Motivations for food prohibitions during pregnancy and their enforcement mechanisms in a rural Ghanaian district

© 2015 Arzoaquoi et al. Background: Food taboos are known from virtually all human societies and pregnant women have often been targeted. We qualitatively assessed food taboos during pregnancy, its motivating factors, and enforcement mechanisms in the Upper Manya Krobo district of Ghana. Methods: This was an exploratory cross sectional study using qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs). Sixteen FGDs were conducted. Participants were purposively selected using the maximum variation sampling technique. Tape recorded FGDs were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Malterudian systematic text condensation technique. Results: All the participants were aware of the existence of food prohibitions and beliefs targeting pregnant women in Upper Manya Krobo. The study identified snails, rats, hot foods, and animal lungs as tabooed during pregnancy. Adherence motivators included expectation of safe and timely delivery, avoidance of "monkey babies" (deformed babies); respect for ancestors, parents, and community elders. Enforcement mechanisms identified included constant reminders by parents, family members and significant others. Stigmatization and community sanctions are deployed sparingly. Conclusions: Food taboos and traditional beliefs targeting pregnant women exist in Upper Manya Krobo. Pregnant women are forbidden from eating snails, rats, snakes, hot foods and animal lungs. To a large extent, socio-cultural, and to a lesser, health concerns motivate the practice

Food Hygiene Practices at the Ghana School Feeding Programme in Wa and Cape Coast Cities

Objective. The integrity and the wholesomeness of the food served to school pupils cannot be overlooked, especially when one considers the magnitude of health and sanitation issues that are plaguing the West African nations. This study aimed to investigate some of the personal hygiene practices by the pupils and the hygienic conditions in which food is cooked and served to these school-going children under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). Design. A cross-sectional and descriptive survey research designs were used in the study. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting participants. Participants. There were 720 respondents for the study, comprising 600 pupils, 60 teachers, and 60 kitchen staff members from 20 schools. Information was obtained using questionnaire, observation, and unstructured interview instruments. Results. Findings from the study revealed that the majority of pupils (92% in Wa and 65% in Cape Coast) did not wash their hands with soap under running water. No hand washing centers for pupils were also seen in most of the schools studied. Majority of the cooks did not have health certificate, and neither had attended any in-service training in two years. In both Wa and Cape Coast municipal schools, none of the kitchen staff admitted that pupils and teachers ever complained about the meals they served to the pupils. Conclusion. The GSFP in basic schools forms part of the integral diet of the school children; hence, provision of good quality food can affect the health, learning, and physical activities of these children. Observational checklist revealed that most of the kitchen staff do not strictly adhere to basic food hygiene practices, and this affects the wholesomeness of the food served to the children. There is, therefore, a need for kitchen staff training on hygiene and food preparation practices

Sensitive real-time PCR detection of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in whole blood by erythrocyte membrane protein 1 gene amplification

Abstract Background Malaria remains a global public health problem responsible for 445,000 deaths in 2016. While microscopy remains the mainstay of malaria diagnosis, highly sensitive molecular methods for detection of low-grade sub-microscopic infections are needed for surveillance studies and identifying asymptomatic reservoirs of malaria transmission. Methods The Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence was analysed to identify high copy number genes that improve P. falciparum parasite detection in blood by RT-PCR. Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1)-specific primers were evaluated for P. falciparum detection in hospital-based microscopically positive dried blood spots and field-acquired whole blood from asymptomatic individuals from Ghana. Results PfEMP1 outperformed the Pf18S sequence for amplification-based P. falciparum detection. PfEMP1 primers exhibited sevenfold higher sensitivity compared to Pf18S primers for parasite genomic DNA. Probit analysis established a 95% detection threshold of 9.3 parasites/mL for PfEMP1 compared to 98.2 parasites/mL for Pf18S primers. The PfEMP1 primers also demonstrated superior clinical sensitivity, identifying 100% (20/20) of dried blood spot samples and 70% (69/98) of asymptomatic individuals as positive versus 55% (11/20) and 54% (53/98), respectively, for Pf18S amplification. Conclusions These results establish PfEMP1 as a novel amplification target for highly sensitive detection of both acute infections from filter paper samples and submicroscopic asymptomatic low-grade infections

