Observation of blood microfilariae during human trypanosomiasis survey in Gambella, south west Ethiopia

Abstract: While conducting a survey on sleeping sickness during 1989-92 in Gambella, South western Ethiopia, microfilariae of Mansonella perstans were detected in the blood of the indigenous population, the Anuaks (1%), and the refugees from Southern Sudan (4.1%). No blood microfilarial infection was detected in resettlers, who arrived in the area from drought affected regions of the country during the 1985/86 resettlement program. Among the diagnostic methods applied, nearly twice more microfilaraemic cases (4.1%) were detected by the Miniature Anion Exchange Centrifugation Technique (M-AECT) while only (1.9%) were detectable by Microhaematocrit Buffy Coat Technique (MHBCT) among the refugees. Using the conventional blood film methods (thin and thick smears) only fewer positive cases (1.0%) were detected compared to the above two techniques. Besides a known standard diagnostic methods for blood filariasis, however, the MHBCT seems preferable as field diagnostic technique. Because it is more rapid, simple to operate and does not necessitate as much advanced preparation and sterile condition as M-AECT, and could be a potential diagnostic tool for blood microfilariae. There is a significant difference (P<0.01) in age groups 15-30 years among Anuaks and refugees. There is no significant difference (P>0.01) in other age groups and sexes among Anuaks and refugees. However, there is a significant difference (P<0.01) in over all positivity among Anuaks and refugees. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(1):1-5

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Self-rated physical health, health-risk behaviors, and disparities: A cross-sectional study of youth in the slums of Kampala, Uganda

Self-rated physical health (SRPH) has been extensively used to assess health status. In this study, we examine how youth living in the slums of Kampala perceive their physical health and the psychosocial correlates of poor health. Cross-sectional data from the 2014 Kampala Youth Survey (N = 1,134) of youth ages 12–18 years was used to conduct the analyses. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between SRPH, demographic and psychosocial characteristics. Overall, 72% of youth rated their health as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’ Poor SRPH was associated with older age and lower education, but not with sex. Also, orphans (OR = 2.03; 95%CI:1.51–2.72), those who lived on the streets (OR=3.09; 95%CI:2.30–4.15), who did not have electricity (OR = 2.83;95%CI:2.12–3.78), who initiated alcohol use early (OR = 2.08; 95%CI:1.47–2.94), who frequently get drunk (OR = 5.67; 95%CI:2.69–11.96), who were HIV positive (OR = 2.18; 95%CI:1.47–3.23), who had been injured due to their drinking (OR = 2.09; 95%CI:1.44–3.03), who thought about hurting themselves (OR = 2.09; 95%CI:1.60–2.73), and those who often felt lonely (OR = 2.54; 95%CI:1.61–4.02) had higher odds of poor SRPH compared to their peers without these characteristics. Poor SRPH may serve as a marker for multiple health-risk behaviors and severe health disparities among youth in vulnerable and resource-limited settings

Amoebic liver abscess: A 20-year retrospective analysis at Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Ethiopia

No Abstract Available Ethiop.J.Health Dev. Vol.18(3) 2004: 199-20

Costs and Cost Drivers of Providing Option B+ Services to Mother-Baby Pairs for PMTCT of HIV in Health Centre IV Facilities in Jinja District, Uganda

Background. In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised the 2012 guidelines on use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The new guidelines recommended lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding women irrespective of CD4 count or clinical stage (also referred to as Option B+). Uganda started implementing Option B+ in 2012 basing on the 2012 WHO guidelines. Despite the impressive benefits of the Option B+ strategy, implementation challenges, including cost burden and mother-baby pairs lost to follow-up, threatened its overall effectiveness. The researchers were unable to identify any studies conducted to assess costs and cost drivers associated with provision of Option B+ services to mother-baby pairs in HIV care in Uganda. Therefore, this study determined costs and cost drivers of providing Option B+ services to mother-baby pairs over a two-year period (2014–2015) in selected health facilities in Jinja district, Uganda. Methods. The estimated costs of providing Option B+ to mother-baby pairs derived from the provider perspective were evaluated at four health centres (HC) in Jinja district. A retrospective, ingredient-based costing approach was used to collect data for 2014 as base year using a standardized cost data capture tool. All costs were valued in United States dollars (USD) using the 2014 midyear exchange rate. Costs incurred in the second year (2015) were obtained by inflating the 2014 costs by the ratio of 2015 and 2014 USA Gross Domestic Product (GDP) implicit price deflator. Results. The average total cost of Option B+ services per HC was 66,512.7 (range: 32,168.2–102,831.1) USD over the 2-year period. The average unit cost of Option B+ services per mother-baby pair was USD 441.9 (range: 422.5–502.6). ART for mothers was the biggest driver of total mean costs (percent contribution: 62.6%; range: 56.0%–65.5%) followed by facility personnel (percent contribution: 8.2%; range: 7.7%–11.6%), and facility-level monitoring and quality improvement (percent contribution: 6.0%; range: 3.2%–12.3%). Conclusions and Recommendations. ART for mothers was the major cost driver. Efforts to lower the cost of ART for PMTCT would make delivery of Option B+ affordable and sustainable

Barriers and enablers to the implementation of immediate postpartum and post-abortion family planning service integration in primary health care units of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A baseline study for implementation research.

IntroductionEvidence indicates that postpartum and post-abortion women accept family planning at a higher rate when offered timely at appropriate sites. Therefore, this study explored barriers and enablers of postpartum and post-abortion family planning utilization in primary health care units of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia, from June 20 to July 25, 2022.MethodsWe used a case study strategy of qualitative research using both the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) frameworks was conducted from June to July 2022. We conducted 41 in-depth and key informant interviews and six focus group discussions. We also used Open Code software version 4.02 for coding and further analysis and applied a framework analysis.ResultsThe analysis of this study identified barriers and enablers of postpartum and post-abortion family planning service uptake in five CFIR domains and four GYSI components. The barriers included misconceptions and sole decision-making by husbands, cultural and religious barriers, and healthcare providers paying less attention to adolescents and husbands, which prevented them from using immediate postpartum and postabortion family planning services. The health facilities were not adequately staffed; there was a shortage and delay of supplies and infrastructure, trained staff turnover, and poor accountability among service providers. The existence of community structure, equal access and legal rights to the service, and having waivered services were enablers for postpartum and post-abortion family planning service uptake.Conclusion and recommendationThe current study identified various barriers and enablers to the uptake of postpartum and post-abortion family planning. Therefore, there is a need for high-impact interventions such as targeting male partners and girls, ensuring infrastructure, supplies, and equipment, building staff capacity, and making decisions jointly