A comparative analysis of different poverty measures, particularly across studies that use different conceptualizations and measurements of poverty, is very valuable. In highlighting this fact, this article compares three poverty measurements: monetary poverty, social exclusion, and capability poverty measurements. The results indicate that all three poverty measurements classify varied proportions of the U.S. population as poor. These variations occur as a function of the conceptualization and measurement of poverty. In general, all three poverty measurements are inadequate indicators of well-being. It is reasonable to suggest that researchers report results using more than one poverty measurement.

This study explores international students’ experiences with studying and working at a North Eastern public university. Through phenomenological research approach that utilized face-to-face interview and photo-elicitation techniques, the personal experiences of twenty international students were captured. The findings of this study indicated that these students benefited from the responsibilities that resulted from their dual role as both students and employees in many ways. However, they also suffered from emotional and physical stress which resulted in tiredness, lack of sleep, role conflict, homesickness and frustration. Interestingly, these students effectively employed different coping mechanisms including finding social support, and participating in leisure and nonleisure activities to off-set the negative effects of studying and working concurrently.

Background The export drive for watermelon production is huge and so is pesticide usage. However, the health and safety of the farmers, as well as threat to the environment lie in the shadow. The purpose of the study is to evaluate watermelon farmers’ knowledge and application of pesticides in the Central region of Ghana, to ascertain factors associated with the pesticides application. Methods A field survey of 300 farmers were conducted in six communities through questionnaire. Logistic regression model was used to describe and explain burning sensation as the response variable and the factors that likely affect appropriate pesticide usage. Results The results show that farmers were aware of the environmental and health impacts of pesticides use. However, their knowledge of the risks associated with pesticides is not translated into actual practice to avoid the exposure of pesticides. The farmers experienced various levels of health risks symptoms. Health risks symptoms of headache, burning sensation, fever, watering eyes, chest pains, etc., were reported. The most common symptom is burning sensation. A model capturing biosocial factors influencing predisposition to burning sensation was developed. The model revealed that knowledge to identify pests, knowledge to identify diseases and wearing coverall were the most significant factors farmers experienced to influence burning sensation. Conclusion Significant number of watermelon farmers’ experienced health risks symptoms. In order to minimize the health risk symptoms and environmental consequences, educational training programs must involve the farmers and retailers through strong policy intervention.

This study examines smallholder farmers' adoption of both a full set of and multiple bundles of integrated soil fertility management technologies, and estimates the determinants of and assesses the relationship among adoption practices using the logistic model and multivariate probit model respectively. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from 300 smallholder farmers who benefitted from a sustainable food security and environmental health project in three districts in Ghana. Four ISFM technologies (zero or minimal tillage, inorganic fertilizer, leguminous crop, and crop rotation) serve as outcome variables. The result revealed that only 26.7% of the respondents adopted the full set of the ISFM technologies. Agroecological zone, a spatial variable has been found to significantly influence smallholder farmers adoption of the full ISFM technologies. One or more of the predictor variables, purpose of farming, land ownership, distance from house to the nearest input shop, access credit and agroecological zone, have been found to significantly influence the adoption of the multiple ISFM technologies. However, the computed correlation coefficients of the independent determinants show inconsistent significant values. The implication of this finding is that the adoption of multiple ISFM technologies cannot be estimated utilizing common determinants. Therefore, extension service in the region should focus on crucial factors that influence adoption of specific multiple ISFM technologies to maximize adoption options.

No abstract