Browsing by Author "Mushi, J."

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Effects of rural-urban linkages on markets access in Kibaigwa Emerging Urban Centre, Kongwa District, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2018) Mushi, J.
This study assessed the effects of rural-urban linkages on markets access in Kibaigwa Emerging Urban Centre (EUC), in Kongwa District. Specifically, the study aimed at characterizing the agricultural markets; examining factors affecting market accessibility to smallholder farmers; determining the contribution of rural-urban linkages on expansion of markets, market networks, and access to market and livelihood strategies in Kongwa District. A total of 202 respondents were randomly selected, whereby 120 were smallholder farmers, 42 were traders and 40 were transporters. Gini coefficient and descriptive statistic were used to characterize the existing markets. The results show that there was high concentration in the market with low degree of competitiveness. In estimating the factors affecting market access by farmers, binary logistic regression was used. The results show that distance from home to the market, road conditions, availability of agricultural information, the means of transport owned and age of the farmer, statistically influenced market access by smallholder farmers in Kibaigwa. Moreover, network analysis, descriptive statistics and Sustainable Rural Livelihood (SRL) framework were used to determine the contribution of rural-urban linkages on markets and market networks expansion, and access to livelihood resources/strategies. The results revealed that through economic, marketing and social activities market networks expand from the villages to the urban. Furthermore, the results from Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) show that the linkage contributes more to EUC than to rural farmers on access to market. However, rural farmers were found to have low access to livelihood resources/strategies than EUC farmers. In conclusion, rural-urban linkages have a great impact on markets access and market expansion for smallholder farmers if they are well informed about quality and price of produce and are connected to towns and small towns market centres. Therefore, it is recommended that the government and agricultural development partners should improve infrastructures and provide agricultural information to farmers so as to enable them benefit effectively from such linkages.
Profile of plasma lipids and degree of derangements among the elderly of Morogoro region, Tanzania
(Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2014) Mwangengwa, L. M.; John, J.; Banabars, E.; Chacha, W. J.; Mushi, J.; Ally, M. H.; Ngarashi, D.; Mpanduji, D. G.
Changes in lifestyles and ageing have been associated with growing rates of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). Dyslipidemia is one of the CRF associated with numbers of cardiovascular diseases. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the profile and degree of derangements of plasma lipids among 300 (176 females and 124 males) elderly individuals aged ≥60 years in Morogoro, Tanzania. The calorimetric enzymatic methods and the Friedewal’s equation were used for determination of cholesterols and triglycerides (TG). Social and demographic characteristics were gathered by structured questionnaires. The logistic regression models were used to identify the determinants of abnormal serum lipids level. Mean Total Cholesterols (TC) and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterols (LDL-C) in females exceeded significantly that of males. Mean TC, LDL-C as well as TG (mg/dL) declined significantly with age while mean High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterols (HDL-C) also declined but only slightly. Elderly females were two times more likely to have elevated TC (OR=2.11; 95% CI: 1.04-4.28: P=0.05) and LDL-C (OR=2.15; 95% CI: 1.17-3.97: P=0.019) and three times to have lowered HDL-C (OR=3; 95% CI: 1.97-5.30: P<0.001) than males. Urban residents were about two times more likely to have elevated LDL-C (OR=1.84; 95% CI: 1.04-3.25: P=0.047) than their rural counterparts. Body Mass Index of ≥30 kg/m 2 was also associated with elevated LDL-C (OR=1.89; 95% CI: 1.05- 3.42: P=0.045) and lowered HDL-C (OR=2.18; 95% CI: 1.3-3.65: P=0.004), respectively. The present study has established the profile and level of derangements of serum lipids among the elderly of Morogoro region in Tanzania. It appears that, female sex and BMI of ≥ 30kg/ m 2 are significant factors for elevated TC, LDL-C and lowered HDL-C while urban life is a significant factor for elevated LDL-C.