RESUMO
The Haitian people are facing serious problems of environmental degradation that threaten the economic livelihoods of many resource-poor farmers. Structures to retard the process of soil loss have been adopted reluctantly and, even when adopted, the management and maintenance have been less than desirable. We evaluate the factors that influence the adoption and management of alley cropping in Haiti. Results of the adoption model show that institutional factors, such as membership in a local peasant organization and training in soil conservation practices, favorably influence adoption. Socio-economic factors such as gender, per capita income, and interaction between education and per capita income also significantly influence adoption of alley cropping in Gaita and Bannate. The management of alley cropping is influenced by demographic, socio-economic, institutional, and physical factors. The relative importance of each factor on the probability of adoption and management of alley cropping varies from one variable to another. The study generates important information for resource allocation in the establishment of alley cropping as a soil conservation structure.
Assuntos
Agricultura/economia , Agricultura/métodos , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Pobreza , Solo , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Escolaridade , Meio Ambiente , Características da Família , Feminino , Haiti , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Responsabilidade Social , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND; AIDS-related stigma is one of the biggest obstacles in the fight to prevent HIV transmission. Since stigma deters people from seeking treatment or getting tested for HIV, determining the factors that underpin AIDS-related stigmatization may be key to finding new ways to improve care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and to reduce new infections. SETTING: The town of Lucea and surrounding communities in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica. METHOD: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 195 individuals from health centers and households in Hanover. RESULTS: Of the 195 respondents, 28 percent felt the names of HIV-positive people should be public information. We found three constructs (avoidant behavior, social contact stigma, and blame stigma) that underpin stigmatization of PLWHA. The factors that influence avoidance behavior were education and being married. The factors associated with social contact stigma were being married and having no acquaintance with PLWHA. The factor that influenced blame stigma was not owning a home. CONCLUSION: Public health campaigns to reduce stigmatization must address individuals on the basis of their socio-demographic characteristics. A critical appraisal of current anti-stigma measures is warranted, and appropriate anti-stigma interventions are needed. Interventions with community members should address the social context of stigma, particularly the arenas of community norms, through education, information, and legislative measures to promote interaction with, and positive attitudes toward, PLWHA.