Patterns and determinants of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in urban informal settlements, Nairobi Kenya

BackgroundThe World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life for optimal growth, development and health. Breastfeeding should continue up to two years or more and nutritionally adequate, safe, and appropriately-fed complementary foods should be introduced at the age of six months to meet the evolving needs of the growing infant. Little evidence exists on breastfeeding and infant feeding practices in urban slums in sub-Saharan Africa. Our aim was to assess breastfeeding and infant feeding practices in Nairobi slums with reference to WHO recommendations. MethodsData from a longitudinal study conducted in two Nairobi slums are used. The study used information on the first year of life of 4299 children born between September 2006 and January 2010. All women who gave birth during this period were interviewed on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices at recruitment and this information was updated twice, at four-monthly intervals. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to determine factors associated with cessation of breastfeeding in infancy and early introduction of complementary foods. ResultsThere was universal breastfeeding with almost all children (99%) having ever been breastfed. However, more than a third (37%) were not breastfed in the first hour following delivery, and 40% were given something to drink other than the mothers' breast milk within 3 days after delivery. About 85% of infants were still breastfeeding by the end of the 11th month. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months was rare as only about 2% of infants were exclusively breastfed for six months. Factors associated with sub-optimal infant breastfeeding and feeding practices in these settings include child's sex; perceived size at birth; mother's marital status, ethnicity; education level; family planning (pregnancy desirability); health seeking behaviour (place of delivery) and; neighbourhood (slum of residence). ConclusionsThe study indicates poor adherence to WHO recommendations for breastfeeding and infant feeding practices. Interventions and further research should pay attention to factors such as cultural practices, access to and utilization of health care facilities, child feeding education, and family planning. <br/

The prevalence of substance use disorders and associated patterns among patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Botswana

Objective: Substance use disorders (SUDs) have risen substantially, especially in developing nations, and has become one of the world\u27s most significant public health and socioeconomic challenge. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of substance use disorders among patients admitted at the main psychiatric hospital, Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Botswana. Method: The study design was descriptive cross-sectional, involving patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. SUDs were assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) v13.0. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics and SUDs. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to rule out the effect of confounders. Results: The final analysis involved one hundred and one (101) participants. Participants ages ranged from 18-60 years with over half (59.4%) being male. Majority of participants (85.1%) had ever used studied substances; with 63.4% found to have substance use disorders. The most frequently used substances were tobacco, cannabis, alcohol and cocaine at 58.4%, 42.6%, 34.7% and 12.8% respectively. SUDs were more common among participants who were male, younger age of 18–35 years, single, tertiary education and unemployed. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of substance use and SUDs among psychiatric patients in Botswana. Structured screening and interventions to manage substance use disorders should be part of routine care at the psychiatric health care facilities in Botswana. Consideration should be given to screening all patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals in Botswana for SUDs using the ASSIST

Cost-benefit analysis of botanical insecticide use in cabbage: implications for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Crop Protection 57

a b s t r a c t Botanical insecticides based on plant extracts are not widely used as crop protectants even though they can be produced simply from locally available plants. Many studies have examined efficacy but there is a paucity of information on the cost:benefit ratio of their use compared with conventional insecticides. In the present study, crude extracts of Ageratum conyzoides (Asterales: Asteraceae), Chromolaena odorata (Asterales: Asteraceae), Synedrella nodiflora (Asterales: Asteraceae), Nicotiana tabacum (Solanales: Solanaceae), and Ricinus communis (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) were compared with the synthetic insecticide, emamectin benzoate (Attack Ò ) against insect pests of cabbage in randomised, replicated field experiments during the major and minor rainy seasons of 2012 in Ghana. The cost of each treatment including material and labour was calculated and the revenue of each derived using the value of the marketable yield of cabbage. The cost:benefit ratios of sprayed treatments were derived by comparing the cost of each plant protection regime against the additional market value of the treatment yield above that obtained in the control treatment. With the exception of plots sprayed with N. tabacum, the cost of plant protection using Attack Ò was higher than any of the botanicals in both seasons. The highest cost:benefit ratio of 1: 29 was observed for plots sprayed with C. odorata and was followed closely by N. tabacum treatment with 1: 25 and Attack Ò with 1: 18. In the minor season, plots sprayed with Attack Ò had the highest cost:benefit ratio of 1: 15 and was followed closely by N. tabacum with 1: 14. Botanical insecticides differed markedly in levels of pest control and cost:benefit but some were comparable to that from conventional insecticide use whilst being produced easily from locally available plant materials and are likely to be safer to use for smallholder farmers and consumers in developing countries

