5 research outputs found
Status of agrobiodiversity management and conservation in major agroecosystems of Southern Africa
This paper reviews the agroecosystems and agricultural biodiversity in Southern Africa and highlights
the importance of the agricultural landscape in biodiversity conservation and the important role that the
traditional farming systems play in conserving biodiversity. The review established that agrobiodiversity
is of great importance to both small scale and large commercial farmers in Southern Africa through its
provision of ecosystem services. The paper also highlights the significant loss of agrobiodiversity as a
result of human population pressure and the transition from traditional mixed farming systems which is
characterized with high agrobiodiversity, to modern monoculture farming resulting in decline of species
diversity. Although concerted efforts are being made to promote the sustainable use and management of
this agrobiodiversity, there need to have a multi-stakeholder approach so that conservation efforts are
successful, a role that is currently played by the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre in Southern African
conservation of agrobiodiversityhttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/age
The status of agrobiodiversity management and conservation in major agroecosystems of Southern Africa
Explaining productivity differences between beneficiaries of Zimbabwe's Fast Track Land Reform Programme and communal farmers
Use of Industrial Wastes as Media in Constructed Wetlands and Filter Beds—Prospects for Removal of Phosphate and Metals from Wastewater Streams
The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications
Background:
The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications.
Methods:
ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery.
Results:
The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784.
Conclusions:
This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance.
© 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran