Ten Years Trend Analysis of Malaria Prevalence and its Correlation with Climatic Variables in Sibu Sire District, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional state, Western Ethiopia: A Retrospective Study

Malaria is one of the most devastating diseases in the World and caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. The disease remains one of the most important causes of human morbidity and mortality with enormous medical, economic and emotional impact in the world, and in most African countries including Ethiopia. The complexity of the disease control process, expensiveness of the control program, resistance of the parasite to anti-malarial drugs and vectors to insecticides are some of the challenges. The aim of the study was to assess the ten years trend analysis of malaria prevalence and its association with climatic variables in the Sibu Sire district, Western Ethiopia. Ten years (2004-2013) malaria clinical and epidemiological data were collected from health facilities and climatic variables data from Ethiopian Meteorological agency. The data were analyzed using SPSS software package 16.0. Pearson’s correlation analysis was conducted to see the correlation between plasmodium species and climatic variables. Within the last decade (2004–2013) a total of 30,070 blood films were examined for malaria in Sire health center and of this 6036 (20.07%) microscopically confirmed malaria cases were reported in the health center and P. falciparum becoming a predominant species. The result showed that maximum temperature, mean temperature and average relative humidity showed significant association with malaria (P<0.01).But minimum temperature (P=0.094) and rainfall (P=0.729), were not significant. In addition, regression analysis suggested that minimum temperature, rainfall, and average relative humidity (P<0.001) were statistically significant but the mean temperature (P=0.706) was insignificant. In conclusion the trend of malaria in the study area had a reducing but a fluctuating pattern and some of the metrological variables such as minimum temperature, rainfall, and average relative humidity were statistically significant

The impact of acute adenolymphangitis in podoconiosis on caregivers: a case study in Wayu Tuka woreda, Oromia, Western Ethiopia. ‘If she was healthy, I would be free.'

Background Podoconiosis, also known as mossy foot or endemic non-filarial elephantiasis, is a preventable form of lower-leg lymphoedema caused by prolonged (typically barefoot) exposure to soil derived from volcanic rocks. Acute adenolymphangitis (also called ‘acute attack’) is a serious complication of podoconiosis resulting in significant symptoms and worsening disability. Despite the well-known morbidity associated with podoconiosis, to date there have been no studies looking at the impact, or burden, of podoconiosis on caregivers. This study explored the experiences and impact of acute attacks on the caregivers of those with podoconiosis in one endemic district of Ethiopia. Methods/Principal findings This qualitative study was based in Wayu Tuka woreda (district), Oromia, Western Ethiopia. 27 semi-structured interviews of those with podoconiosis and their caregivers were conducted in June 2018. Here we report the findings from the caregiver’s interviews. Data were analysed using NVivo 12. Directed content analysis, a qualitative approach related to thematic analysis, was used to analyse the results. This study highlights a previously unreported impact of acute attacks on the caregivers of those affected by podoconiosis. The findings demonstrate the significant social and financial pressures placed on podoconiosis-affected families which are exacerbated during acute attacks. This study also highlighted the emotional burden experienced by caregivers, the range of care activities placed on them and the limited support available. Conclusions This study found a significant impact on the caregivers of those with podoconiosis, especially during acute attacks, in in Wayu Tuka woreda. It also highlighted the limited support available to caregivers. Further research is needed to understand whether this impact applies to podoconiosis caregivers across Ethiopia, and beyond, and to establish if there are wider implications of this important consequence of podoconiosis, for example on the economy and caregivers’ mental and physical health

Burden assessment of podoconiosis in Wayu Tuka woreda, east Wollega zone, western Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Objective Podoconiosis is a neglected tropical disease characterised by a slowly progressive swelling of the foot and lower leg. It is prevalent among subsistence barefoot farmers who live and work in highland areas of the tropics. This study was conducted in Wayu Tuka ‘woreda’ (district), western Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of podoconiosis and assess factors associated with acute adenolymphangitis (ALA) episodes. Methods and analysis A two phase, community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2015. First, all households in the district were surveyed to determine the prevalence of podoconiosis. This was followed by a second phase in which 366 people with podoconiosis from four randomly selected ‘kebeles’ (subdistricts) were assessed for clinical features of the disease, shoe-wearing habits, personal hygiene, social stigma and functional impairment. Data entered into Epi DATA were then exported to SPSS. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with ALA. Results Prevalence of podoconiosis in the population was 3.05% (1197/39 256) (95% CI 2.9% to 3.2%). The prevalence was significantly higher among women than men (3.67% vs 2.4%). Most (92.2%) people with podoconiosis were in the economically active age group (15–64 years) in the first phase survey. Of participants in the second phase of the study, 43% had stage 2 disease and 38.1% had ‘moss’-like skin changes. On average, people with podoconiosis had 23.3 episodes of ALA/year and each person with podoconiosis lost 149.5 days of activity/year. Never walking barefoot and daily foot washing were both associated with decreased odds of ALA (AOR=0.23; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.80 and 0.09; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.75, respectively). Conclusions A relatively high prevalence of podoconiosis, frequent ALA episodes and considerable decreases in daily activities were identified in this district. Footwear use and daily foot hygiene were associated with decreased odds of ALA. We recommend prevention and morbidity management interventions to address this developmental challenge

