Browsing by Author "Benard, Ronald"

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Accessibility of women to health information in Tanzania: A case study of Morogoro Region
(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017-05) Benard, Ronald; Chipungahelo, Monica Samwel
Purpose – The aim of this study is to examine accessibility of health information to women in Tanzania with reference to the Morogoro region. The specific objectives of the study were: first, to identify the health information needs of women; second, to determine the accessibility of the needed health information to women in the study area; and third, to determine the preferred sources of information used by women in accessing health information in the study area. Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive survey method – cross-sectional design – was used. Semi-structured questionnaires with both open- and close-ended questions were used to collect data from four wards of Morogoro Municipal Council, Tanzania. Key informant interviews were conducted with 12 women from four wards, 3 women were selected from each ward. Findings – The findings also indicated that there was a significant relationship between wards and accessibility to certain types of information which were concerning hypertension, family planning, malaria and typhoid. Although information on diabetes and hypertension had lower percentages of accessibility in all four wards, the study findings revealed that medical doctors, pharmacy shops and family were the main sources of information used by women to access health information. Radio and television were rated as preferred sources of information required by women, whereas internet, local herb hawkers and mobile phones were rated as non-preferable. It is therefore recommended that the government through health-care providers and medical librarians should be proactive in creating awareness and disseminate health information on non- communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes to women. Practical implications – This paper provides practical recommendations on how to improve accessibility of health information in the communities. Social implications – The paper has an implication of improving accessibility of health information to women in the communities. Originality/value – The paper provides appropriate knowledge that is needed in improving access to health information in Tanzanian communities and in other developing countries communities
Assessment of information needs of rice farmers in Tanzania; A case study of Kilombero District, Morogoro
(Library Ph ilosophy a nd P ractice ( e-j ournal), 2014) Benard, Ronald; Frankwell, Dulle; Ngalapa, Honesta
This paper aims at assessing the information needs of rice farmers in Tanzania using rice producers in Kilombero District as a case study. The study was carried out in four purposefully selected villages in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. The study used a sample size of 80 respondents. The study employed a case study research design and used a combination of methods to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Data were collected by using documentary review, questionnaires, focus group discussions and personal observations. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The results of the study revealed that rice farmers have a wide variety of information needs including information on marketing, weather condition, agricultural credit/loan, new seeds, storage method, planting methods, diseases and pest control, and pesticide availability and its application. Key sources of information used by farmers are their family or parents, personal experience, neighbors and agriculture extension officers. The study findings also revealed that the barriers to accessing agricultural information in the study area are associated with lack of information services, inadequate number of extension agents, inadequate funds, lack of awareness of information sources and information not easily accessible. It is therefore recommended that there is a need for government and other institution responsible to lay more emphasis on sustainable practices on information accessibility to rice farmers and also to disseminate information to them and address their information needs properly.
The prospects of Web 2.0 technologies in teaching and learning in higher learning institutes: The case study of the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania
(Knowledge Management & E - Learning, 2013-12) Mtega, Wulystan P.; Benard, Ronald; Dettu, Matulanya
The study investigated the perceptions of students and lecturers on Web 2.0 as learning and teaching tools. It identified the commonly used web 2.0 tools; determined how the tools facilitate teaching and learning; assessed the appropriateness of features of the commonly used web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning and; determined the challenges associated with the usage of the tools in teaching and learning in higher education environments. The study was conducted at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania; it employed combined research designs where both qualitative and quantitative designs were used. Stratified sampling techniques were employed to select respondents from the different strata namely students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and teaching staff. Structured questionnaires were distributed to 120 students and 50 teaching staff who were randomly selected from each stratum. Findings show that blogs, Facebook, Wikis, Google drive and YouTube were used for teaching and learning at SUA. However, the level of usage of Web 2.0 tools for non academic activities was higher than for academic purposes. It is concluded that that not all tools and applications were suitable for teaching and learning. It is recommended that students and staff should be trained on how to use Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning. Institutes should promote the usage of such tools because some of them have suitable applications for teaching and learning. Developers of Web 2.o tools should incorporate more applications that may help teaching staff to supervise and assist students in the learning process.
Scientometric portrait of Prof. Rudovick R. Kazwala: a public health veterinarian
(International Journal of Library and Information Studies, 2016) Sife, Alfred S.; Benard, Ronald
A scientometric analysis was conducted to assess the publication productivity of Professor Rudovick R. Kazwala. Data were extracted using the Publish or Perish software which uses Google Scholar to retrieve the number of publications, citation counts, indices and related metrics. The study findings indicate that Kazwala has produced 111 scholarly publications with three quarters (83; 74.77%) of these being journal articles. He has produced an average of four publications each year with the 4th (2005 – 2009) and 5th (2010 – 2014) quinquennial periods having 30 papers each. He attained the 50-percentile productivity life at the productivity age of 18 and he has a productivity coefficient of 0.69. Almost all (99.12%) his publications were multipleauthored and he has collaborated with 475 researchers. Kazwala is the first to third author in by-line in more than half (52.25%) of the publications. His scientific articles are published in 38 different journals; fitting the Bradford’s law of scattering. Kazwala’s publication density and publication concentration are 2.18 and 23.68 respectively. His publications have received 2057 citations although 26 publications remain uncited. The mean cites per year and mean cites per paper are 82.64 and 18.95 respectively. Kazwala has an h-index of 29, g-index of 43, hc-index of 20 and HI normindex of 12. The highest frequency keyword is tuberculosis. These findings suggest, among other things, that his research efforts have concentrated largely on the problem of tuberculosis. He is eminently qualified to be taken as a role model for the younger generation to emulate. He is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding scientists in Tanzania.
The state of rural information and communication services in Tanzania: A meta-analysis
(International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Research, 2013-02) Mtega, Wulystan P.; Benard, Ronald
The study investigated the factors influencing accessibility of rural information services in Tanzania. Specifically the study identified the types of information services provided in rural areas; identified the sources of information used by rural people and determined the barriers to accessibility of information services in rural areas in Tanzania. The study employed a meta-analysis methodology where studies on information services in rural areas in Tanzania were analysed. Findings of the analysis were then compared and contrasted to see the similarities and differences. It was found that there were several information sources used in rural areas ranging from simple face to face communication to modern interactive ICTs including the mobile phones. Despite the availability of a number of information sources, several factors limited the accessibility of information services in rural areas. Findings show that high illiteracy levels, poor/unreliable information infrastructure, low income, lack of electricity and high cost of ICTs have limited the accessibility of information services in rural areas. Others factors including the use of difficulty languages when repackaging information, lack of time to access information and geographical isolation to have also limited some from accessing information services in rural areas. The study recommends that in-order to improve the access to information services in rural areas, it is important to deal with both individual and institutional factors which limit access to information. It is also important to conduct audience research oftenly that appropriate information can be delivered to the right people.