIHOOD OF FAMILIES MAKING UP THE VILLAGE FOUNDATION COUNCIL -VFC- MUNICIPALITY OF CALARCÁ, QUINDÍO

Este artículo presenta la estructura de estrategias de vida de la organización campesina Fundación Consejo Veredal ubicada en la vereda Travesías, municipio de Calarcá, en ella se llevó a cabo un estudio con nueve familias beneficiarias del proceso de reforma agraria Ley 160 de 1994 que tuvo como objetivo la identificación de las estrategias de vida de los hogares y las restricciones que impiden el éxito de estas estrategias. El estudio se realizó mediante la caracterización de los sistemas de producción y la identificación de los medios de vida que despliegan las familias para su supervivencia. Se utilizó la metodología de Enfoque de Medios de Vida del DFID -Department for International Development- a través de la cual se valoraron los capitales: Humano, Social, Natural, Físico y Financiero por medio de la medición de 17 indicadores pertenecientes a cinco capitales. Los resultados del estudio permitieron la identificación de los medios de vida utilizados por esta comunidad para adaptarse a las nuevas dinámicas generadas por los efectos de la globalización en el sector rural en economías campesinas y particularmente por la crisis cafetera. Se logró la identificación de estrategias que implementan las familias con el fin de generar ingresos y mejores condiciones de vida, así como las interacciones que se establecen entre estas y fenómenos sociales como: la pobreza, el origen y distribución de los ingresos, las políticas para la diversificación, diversificación vs. agricultura, organización social, educación y acceso a mercados. Los resultados del estudio muestran que los capitales de mayor valoración fueron el Humano con una media de 4,16 y el Físico con una media de 4,04. Los capitales con menor valoración fueron el Social con una media de 3,09 y el Financiero con una media de 3,29. El Capital Natural se ubica en un rango medio con 3,56.

This article presents the structure of living strategies of the rural organization "Village Foundation Council" located in the Travesías village, municipality of Calarcá, where a study with nine families beneficiary of the process of the agrarian reformation Law 160 of 1994 took place which had as objective the identification of living strategies of the homes and the restrictions which inhibit the success of these strategies. The study was carried out through the characterization of the production systems and the identification of livelihood families display for their survival. The DFID -Department for International Development- Livehood Focus methodology was used to value the human, social, natural, physical and financial capitals by means of the measurement of 17 indicators belonging to five capitals. The results of the study allowed the identification of the ways of livelihood used by this community to adapt to the new dynamics generated by the effects of globalization in the rural sector in peasant economy and particularly because of the coffee growers crisis. It was possible to achieve the identification of strategies that the families implement in order to generate income and better living conditions as well as the interactions that exist between these and social phenomena such as poverty, origin and distribution of incomes, policies for diversification, diversification vs. agriculture, social organization, education and access to markets. The results of the study, shows that the capitals with higher evaluation were the social with a 4.16 average and Physical with a 4.04. average The capitals with lower evaluation were the Social with a 3.09 average and the financial with a 3.29 average. The natural capital is located in a middle range with 3.56.

Checklist, Status and Role of Fish Diversity as a Measure of Alternative Livelihood in Dihing River Basin, Assam.

River Dihing, a tributary of mighty River Brahmaputra is serving as a potential fish habitat. Present investigation was done to identify the ichthyofaunal diversity and its utilization as alternative livelihood. A total 45 species belonging to 7 orders, 17 families and 29 genera were recorded. Among all these Cypriniformes had the majority occupying 40% and were recorded as dominated order. According to IUCN red list of threatened species 2013 (ver. 3.1), it was recorded that 35 were least concern, 5 were near threatened, 1 was vulnerable and 1 was endangered. Most of the people of Dihing River basin had been fruitful from the diversity of fish by fishing and adopting fish culture as an alternative livelihood. Different types of fishing techniques were studied along with the ichthyofaunal diversity.

The crisis of livelihood and overcoming it in the tribes of Tripura : In the light of Hachuk Khurio and Longtorai.