Reversible Removal of Intermixed Shallow States by Light Soaking in Multication Mixed Halide Perovskite Films.

The highest reported efficiencies of metal halide perovskite (MHP) solar cells are all based on mixed perovskites, such as (FA,MA,Cs)Pb(I1-x Br x )3. Despite demonstrated structural changes induced by light soaking, it is unclear how the charge carrier dynamics are affected across this entire material family. Here, various (FA,MA,Cs)Pb(I1-x Br x )3 perovskite films are light-soaked in nitrogen, and changes in optoelectronic properties are investigated through time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) and optical and structural techniques. To fit the TRMC decay kinetics obtained for pristine (FA,MA,Cs)Pb(I1-x Br x )3 for various excitation densities, additional shallow states have to be included, which are not required for describing TRMC traces of single-cation MHPs. These shallow states can, independently of x, be removed by light soaking, which leads to a reduction in the imbalance between the diffusional motion of electrons and holes. We interpret the shallow states as a result of initially well-intermixed halide distributions, which upon light soaking segregate into domains with distinct band gaps.Z.A.-G. acknowledges funding from a Winton Studentship and ICON Studentship from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. M.A.-J. thanks Cambridge Materials Limited and EPSRC (Grant Number EP/M005143/1) for their funding and technical support. S.D.S. acknowledges the Royal Society and Tata Group (UF150033) for funding

Review of Ethiopian onchocerciasis elimination programme

Onchocerciasis is a severe parasitic infection which causes disabling skin and subcutaneous tissue changes. The disease is endemic in many African countries including Ethiopia. In 2013, Ethiopia launched Onchocerciasis elimination program with the goal of attaining interruption of onchocerciasis transmission nationwide by 2020. The country has successfully scaled up interventions and achieved 100% geographic coverage in all known endemic districts. The main strategy for interrupting the disease is mass drug administration (MDA) delivered two times per year. The treatment coverage for the last five years has been maintained at more than 80%. Despite many years of ivermectin MDA the transmission of onchocerciasis in many districts remained unabated. To achieve the 2020 goal, sustained high geographic and therapeutic coverage is required which is validated by coverage surveys. The programme should aim to improve the knowledge and attitude of the community towards the programme in order to improve drug compliance. The partnership between the relevant stakeholders should be strengthened to facilitate open discussions regarding the programme implementation and any challenges that may arise in the control and elimination of the disease. It is also important to consider intensified vector control

Penciptaan Skenario Film Naratif Klasik Melalui Eksplorasi Temuan Arkeologis di Situs Benteng Van Den Bosch

Penelitian arkeologis selama ini bersifat sangat spesifik daneksklusifpadabidang keilmuan arkeologi maupun sejarah. Padahal, temuan-temuan ini penting dan berkontribusi dalam perkembangan peradaban manusia. Penelitian terapan ini berawal dari keinginan mengeksplorasi temuan arkeologis yang ilmiah, kaya akan informasi dan pengetahuan dalam bentuk karya seni populer untuk masyarakat dengan melakukan adaptasi ke skenario. Penulisan skenario dengan metode naratif klasik ini bertujuan menjadikan pengetahuan dan informasi arkeologis menjadi inklusif. Bentuk kreasi baru yang akan dibuat diharapkan menjadikan hasil penelitian arkeologis lebih mudah dipahami dan disukai masyarakat, baik sebagai hiburan maupun suplemen pengetahuan. Penelitian terapan ini akan mengeksplorasi hasil penelitian Benteng Van den Bosch di Ngawi, Jawa Timur yang dilakukan sejak 2013 oleh Balai Arkeologi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta menjadi bentuk karya seni skenario film fiksi populer. Penelitian ini tetap mengeksplorasi dan memusatkan muatan informasi dan pengetahuan sebagai dasar penulisan skenario fiksi populer. Penelitian terapan ini menggunakan metode deskriptif dan paradigma interpretif yakni dengan menguraikan lalu mendeskripsikan hasil penelitian arkeologis ke dalam bentuk karya seni skenario film fiksi secara interpretif. Temuan-temuan arkeologis akan dieksplorasi dalam elemen naratif seperti karakter, latar, properti, dan konfliktenario ini akan dibangun menggunakan struktur naratif klasik. Struktur naratif klasik merupakan bentuk paling umum yang ditemukan dari film populer. Ciri struktur ini meliputi pembagian tiga babak dengan protagonis dan antagonis dengan tujuan yang jelas dan sepanjang cerita menemui konfliktang mengubah tujuannya. Pendekatan ini diharapkan dapat menjadi pintu masuk yang relevan dalam mencapai tujuan penciptaan karya fiksi populer

