Environmental heterogeneity and commodity sharing in smallholder agroecosystems.

Smallholder farmers undertake a number of strategies to cope with climate shocks in a community. The sharing of resources across households constitutes one coping mechanism when environmental shocks differentially impact households. This paper investigates commodity sharing dynamics among households in eight communities in an environmentally heterogeneous highland-lowland area in central Kenya. We use survey data and meteorological data to test whether commodity sharing, measured at the household level by net inflow of commodities, varies across a regional precipitation gradient, and we reveal how sharing fluctuates with rainfall over the course of a year. We find both precipitation and income to be significant predictors of households' net value of shared commodities. Specifically, farmers who live in drier areas with less income are more likely to receive more commodities than they give. We also find that the length of time a household has been established in the area is significantly related to commodity sharing. Further, commodity sharing follows the pattern of harvest and food storage over the course of the year, with households giving the most commodities at times when food storage levels are higher, that is, post-harvest. The study sheds light on the relationship between commodity sharing as a coping mechanism and environmental heterogeneity in a region prone to seasonal food insecurity.

The magnitude and potential impact of missing data in a sexual violence campus climate survey.

Objective: Assess the impact of survey non-response and non-completion for a campus climate survey. Participants: Intended for all degree-seeking students at a large, public, midwestern university, November 2014. Methods: The survey covered sexual assault experiences and related attitudes. We identify the magnitude and potential impact of survey non-response by comparing demographic data between respondents and non-respondents, sexual assault prevalence between early and late respondents, and demographic and attitudinal data between survey completers and partial completers. Results: Demographic groups were differentially represented in the survey. Sexual assault prevalence based on survey results may be underestimated for men, overestimated for women. Sensitive questions did not increase drop-off. Students completing more of the survey differed from those completing less. Conclusions: Colleges must plan survey administration and data sensitivity analysis to reduce potential for bias. Resources for sexual assault-related needs based on estimates from campus climate surveys with high non-response will likely be misallocated.

"A 28-day program ain't helping the crack smoker"--perceptions of effective drug abuse prevention interventions by north central Florida African Americans who use cocaine.

CONTEXT: Cocaine is a major problem in the rural South, but knowledge is limited regarding the impact on African American populations. PURPOSE: This study of 18-39-year-old black drug users assessed perceptions of contributing factors to drug use and possible interventions. METHODS: The study design was qualitative-descriptive, utilizing 4 focus groups with 5 rural women and 14 small-city residents. FINDINGS: Some respondents perceived that drug use initiation and continuation were due to themes of (1) loss, (2) peer pressure, (3) personal problems and dealing with pain, (4) desire for fun or to "feel good," and (5) drugs and drug-related messages within their environments. Common themes of effective strategies to stop drug use were (1) the necessity of wanting to quit, (2) the importance of help or support from family and friends, and (3) the need for resources, such as a job, car, and housing. Some respondents agreed on 3 human resources: (1) family, (2) ex-users, and (3) churches. Strategies to increase attendance at drug prevention programs included (1) making the program fun/enjoyable, (2) having mixed gender programs, (3) providing food/money, and (4) having the programs in their community. Recurrent themes were the lack of drug prevention intervention programs available to respondents and the failure of traditional programs of the majority culture to adequately meet their needs. CONCLUSION: Effective drug prevention programs for southern African Americans who use cocaine must be community based, personalized, and culturally relevant.