Assessing Sensory Characteristics and Consumer Preference of Legume-Cereal-Root Based Porridges in Nandi County

Previously, porridge has been cereal based, consumed as a beverage or weaning food. Malnutrition among children has necessitated inclusion of legumes and roots in an effort to boost nutrient density. Therefore, the current study aimed at identifying the most acceptable porridge based on different food ingredient combination. Composite porridge flour included legumes (soybean, groundnut, and lablab), cereals (finger millet, sorghum, maize, and wheat), pseudocereals (pumpkin seed, buckwheat, and amaranth seed), and roots (cassava and arrowroot). New composite porridge flours were formulated using Nutrisurvey linear programming software. Different composite flours formulated to target either school-going children or a family setup were subjected to sensory analysis and the consumer preference test. Eight new formulations were developed. Buckwheat, wheat, and arrowroot were eliminated, maize and lablab content (%) were reduced, and cassava and finger were increased in the new formulations. A total of 149 participants composed of men (30.9%) and women (69.1%) aged between 11 and >60 yrs were interviewed. Newly formulated porridges were more preferred to the previous porridge formulations on color (40–54.2%), smell (40–52.4%), taste (41.5–47.5%), texture (58.3%), viscosity (35.4–45.8%), and overall acceptability (35–54.2%). The most cited reason for liking or disliking a particular porridge was taste (38.9%) and texture (32.2%), respectively. However, all the sensory attributes positively correlated with overall acceptability. Increased finger millet and cassava proportions in the newly formulated composite porridge flour highly influenced their high acceptability. Thus, consumer acceptability of new products is key for their adoption