Vapour-Deposited Cesium Lead Iodide Perovskites: Microsecond Charge Carrier Lifetimes and Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance.

Metal halide perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) are highly promising materials for photovoltaics. However, the relationship between the organic nature of the cation and the optoelectronic quality remains debated. In this work, we investigate the optoelectronic properties of fully inorganic vapour-deposited and spin-coated black-phase CsPbI3 thin films. Using the time-resolved microwave conductivity technique, we measure charge carrier mobilities up to 25 cm2/(V s) and impressively long charge carrier lifetimes exceeding 10 μs for vapour-deposited CsPbI3, while the carrier lifetime reaches less than 0.2 μs in the spin-coated samples. Finally, we show that these improved lifetimes result in enhanced device performance with power conversion efficiencies close to 9%. Altogether, these results suggest that the charge carrier mobility and recombination lifetime are mainly dictated by the inorganic framework rather than the organic nature of the cation

COVID-19 Prevention Behaviours and Vaccine Acceptability, and Their Association with a Behaviour Change Campaign in Somalia: Analysis of a Longitudinal Cohort

Somalia experienced its first wave of COVID-19 infections in March 2020 and has experienced fluctuating infection levels since. Longitudinal data on suspected cases of COVID-19, attitudes, and behaviours were collected by telephone interviews of cash-transfer programme beneficiaries from June 2020–April 2021. A multi-media Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign was designed and implemented from February 2021 to May 2021. Between the end of the first wave and the onset of the second the perceived threat from COVID-19 increased, with the proportion of respondents viewing it as a major threat increasing from 46% to 70% (p = 0.021). Use of face coverings increased by 24% (p < 0.001) and hand shaking and hugging for social greeting decreased, with 17% and 23% more people abstaining from these practices (p = 0.001). A combined preventative behaviour score (PB-Score) increased by 1.3 points (p < 0.0001) with a higher score in female respondents (p < 0.0001). During wave 2, vaccine acceptance was reported by 69.9% (95% CI 64.9, 74.5), overall. Acceptance decreased with increasing age (p = 0.009) and was higher in males (75.5%) than females (67.0%) (p = 0.015). Awareness of the SBCC campaign was widespread with each of the 3 key campaign slogans having been heard by at least 67% of respondents. Awareness of 2 specific campaign slogans was independently associated with an increased use of face coverings (aOR 2.31; p < 0.0001) and vaccine acceptance (aOR 2.36; p < 0.0001. Respondents reported receiving information on the pandemic from a wide range of sources with mobile phones and radio the most common. Trust in different sources ranged widely

Rethinking the Design of Low-Cost Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices

Reducing the global diseases burden requires effective diagnosis and treatment. In the developing world, accurate diagnosis can be the most expensive and time-consuming aspect of health care. Healthcare cost can, however, be reduced by use of affordable rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). In the developed world, low-cost RDTs are being developed in many research laboratories; however, they are not being equally adopted in the developing countries. This disconnect points to a gap in the design philosophy, where parameterization of design variables ignores the most critical component of the system, the point-of-use stakeholders (e.g., doctors, nurses and patients). Herein, we demonstrated that a general focus on reducing cost (i.e., “low-cost”), rather than efficiency and reliability is misguided by the assumption that poverty reduces the value individuals place on their well-being. A case study of clinicians in Kenya showed that “zero-cost” is a low-weight parameter for point-of-use stakeholders, while reliability and standardization are crucial. We therefore argue that a user-driven, value-addition systems-engineering approach is needed for the design of RDTs to enhance adoption and translation into the field