Quality attributes of fufu: Instrumental and sensory measurement

Texture is one of the key desirable sensory attributes of fufu, a cassava-based staple of most Ghanaians. Cassava starch and plantain puree were blended in the ratios of 20:80, 25:75, 30:70, 35:65, and 40:60, respectively. To optimize the processing parameters for cassava starch-plantain puree fufu, the texture attributes of the reconstituted fufu were assessed and characterized using instrumental and sensory methods and compared with “Neat” fufu. The result of the instrumental test on texture showed that fufu samples with 20% cassava starch and 80% plantain puree are most desirable while the percentage of starch between 25 and 40% gave higher values which indicated hardness. Overall, the starch content did not have any significant effect on adhesiveness, smoothness and springiness of the fufu. The sensory analysis showed that 22 out of 30 assessors prefer fufu made from plantain puree and cassava starch in terms of softness and smoothness despite the browning nature of the fufu. In general, plantain puree-cassava starch fufu had high values for peak viscosity, final viscosity, setback, peak time and peak temperature than “Neat” fufu. These findings suggest the need to improve upon the colour of plantain puree in fufu preparation for total acceptability by consumers. Keywords: Plantain puree, Cassava starch, Texture, Colour, Preference, Pasting propertie

Pesticide Residues and Unauthorized Dyes as Adulteration Markers in Chilli Pepper and Tomato

To assess the contamination of processed chilli pepper and tomatoes, a report over the past four decades since the establishment of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was retrieved and analysed. Out of the 887 notification reports assessed for eligibility, 446 were found regarding chilli pepper and tomato contamination. This study identified India as the country of origin with the highest number of reported cases relating to chilli pepper contamination. Italy and Türkiye were the countries with the highest number of reported cases regarding the exportation of adulterated tomatoes to other countries according to the RASFF report. Unauthorized dyes such as Sudan I, III, IV, orange II, rhodamine B, and para red were reported to have been detected in either chilli pepper or tomato in the supply chain. Almost all unauthorized dyes in this study were found to be more than the range (0.5 to 1 mg/kg) of the detection limit of Sudan dye and other related dyes using analytical methods set by the European Union. Unapproved pesticides by the European Union (EU) found in this study were acetamiprid, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, methomyl, monocrotophos, omethoate, oxamyl, and thiophanate methyl. The present study indicates the persistence of chilli pepper and tomato contamination with harmful dyes and pesticide residues despite the ban on the use of certain chemicals in the food chain

18 years analysis of RASFF notifications on Sudan dye adulterated cases in palm oil (2004 to 2022) and the principles of technique for its detection

Palm oil is one of the most widely consumed food products globally. Despite the restriction of Sudan dyes as a food colouring these dyes still feature prominently in palm oil adulteration, which occurs in most developing countries. The current study aims to provide insight into the recent palm oil adulteration over 18 years and the method for detecting this adulterant. By using the European Union's (EU) Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), data on palm oil adulterated with Sudan dye was extracted between the years 2004 to 2022 and analysed to determine their overall pattern. Adulteration of palm oil was categorised by origin and the concentration of various Sudan dyes. The results from RASFF could confirm a total of 204 cases of Sudan dye adulteration in palm oil. African countries recorded the highest number of alerts for exporting palm oil adulterated with Sudan dye to European countries. Additionally, 70 reported cases of palm oil adulteration were recorded in 2004 and this was a result of regular testing of Sudan dyes required in foods within the EU community. Also, the concentration of Sudan IV dye was the highest in all the palm oil tested by the notifying countries since it is highly soluble in crude palm oil compared to Sudan I, Sudan II and Sudan III. Finally, the results presented in this manuscript highlight the importance of the detection of Sudan dyes adulteration in palm oil from 2004 to 2022 from the RASFF database. The techniques frequently used for analysing palm oil included; gas chromatography (GC), gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and high liquid chromatography (HPLC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), NIR spectroscopy, MIR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Surface Enhanced Raman spectroscopy, electronic tongue. Among the methods reviewed, HPLC and GC were frequently used, however, rapid non-destructive methods such as a spectroscopic technique for onsite Sudan dye detection in palm oil would be very helpful for palm oil-producing countries in Africa