Parastethynium maxwelli Girault 1915

&lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; (Girault, 1915) &lt;p&gt;(Figs 1&ndash;15, 19&ndash;50)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Stethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; Girault 1915: 162; Dahms 1984: 801 (types).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; (Girault): Lin &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2007: 56 + figs 280&ndash;284 (redescription of female, incorrectly retained in &lt;i&gt;Stethynium&lt;/i&gt;).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Type material.&lt;/b&gt; Holotype female (Figs 1&ndash;5), in poor condition under a piece of broken cover slip on a slide broken into several pieces and stuck together with tape (Fig. 5). It is together with the holotype of &lt;i&gt;Stethynium gladius&lt;/i&gt; Girault (under a separate, broken piece of cover slip).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis&lt;/b&gt;. Forewing with microtrichia posterior to venation relatively sparse, with a larger asetose lenticular area anterior to retinaculum bordered anteriorly with one row of microtrichia (Figs 1, 15); scutellum with placoid sensilla well separated from each other and from anterior margin (Figs 1, 8, 9). The very similar species, &lt;i&gt;P. hirsutum&lt;/i&gt; Huber, described above, has the scutellum with the placoid sensilla almost touching each other and the anterior margin of the scutellum (Fig. 17), the fore wing microtrichia posterior to venation almost as dense as more distally, i.e., with smaller asetose areas, two rows of microtrichia bordering the asetose lenticular area anterior to the retinaculum, and the hind wing width at the level of the hamuli less than half the maximum wing width (Fig. 16).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description.&lt;/b&gt; FEMALE. Body length 870&ndash;1000 &micro;m (n=15). Body colour dark brown except frenum light yellow to almost white, humeral plate and area immediately under wing insertions white with brown tinge, and apical tergite and cercal plate lighter brown than preceding tergites (Figs 6&ndash;8, cleared, slide mount). Scape and pedicel brown, flagellum yellow. Mouthparts except mandibles white, mandibles brown except teeth with reddish tips. Coxae except brown bases, and trochanters white, remainder of legs yellow except apical tarsomere of middle and hind legs and pretarsus of all legs brown. Body and appendage setae mostly white, their sockets brown.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head. Head width 267&ndash;293 (n=5). Face and vertex (Figs 19, 20) with engraved, isodiametric reticulate sculpture, gena and occiput (Fig. 20) along posterior orbit with elongate reticulate sculpture. Eye dorsally usually extending to back of head (e.g., Figs 6, 7, 21, 22), usually collapsed, even in non-teneral specimens killed in ethanol. Mouth opening laterally with separate, narrow sclerite between base of mandible and gena (Fig. 23). Mouthparts (Figs 23, 24) with the mandibles with the distinct ventral tooth separated from the wide dorsal tooth consisting of an uneven serrated edge with 2 smaller between 2 larger teeth.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Antenna. Scape with faint, longitudinal striations, with inner, dorsal, and ventral surfaces densely setose and outer surface without setae (Figs 21, 26, 28). Funicle and clava (Figs 25, 27) densely setose, the setae about as long as a segment width. Fl3 and fl5 each with 2 longitudinal sensilla, the remaining funicle segments without longitudinal sensilla (fl1, fl2, fl4, and fl6 incorrectly stated as each having 1 longitudinal sensillum in Lin &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2007); claval segments each with 2 longitudinal sensilla. Measurements length/width (n=3, except scape): scape 106/35, pedicel 57&ndash;60/33&ndash;36, fl1 45&ndash;50/20&ndash;22, fl2 47&ndash;50/20&ndash;23, fl3 47&ndash;54/22&ndash;23, fl4 38&ndash;46/20&ndash;23, fl5 47&ndash;51/22&ndash;23, fl6 37&ndash;40/22&ndash; 24, clava (total) 95&ndash;108/33&ndash;36.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Mesosoma. Sculpture engraved reticulate, more or less isodiametric on mesoscutal midlobe anteriorly, lateral lobe, axilla medially, and scutellum, more or less elongate on pronotum, propleuron, mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly, axilla laterally, and frenum (Figs 29&ndash;31). Setae mostly erect and fairly long except the anterior two pairs on pronotal lobe. Midlobe of mesoscutum with setae midway between anterior and posterior margins of sclerite. Scutellum with placoid sensilla separated from each other and from anterior margin of scutellum by about 2&ndash; 3 X their diameter. Prosternum (Fig. 32) with 5 or 6 pairs of setae; mesosternum (Fig. 32) with 2 pairs of setae posteiorly, bordering the discrimmen.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Wings. Fore wing (Fig. 15) distinctly infumate except for basal cell and a well defined oval hyaline area in apical 0.66 of wing beyond venation. Measurements (n=3): length 849&ndash;873, width 302&ndash;330, length/width ratio 2.73&ndash; 2.88, longest marginal setae 38&ndash;50, about 0.12&ndash;0.17X as long as greatest wing width. Hind wing (Fig. 15) faintly infumate, slightly more so towards apex and along anterior margin, and relatively wide with rounded apex. Length 777&ndash;792, width 93&ndash;106, longest marginal setae 60&ndash;71, about 0.57&ndash;0.58X as long as greatest wing width; width at hamuli about 0.59 greatest width.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Legs. Coxae and femora finely, longitudinally reticulate. Tibiae and tarsi densely setose (Figs 47, 49, 50). Mesotibial spur (Fig. 49) slightly curved, longer than protibial calcar (Fig. 48) and twice as long as the short, straight metatibial spurs (Fig. 50).