Nature not only nurtures and grips us to her breast but helps us to grow up according to her own wish. In order to save our lives, we come to her influence again and again. This instance has been reflected nicely in the novels of Bimal Shinha’s ‘Longtorai’ and Sudhanna Debbarma’s ‘Hachuk Khurio’ where the novelists have shown us how the tribes are badly affected on the arrival of the Bengali refugees and how their peaceful lives are being disturbed. They have dealt with the social, political and economical sides of the tribes of Tripura. Sudhanna Debbarma is the actual narrator of the lives and livelihood of the clans. His Novel Hachuk Khurio has depicted how the calm lives of the clans are being disgraced but by the same time it has portrayed how the renaissance was hasten in the lives of the tribes on the arrival of the Bengali refugees. The novel Longtari has described the main source of crisis in the lives of the tribes as their rejection of the jhum cultivation and the adaptation of the plain land cultivation in the scientific way. The novel has shown us two different pictures: one is the crisis in the livelihood and another is how to get rid of this crisis. In order to save their lives, they discarded the jhum cultivation and without having any scope of work anywhere they adopted the road repairing and brick-breaking work and became the daily labourer. Ultimately, the novelist has shown us how the clans using the benefits of science and technology were enabled to develop themselves and started to go ahead with the changing of time. The main motif of the present speaker is to highlight on the two mentioned novels by the two novelists.

Role of Non Timber Forest Products in the Livelihood of Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of Southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India.

The forest of Chitteri hills, Southern Eastern Ghats support rich diversity of timber as well as non timber yielding species. Malayali tribes living close to forest are depend on the forest products possesses imperative part of the traditional life style in Chitteri hills. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) such as wild edible fruits, vegetables, fuel wood, fodder plants, house construction materials, household uses, agricultural implements and medicinal plants are mostly collected from natural habitats. Economically important 80 species and 216 medicinal species have been recorded by the Malayali tribes. The importance of NTFP collection by tribal community has shown decreasing trend due to exotic cultural invading in the study region.

Socio-economic status of the fisher folk of upper Bahmaputra River: A case study in Jankhana Village of Jorhat District.

The fisher folk are belongs to schedule cast community. They are known as Koibotra community in Assam. The total 50 families of the village were surveyed during the study. The results reveal that total number of population of the village was 210; 61.90 % (literate) and 38.1% (Illiterate). Among the literate population, 51.53 % have upto primary, 33.84 % up to middle school, 11.53 % up to matriculation and only 3.07 % of the fisherman was found to be higher degree. The peoples were in different services such as agriculture (23.81 %), fishing (28.1 %), business (19.52 %), service (15.24 %) and labour (13.33 %). Again, 90% people were lived in the kachcha house and remaining (10 %) in pukka house while, per month income was found to be lowest (Rs. 500-1000) in the age of 20-30 and highest (1500- 4000) in the age of 50-60 group. The overall fish production of the beel was 1757 kg/yr. Out of these productions, miscellaneous was found to be maximum (679 kg/yr) with 38.65% while feather back was minimum (218 kg/yr) with 12.41%. Production of carp was lowest but production of small fishes was highest. All the villagers were not only confined in fishing but also in different occupation, because of reducing fish production in the beels due to overexploitation, siltation, human activities etc.

To impel the development of medical science and technology embarking from the science and technology of the people's Livelihood / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Embarking from the people's livelihood science and technology, it is the important direction of new time health work to impel the medicine science and technology to serve the people's livelihood and to develop the people's livelihood. And it is also the request inevitably of the reform of health and medical community institutional. This article discussed the basic content of the people's livelihood science and technology, expounded that the medicine is the important component of the people's livelihood science and technology and has an important position in the development of the people's livelihood science and technology. At the same time, the article analyzed the problems which exist in the service of people's livelihood, of medicine science and technology in the current. And it was proposed that the policy should be reformed and innovated to speeds up the medical science and technology service of people's livelihood.