Malnutrition, anemia, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic infections among schoolchildren in rural Tanzania

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition, anemia, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic infections continue to impact the nutritional status and health of children in lower-income countries, however not enough data concerning this issue is available. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of nutritional indicators, anemia and micronutrient deficiency and their underlying risk factors among schoolchildren in south-eastern Tanzania. METHOD/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This cross-sectional study enrolled primary schoolchildren aged 6-12 years from Kikwawila and Kiberege wards, Tanzania. In total 471 schoolchildren underwent physical examination and provided blood, stool and urine samples for micronutrient level assessment, nutritional and anemia status, and parasitic infection status. We employed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine the association between nutritional statuses, anemia, micronutrient deficiency and parasitic infections. We found that 23.90%, 12.60% and 16.20% of schoolchildren were stunted, underweight and wasted, respectively. About 14% of schoolchildren were found to be anemic and were more likely to be diagnosed with Plasmodium falciparum infection (aOR: 3.95, 95% CI: 2.73-5.67). Vitamin A (34.70%) and vitamin B12 (8.80%) were the most prevalent micronutrients found to be deficient in diagnosed children. Finally, we found that schoolchildren attending the most rural schools were five times more likely to be diagnosed with at least one micronutrient deficiency (aOR: 5.04, 95% CI: 2.38-11.44). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Malnutrition, anemia and micronutrient deficiency still pose a significant health burden among schoolchildren living in rural Tanzania. To effectively tackle this burden, health interventions such as deworming, micronutrient supplementation, vector control, health education and access to clean water and improved sanitation should be strengthened and made sustainable

A Braconidae Parasite (Bracon sp. near celer Szepligeti) on Pigeonpea Pod Fly (Melanagromyza chalcosoma Spencer) in Farmers' Fields in Southern and Eastern Africa

The incidence and distribution of Bracon sp. near B. celer, a parasitoid of Melanagromyza chalcosoma, were assessed in major pigeon pea-growing areas in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, during 1995 and 1996. Populations of M. chalcosoma were greatest in Kenya and infestations were high in areas where the crop matured late in the season or in cool weather. Areas near the coast at <500 m altitude had insignificant populations of M. chalcosoma and no parasitoids were recorded. As the pest population increased, the incidence of the parasitoid also increased. Mean parasitism rates were recorded as 5.2, 2.6, 3.0 and 2.3% for Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, respectively.It is concluded that B. celer is widespread and could contribute to the management of M. chalcosoma on pigeon peas

Insect pests of pigeonpea and their management

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important crop in semi-arid tropical and subtropical farming systems, providing high quality vegetable protein, animal feed, and firewood. Insect pests feeding on flowers, pods, and seeds are the most important biotic constraint affecting pigeonpea yields. This review summarizes the biology and ecology of the three most important groups of pests: flower- and pod-feeding Lepidoptera, pod-sucking Hemiptera, and seed-feeding Diptera and Hymenoptera. Recent research investigating the complex interactions among pigeonpea, its key pests, and their natural enemies is also reviewed. These relationships have implications on the pest status of individual species and on possible control strategies. Pigeonpea pest management research has focused until recently on the identification and development of resistant cultivars and on chemical control. Future research must focus on environmentally sound pest management strategies that are compatible with the needs and limitations of pigeonpea farmers. Several priority areas for research are suggested

Insect pest incidence on long-duration Uganda pigeonpea lines at Kabete in Kenya

Eight local long-duration landraces from Kitgum and Gulu in Uganda were grown at Kabete during 1998-99. Insect pest and damage assessments were conducted at pod maturity. The insect pests that caused damage on the pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) lines were pod fly (Melanagromyza chalcosoma), pod borers (Etiella zinckenella, Lampides sp. and Helicoverpa armigera) and pod-sucking bugs (Clavigralla tomentosicollis). In general, total seed damage was low and the percentage damage by pod fly was 2-7%. Pod fly accounted for 80% of the total seed damage, pod borers 12.7% and pod-sucking bugs 6.3%. ICEAP lines 00954, 00955, 00956 and 00957 had relatively higher levels of damage than the other lines. ICEAP 00953 and 00958 appeared more tolerant of pod fly

Factors Influencing Preferences and Adoption of Improved Groundnut Varieties among Farmers in Tanzania

Access and use of seed of improved varieties of groundnut among farmers can improve farmers’ livelihoods and contribute to the potential of crop production in Tanzania. This paper analyzes factors underpinning the adoption of improved groundnut varieties among farmers to pave the way for upscaling quality seed used for increased production and commodity business in farming communities. A four-stage stratified sampling was used to collect data from 300 groundnut farmers in seven agro-ecological zones through individual interviews. Secondary data were collected from the literature and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute at Naliendele centre (TARI–Naliendele). Descriptive statistics and Probit regression model were used for data analysis. The empirical results showed that Johari 1985, Pendo 1998, Naliendele 2009, Mnanje 2009, Mangaka 2009 and Nachi 2015, are the main six improved groundnut varieties used by farmers, with Pendo 1998 having the highest adoption rate (17.1%). In the grain market, four varieties, namely Pendo 1998, Mnanje 2009, Nachi 2015 and Johari 1985, were observed to be highly preferred by grain off-takers. Furthermore, among the adopted improved varieties, Nachi 2015, is observed to be the most consistent high yielding variety, ranging from 1100 kg/ha to 1500 kg/ha in all agro-ecological zones. A farmer’s decision to adopt new varieties is affected by age and gender, farmer group membership, availability of improved seed and seed cost. Overall, male farmers are more likely to adopt improved varieties of groundnut than female farmers. The implications of these findings are also discussed, in particular in the area of policy support

The use of 0.01M phosphate buffered saline as detection buffer for Alere Determine® HIV rapid test in resource limited settings