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Metasoma. Petiole ring-like, with a broad, oblique attachment to propodeum (Fig. 33). Gaster (Figs 33, 35, 36) with extremely thin, mostly smooth cuticle and the overlapping segments closely appressed, thus sometimes almost indistinguishable from one another. Each apparent tergum with 3 or 4 long setae, laterally on gt1&ndash;gt4 and sublaterally as well on gt5 and gt6, the latter two segments slightly the longest, both with a group of minute spicules mediodorsally; syntergum (fused gt7&ndash;gt8) almost as long as wide anteriorly, conical, with several long setae in 3 transverse rows. Spiracle absent. Cerci flat, with the usual 4 setae. St3&ndash;6 each with a row of long setae; outer plate of ovipositor with numerous setae bordering ovipositor sheath (Fig. 36). Ovipositor as long as gaster (Fig. 35), exserted slightly beyond gastral apex (Figs 34, 36).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; MALE. Similar to female except as follows. Body length 680&ndash;800 &micro;m (n=5). Body colour yellow with slight brown suffusion, except occiput brown dorsally (Figs 9&ndash;11, cleared, slide mounts). Exceptionally, body darker brown, as in female (one specimen seen). Rarely, light brown, with more or less extensive yellow areas, especially lower face and gena, parts of mesosoma dorsally, propodeum, and apex of metasoma. Flagellum brownish yellow, &lt;b&gt;FIGURES 25&ndash;32.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; female, micrographs. 25, antenna lateral inner; 26, scape&ndash;fl2,lateral inner; 27, fl2&ndash; clava, dorsal; 28, scape and pedicel, dorsal; 29, mesosoma dorsal; 30, frenum&ndash;base of gaster; 31, mesosoma lateral; 32, mesosoma ventral.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;FIGURES 40&ndash;46.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; male, micrographs. 40, antenna lateral inner; 41, fl9 &ndash;fl11 lateral, inner; 42, scape&ndash;f l1 lateral inner; 43, metasoma dorsal; 44, gaster apex; 45, metasoma lateral; 46, gaster apex lateral.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;only slightly darker than scape and pedicel. Legs, including apical tarsomere of fore leg, yellow, pretarsus brown. Mandibles entirely reddish.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The lighter body colour of males (Fig. 9) compared to females (Fig. 8) is remarkable.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Antenna. Flagellar segments densely setose and apical two flagellomeres broadly joined to each other (Figs 40&ndash;42). Measurements (length) (n=3): scape 104&ndash;107, pedicel 54&ndash;56, fl1 45&ndash;51, fl2 40&ndash;42, fl3 41&ndash;45, fl4 38&ndash;48, fl5 40&ndash;48, fl6 42&ndash;47, fl7 41&ndash;46, fl8 44&ndash;45, fl9 46&ndash;48, fl10 42&ndash;50, fl11 38&ndash;45. Fl6 width 26, 1.7&ndash;1.8X as long as wide, with 4 or 5 multiporous plate sensilla.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head. Gena relatively wider dorsally (Figs 37, 38) than in female but mandibles similar (Fig. 39).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Metasoma. Syntergum (fused gt7&ndash;gt8) about half as long as wide anteriorly, more rounded apically, with shorter, more closely spaced setae (Figs 43, 44). The two preapical sternites each with transverse row of erect setae along posterior margin (Figs 45, 46). Apical sternum V-like, incised, bordered medially with about 14 short erect setae on each side of genitalia (Figs 13, 14). Genitalia (Figs 12&ndash;14, 46) with long digiti, each with a long laterally projecting seta at about its mid-length.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined.&lt;/b&gt; Numerous specimens in ethanol, a few of them critical point dried or slide mounted: AUSTRALIA: &lt;b&gt;Queensland&lt;/b&gt;, Heathlands (Lin &lt;i&gt;et al&lt;/i&gt;. 2007). INDONESIA: &lt;b&gt;Seram&lt;/b&gt;, Solea [12 km W. Wahai], viii.1987, M. Day (2 females, CNC); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: &lt;b&gt;Milne Bay&lt;/b&gt;, Milne Bay Estates, Hagita Li, block 1190, 10 &ordm;19&rsquo;36&rdquo;S 150&ordm;17&rsquo;45&rdquo;E, coll. 14.iii, em. 16.iii.2010, C.F. Dewhurst (3 females, 5 males, CNC); &lt;b&gt;West New Britain&lt;/b&gt;, Dami Oil Palm Research Station, 5&ordm;31&rsquo;53&rdquo;S 150&ordm;20&rsquo;67&rdquo;W, 5-8.iii.2010, &lt;i&gt;E. guineensis&lt;/i&gt; (numerous males and females in ethanol, BMNH, CNC, UCR, USNM); &lt;b&gt;Unknown province&lt;/b&gt;, Awar bush, 7.xii.1982, P. Grootaert (1 female, CNC).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The known range known so far extends about 14&ordm; latitude (2&ordm;48&rsquo;&ndash; 16&ordm;55&rsquo;S) and 11&ordm; longitude (129&ordm;29&rsquo;&ndash; 150&ordm;21&rsquo;E), which is not a particularly large distribution for a species of Mymaridae.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Host.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Zophiuma lobulata&lt;/i&gt; Ghauri (Hemiptera: Lophopidae) on betel-nut palm (&lt;i&gt;Areca catechu&lt;/i&gt;), coconut palm, and oil palm (Ghauri 1967; Prior &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2001). The host in Australia is unknown.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt; Biological remarks for &lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Mean development time (egg to adult) was 11 days (range 9&ndash;13). Mean number of parasitoids produced per egg mass was 57 (range 29&ndash;103) with a mean female proportion of 0.59 (range 0.00&ndash;0.72). &lt;i&gt;Parastethynium maxwelli&lt;/i&gt; females lived significantly longer on honey and water, compared to water alone, and nil (&chi;2=11.7; P=0.008) but this did not apply to males (&chi;2=0.50; P=0.78) (Fig. 51).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Huber, John T., Gitau, Catherine W., Gurr, Geoff M., Dewhurst, Charles F. &amp; Fletcher, Murray J., 2011, Re-description and biology of Parastethynium maxwelli (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Zophiuma lobulata (Hemiptera: Lophopidae), and description of a new species of Parastethynium from Indonesia, pp. 49-62 in Zootaxa 2733&lt;/i&gt; on pages 52-60, DOI: &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/201220"&gt;10.5281/zenodo.201220&lt;/a&gt

