Background

To support improved rangeland resource management and monitoring for nomadic pastoralists in northern Kenya, we used a task-based mobile application to incentivize pastoralists provide more than 100,000 surveys containing information on local rangeland, water and livestock resources. In this contribution we explore the potential of combining this information with remote sensing data for improved characterization of rangeland resource use and accessibility through integration of local socio-ecological knowledge into land cover mapping methods.

Objectives

Background: Diarrhoea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the under-five children in low-income countries. Despite improvements in water and sanitation coverage, studies show that diarrhoea is still a major public health problem in Ethiopia. This study was designed to determine the magnitude and risk factors of diarrhoea in the agricultural and agro-pastoralist communities of the rural Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2013. Interview and questionnaire were the main data gathering instruments used in the study.