Are oral health conditions associated with schoolchildren's performance and school attendance in the Kingdom of Bahrain? A life-course perspective

Background The link between oral diseases and school performance and school attendance remains unclear among Middle Eastern children. Aim To investigate the relationship of oral conditions with schoolchildren’s school performance and attendance using the life course approach. Design A cross-sectional study was conducted with 466 schoolchildren aged 7-8 years from Kingdom of Bahrain (KoB) and their parents. Questionnaire data on children’s current and at birth environmental characteristics were completed by their parents. Children’s oral health measures, including ICDAS (International Caries Detection and Assessment System), PUFA (Pulp, Ulcer, Fistula, Abscess), and DDE (Developmental Defects of Enamel) indices, were the exposure variables. School performance and school attendance data obtained from the school register were the outcome variables. The data were analysed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Results The odds of Excellent school performance were significantly lower for children with untreated dentine caries (OR = 0.98 CI 95%: 0.96-0.99). Children with caries-treated teeth showed greater odds of Excellent school performance (OR=1.41 CI 95%: 1.15-1.74). A permissive parental style was associated with poor school attendance (OR= 2.63 CI 95%: 1.08-6.42). Conclusion Dental caries was associated with poor school performance but not with school attendance. Treated caries was associated with good school performance

Strategies to improve trade in Dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea) from Lake Victoria

The production of dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), one of three major commercial fish species in Lake Victoria, has increased and it now contributes 55% of the catch, but only16% of its value. Less than 30% of production is utilised for human consumption, with the rest being used for stock feed. This study assessed the dagaa trade to develop strategies to improve its contribution to nutrition, food security and incomes. It involved298 respondents from landing sites, markets, feed production industries, supermarkets and border posts while institutions involved with policy and data collection and management were also consulted. Dagaa offered livelihoods to women and youths as vulnerable groups. Uganda and Tanzania were exporters of dagaa while Kenya was an importer, while it was also exported to neighbouring countries. Prices and net revenues fluctuated seasonally and most of the catch was sun-dried on nets and on bare ground which resulted in high post-harvest losses. Most traders operated within their own countries and thus had little incentive to improve quality and meet food safety standards. Most dagaa were sold at the beaches but small quantities of were sold in supermarkets. It is recommended that institutions should strengthen policy, information, fisheries management, quality assurance, market regulation and data capture.Keywords: Dagaa; Post-harvest losses; Quality control, Trade; Utilisation; Value additio

The Effects of Workplace-Based HIV Self-testing on Uptake of Testing and Linkage to HIV Care or Prevention by Men in Uganda (WISe-Men): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing uptake remains low among men in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV self-testing (HIVST) at the workplace is a novel approach to increase the availability of, and access to, testing among men. However, both access and linkage to posttest services remain a challenge. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this protocol is to describe a cluster randomized trial (CRT)—Workplace-Based HIV Self-testing Among Men (WISe-Men)—to evaluate the effect of HIVST in workplace settings on the uptake of HIV testing services (HTS) and linkage to treatment and prevention services among men employed in private security services in Uganda. METHODS: This is a two-arm CRT involving men employed in private security services in two Ugandan districts. The participants in the intervention clusters will undergo workplace-based HIVST using OraQuick test kits. Those in the control clusters will receive routine HTS at their work premises. In addition to HTS, participants in both the intervention and control arms will undergo other tests and assessments, which include blood pressure assessment, blood glucose and BMI measurement, and rapid diagnostic testing for syphilis. The primary outcome is the uptake of HIV testing. The secondary outcomes include HIV status reporting, linkage into HIV care and confirmatory testing following HIVST, initiation of antiretroviral therapy following a confirmatory HIV test, the uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision, consistent condom use, and the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis by the most at-risk populations. RESULTS: Participant enrollment commenced in February 2020, and the trial is still recruiting study participants. Follow-up for currently enrolled participants is ongoing. Data collection and analysis is expected to be completed in December 2021. CONCLUSIONS: The WISe-Men trial will provide information regarding whether self-testing at worksites increases the uptake of HIV testing as well as the linkage to care and prevention services at male-dominated workplaces in Uganda. Additionally, the findings will help us propose strategies for improving men’s engagement in HTS and ways to improve linkage to further care following a reactive or nonreactive HIVST result