Parastethynium hirsutum Huber, sp. n.

Parastethynium hirsutum Huber sp. n. (Figs 16–18) Type material. Holotype female (BMNH), dissected under 4 coverslips on slide (Fig. 18) labelled: 1. “INDONE- SIA, Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone Nat. Park, Toraut V. 1985, J.H. Martin”. 2. Parastethynium hirsutum Huber female Holotype ”. Paratypes. Two females, one on card (BMNH), one on slide (CNC), with same data as holotype. Diagnosis. Very similar to P. maxwelli, differing slightly in its slightly shorter body length, different appendage proportions, and other features as given in the key and diagnosis of P. m a x w e l l i. Description. FEMALE. Colour and structure as for P. maxwelli. Measurements, from of the holotype are as follows. Body length. Ca. 677. Ovipositor length 331, 1.37X hind tibial length. Head. Width 244. Antenna. With two multiporous plate sensilla on fl 3, fl 5, and each claval segment. Measurements: scape (length/ width) 77 / 25, pedicel 58 / 26, fl 1 38 / 16, fl 2 38 / 15, fl 3 45 / 17, fl 4 33 / 15, fl 5 47 / 15, fl 6 31 / 15, entire clava 103 / 24. Mesosoma. Midlobe of mesoscutum with setae close to posterior margins of sclerite. Scutellum with placoid sensilla almost touching each other and anterior margin of scutellum (Fig. 17). Wings. Fore wing length 670, width 255, length/width 2.62, longest marginal setae 28, about 0.10X fore wing width (Fig. 16). Hind wing length 616, width 83, longest marginal setae 57, about 0.69X as long as greatest wing width; width at hamuli about 0.41 greatest width (Fig. 16). MALE. Unknown. Derivation of species name. Latin for hairy (hirsute), referring to the more densely setose fore and hind wing than in P. maxwelli.Published as part of Huber, John T., Gitau, Catherine W., Gurr, Geoff M., Dewhurst, Charles F. & Fletcher, Murray J., 2011, Re-description and biology of Parastethynium maxwelli (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Zophiuma lobulata (Hemiptera: Lophopidae), and description of a new species of Parastethynium from Indonesia, pp. 49-62 in Zootaxa 2733 on pages 51-52, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20122

FIGURES 33–39. Parastethynium maxwelli, micrographs. 33 in Re-description and biology of Parastethynium maxwelli (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Zophiuma lobulata (Hemiptera: Lophopidae), and description of a new species of Parastethynium from Indonesia

FIGURES 33–39. Parastethynium maxwelli, micrographs. 33, female gaster dorsal; 34, female gaster apex; 35, female gaster lateral; 36, female gaster ventral; 37, male head lateral; 38, male head ventral; 39, male head, mouthparts