Insufficient supply of manufacture’s buffers/diluents in relation to the number of strips per kit has been found to have negative impact on patients’ results. Some laboratories personnel tend to use diluents from other rapid tests manufacturers such as Bioline, Unigold as well as malaria rapid diagnostic test (MRDT). This study aimed at evaluating the use of 0.01M phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as detection buffer for Alere Determine® HIV rapid test. This study was carried out at Bugando School of Medicine in Mwanza, Tanzania. A total of 300 whole blood specimens; 150 HIV positive specimens from patients attending Care and Treatment Centreand 150 HIV negative specimens were retested for HIV status using Alere Determine® HIV rapid test employing normal Alere buffer and 0.01M PBS as buffer.Of the total specimens tested; 150 (100%) of HIV positive were positive by using both Alere buffer and 0.01M PBS while 150(100%) of HIV negative samples were negative by both Alere Determine® and 0.01M PBS. The agreement between 0.01M PBS and Alere Determine® buffer was 100%. The value of kappa indicates perfect agreement between 0.01M PBS and Alere Determine® buffer (100%). A 0.01M PBS is recommended as alternative detection buffer for Alere Determine® in cases of insufficient supply. Further investigation to evaluate the suitable buffer for other rapid tests for HIV and other diseases is recommended especially in resource limited settings.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Components for Control of Armored Bush Cricket on Pearl Millet and Sorghum in Farmers' Fields in Namibia and Zambia

Armored bush crickets (Acanthoplus spp.) are sporadic pests on cereals in southern Africa. The performance of different IPM components on pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum] in Namibia and sorghum in Namibia and Zambia is reported, based on on-farm participatory trials

Comparing Patterns of Sexual Risk among Adolescent and Young\ud Women in a Mixed-method Study in Tanzania: Implications for\ud Adolescent Participation in HIV Prevention Trials

Despite the disproportionate impact of HIV on women, and adolescents in particular, those below age 18 years are underrepresented in HIV prevention trials due to ethical, safety and logistical concerns. This study examined and compared the sexual risk contexts of adolescent women aged 15 17 to young adult women aged 18 21 to determine whether adolescents exhibited similar risk profiles and the implications for their inclusion in future trials. We conducted a two-phase, mixed-method study to assess the opportunities and challenges of recruiting and retaining adolescents (aged 15 17) versus young women (18 21) in Tanzania. Phase I, community formative research (CFR), used serial in-depth interviews with 11 adolescent and 12 young adult women from a range of sexual risk contexts in preparation for a mock clinical trial (MCT). For Phase II, 135 HIV-negative, non-pregnant adolescents and young women were enrolled into a six-month MCT to assess and compare differences in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, including risky sexual behaviour, incident pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and HIV. In both research phases, adolescents appeared to be at similar, if not higher, risk than their young adult counterparts. Adolescents reported earlier sexual debut, and similar numbers of lifetime partners, pregnancy and STI/RTI rates, yet had lower perceived risk. Married women in the CFR appeared at particular risk but were less represented in the MCT. In addition, adolescents were less likely than their older counterparts to have accessed HIV testing, obtained gynaecological exams or used protective technologies. Adolescent women under 18 are at risk of multiple negative SRH outcomes and they underuse preventive services. Their access to new technologies such as vaginal microbicides or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may similarly be compromised unless greater effort is made to include them in clinical trial research

Efficacy of Different Insecticides for Pigeonpea Pest Management in Kenya

Trials were conducted at Kabete and Kiboko in 1995-96 to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides on short-, medium- and long-duration pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) genotypes. At Kabete, endosulfan, dimethoate, pirimiphos-methyl, fluvalinate, Bacillus thuringiensis and neem extract were evaluated on short-duration genotype ICPL 87091. At Kiboko, endosulfan, dimethoate, pirimiphos-methyl, B. thuringiensis and deltamethrin were evaluated on short-duration ICPL 87091, medium-duration ICP 6927 and long-duration ICEAP 00020. The major insect pests on pigeon pea were pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata, Etiella zinckenella and Lampides boeticus at Kiboko, and H. armigera, E. zinckenella and L. boeticus at Kabete), pod-sucking bugs (Clavigralla tomentosicollis) and pod fly (Melanagromyza chalcosoma). The results indicated that all sprays improved grain yields and seed quality at Kabete, with 57-152% grain yield gains with different insecticides. Endosulfan performed better among the high volume sprayed insecticides at Kabete. Pod fly damage was less in plots treated with dimethoate and endosulfan. Results from Kiboko showed that ultra-low-volume (ULV) spraying was more efficient than high volume sprayed insecticides. Endosulfan was also good among the high volume sprays. Spraying the short-duration genotype with ULV resulted in lower pest population than the medium- and long-duration genotypes. Neem extract and B. thuringiensis were not as effective as the synthetic insecticides at both locations

Diseases and pests of pigeonpea in eastern Africa: a review

Pigeonpea is one of the major legume crops grown in eastern Africa but has been relatively neglected in terms of research and development. The peas are a rich source of protein and the crop is nitrogen-fixing and drought tolerant. It is an ideal crop for the semi-arid areas of Africa and there is great potential for it to be more widely grown. The large number of pests and diseases which attack pigeonpea in Africa (and elsewhere) is perhaps the main constraint to increased production. The most important pest worldwide is the pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, but the flowers and pods are attractive to a wide range of insect pests. The most important disease in eastern Africa is Fusarium wilt (Fusarium udum) and considerable effort has been devoted by ICRISAT to developing wilt-resistant pigeonpeas, adapted to cultivation in the region. This paper reviews the literature on pests and diseases of pigeonpea with special reference to eastern Africa and presents some new information on distribution and damage levels for the key pests and disease