Socioeconomic and residence‐based related inequality in childhood vaccination in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Evidence from Benin

Abstract Background and Aims Childhood vaccination remains a cost‐effective strategy that has expedited the control and elimination of numerous diseases. Although coverage of new vaccines in low‐ and middle‐income countries increased exponentially in the last two decades, progress on expanding routine vaccination services to reach all children remains low, and coverage levels in many countries remains inadequate. This study aimed to examine the pattern of wealth and residence‐based related inequality in vaccination coverage through an equity lens. Methods We used data from the 2017−2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey. Statistical and econometrics modeling were used to investigate factors associated with childhood vaccination. The Wagstaff decomposition analysis was used to disentangle the concentration index. Results A total of 1993 children were included, with 17% in the wealthiest quintile and 63% were living in rural areas. Findings showed that wealth is positively and significantly associated with vaccination coverage, particularly, for middle‐wealth households. A secondary or higher education level of women and partners increased the odds of vaccination compared to no education (p < 0.05). Women with more antenatal care visits, with multiple births, attending postnatal care and delivery in a health facility had increased vaccination coverage (p < 0.01). Inequalities in vaccination coverage are more prominent in rural areas; and are explained by wealth, education, and antenatal care visits. Conclusion Inequality in child vaccination varies according to socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics and is of interest to health policy. To mitigate inequalities in child vaccination coverage, policymakers should strengthen the availability and accessibility of vaccination and implement educational programs dedicated to vulnerable groups in rural areas

Bioactive constituents of waakye; a local Ghanaian dish prepared with Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench leaf sheaths

Rice and beans are widely consumed in most countries in the world. ‘Waakye’, a popular traditional dish widely consumed in Ghana, is prepared with Sorghum bicolor leaves to give it a distinctive colour. For the first time, the phytochemical properties of waakye prepared with Sorghum bicolor leaves are determined. Total polyphenols and flavonoid content were determined by Folin Ciocalteau and Aluminium chloride techniques respectively. The antioxidant activity of waakye was analyzed based on Ferric reducing antioxidant power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Sorghum leaves showed high fibre (22.53%) and fat composition (8.86%). The leaves depicted high polyphenols (7.30–107.85 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (10.99–960.29 mg CE/g) and good antioxidant ability. Due perhaps to processing related losses, the polyphenols and antioxidant ability retained in the differently treated waakye products significantly reduced with exception of the waakye treated with saltpetre, which showed a higher ferric reducing ability than the aqueous extract of the leaves. Waakye (prepared with sorghum leaves) was therefore found to contain essential phytochemical constituents including antioxidants than without the sorghum leaves (control). The nutritional implication of these findings is that the consumption of waakye could be a potential cheap source of essential fatty acids, antioxidant and polyphenols which could contribute to the health and biological activities. Keywords: Bean and rice, Polyphenols, Antioxidants, Colour, Bioactive compound

Antigen Discovery, Bioinformatics and Biological Characterization of Novel Immunodominant Babesia microti Antigens

Abstract Babesia microti is an intraerythrocytic parasite and the primary causative agent of human babesiosis. It is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, transfusion of blood and blood products, organ donation, and perinatally. Despite its global public health impact, limited progress has been made to identify and characterize immunodominant B. microti antigens for diagnostic and vaccine use. Using genome-wide immunoscreening, we identified 56 B. microti antigens, including some previously uncharacterized antigens. Thirty of the most immunodominant B. microti antigens were expressed as recombinant proteins in E. coli. Among these, the combined use of two novel antigens and one previously described antigen provided 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity in identifying B. microti antibody containing sera in an ELISA. Using extensive computational sequence and bioinformatics analyses and cellular localization studies, we have clarified the domain architectures, potential biological functions, and evolutionary relationships of the most immunodominant B. microti antigens. Notably, we found that the BMN-family antigens are not monophyletic as currently annotated, but rather can be categorized into two evolutionary unrelated groups of BMN proteins respectively defined by two structurally distinct classes of extracellular domains. Our studies have enhanced the repertoire of immunodominant B. microti antigens, and assigned potential biological function to these antigens, which can be evaluated to develop novel assays and candidate vaccines