Effect of Cutting Stage and Turning Frequency on Nutritive Value and Digestibility of Two Tropical Forages

In Malawi, feed shortage during the dry season (June-October) is a critical factor affecting smallholder dairying. Though suitable improved forages were long introduced, important parameters that indicate forage and hay quality for dry season feeding have been less well studied. This study evaluated the effect of cutting stage and turning frequency at drying of two tropical forages on nutrient composition and digestibility. A 23 factorial experiment laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design was conducted in Mzuzu milk shed area. Centrosema pubescens and Chloris gayana were established on four plots (5m x 3m) each by 24 dairy farmers; two plots per forage species representing two cuts at 14 and 18 weeks. At harvest, biomass was partitioned and sun-dried as follows: first lot was turned once while the second lot was turned twice daily for four days. Forage hay samples were collected for nutrient composition analysis. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. The results showed that fibre components increased with stage of maturity while CP and digestibility declined but Centrosema pubescens retained quality attributes. There were no significant interactions between forage species, cutting stage and turning frequency. It is concluded that harvesting at 14 weeks produced hay with high nutritive value than at 18 weeks. Frequency of turning had no effect on nutritive value of the hay. It is recommended to promote cultivation of improved pastures for hay making to complement cut and carry system using natural pastures

The impact of HIV on morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: a study of rural Malawi and review of the literature

Since the mid-1980s tuberculosis (TB) case numbers and HIV seroprevalence have both risen sharply in sub-Saharan Africa. Estimates for the relative risk of TB in those infected with HIV have ranged from less than five to more than 20. The proportion of TB cases attributable to HIV (the population attributable fraction) has been calculated for several populations but is difficult to interpret if no account is taken of the age and sex distribution of the cases. In a rural area of Malawi we have studied the proportion of TB attributable to HIV over time. Nearly 40 per cent of smear-positive TB cases in this rural area of Malawi can now be attributed directly to HIV. The actual effect of HIV on TB is even greater than this because increased case numbers increase transmission of tuberculosis infection to both HIV-infected and non-infected sections of the population. We compare our findings with others from sub-Saharan Africa and discuss reasons for the differences, and methodological issues in interpretatio

Colostomy as a bridge to definitive pediatric surgical care: A sub-Saharan African experience

Available data, however, points to a wide variety of surgical conditions, with the majority falling into three major diagnostic categories, injuries, congenital anomalies, and surgical infections.1 In Africa, children constitute more than half the population.2 Despite high patient volume, very few dedicated pediatric surgeons are available, with only one pediatric surgeon to approximately two million children in Africa, compared with 1:100,000 in North America.3 Owing to this dearth of pediatric surgical workforce, surgical disease in children is not often managed, and if managed, is predominantly managed by a general surgeon who may lack familiarity with complex pediatric surgical procedures. There is little information in the literature regarding the clinical indications for pediatric patients receiving colostomies, complications associated with colostomies, and colostomy reversal rates in sub-Saharan Africa. [...]the aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving colostomies in a sub-Saharan African setting. [...]during our study period, there were only four patients who returned for reversal of their colostomy, with two colostomy takedowns and two pull-through procedures, with an average of 261.3 ± 288.1 days till reversal (range 36 to 654 days)

Resistance of Uganda soybean germplasm to Adzuki bean bruchid

Soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is among the major food and industrial crops grown globally for its high protein and oil content. Lately, in Uganda, soybean reportedly faces challenges with a storage pest, Callosobruchus chinensis . This study was carried out to quantify the damage caused by the pest and identify the sources of resistance in the germplasm in Uganda. The study was conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK) in Uganda, during 2015 and 2016. Callosobruchus chinensis was used to challenge 498 soybean lines under no choice condition, in the laboratory. Results showed no significant differences in eggs laid amongst the different genotypes; however the genotypes performed significantly different (P< 0.05) for adult insect emergence, median development period (MDP), Dobie susceptibility index (DSI), growth index (GI), insect percent emergence (% IE) and seed weight loss (%WL). Genotype AVRDC G8527 had the lowest % IE (6.31), DSI (0.7), % WL (0.02) and GI (0.07), suggesting high resistance. Weight loss of up to 27% was recorded in genotype USA 7. There was a strong positive correlation between number of adults that emerged with DSI (r=0.87), eggs (r=0.88), % weight loss (r=0.73), and growth index (r=0.996). Cluster analysis revealed that AVRDC G8527, a resistant genotype was closely related to S-line 13.2A, a moderate resistant genotype. Regression analysis, revealed that adult bruchid emergence explain seed weight loss with 62% coefficient of determination; while seed colour could be used to determine genotype DSI with up to 74% coefficient of determination. Genotypes AVRDC G8527 and G89 were identified as the most resistant genotypes based on levels of DSI.Le soja ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill) est parmi les cultures alimentaires majeures et industrielles cultiv\ue9es g\ue9n\ue9ralement pour sa grande teneur en prot\ue9ine et en huile. R\ue9cemment, en Ouganda, le soja fait face \ue0 des d\ue9fis avec une peste de stockage, Callosobruchus chinensis . Cette \ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 conduite pour quantifier les dommages caus\ue9s par la peste et identifier les sources de r\ue9sistance dans le germplasm en Ouganda. L\u2019\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 conduite \ue0 l\u2019Institut de Recherche Agricole de l\u2019Universit\ue9 de Makerere, Kabanyolo (MUARIK) en Ouganda, en 2015 et 2016. Callosobruchus chinensis a \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9 pour \ue9valuer 498 lign\ue9es du soja sous une condition sans choix, dans le laboratoire. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 qu\u2019il n\u2019y a pas de diff\ue9rences significatives dans la ponte des \u153ufs parmi les diff\ue9rents g\ue9notypes; toutefois, les g\ue9notypes ont montr\ue9 des performances significativement diff\ue9rentes (P<0,05) pour l\u2019\ue9mergence des insectes adultes, la p\ue9riode moyenne de d\ue9veloppement (MDP) l\u2019indice de sensibilit\ue9 de Dobie (DSI), l\u2019indice de croissance (GI)\ua0; le pourcentage d\u2019\ue9mergence de l\u2019insecte (%IE) et la perte du poids (%WL). Le g\ue9notype AVRDC G8527 a eu le plus faible %IE (6,31), DSI (0,7), %WL (0.02) et (0.07) sugg\ue9rant une grande r\ue9sistance. Une perte de poids jusqu\u2019\ue0 27% a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e sur le g\ue9notype USA 7. Il y a une forte et positive corr\ue9lation entre le nombre d\u2019adultes qui ont \ue9merg\ue9 avec DSI (r=0,88), la perte du poids (r=0.73), et l\u2019indice de croissance (r=0,996). L\u2019analyse hi\ue9rarchique a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que AVRDC G8527, un g\ue9notype r\ue9sistant a \ue9t\ue9 li\ue9 \ue0 la lign\ue9e S-line 13.2A, un g\ue9notype mod\ue9r\ue9ment r\ue9sistant. L\u2019analyse en r\ue9gression lin\ue9aire a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que l\u2019\ue9mergence du bruche adulte explique la perte du poids avec un coefficient de d\ue9termination de 62%\ua0; alors que la couleur des graines pourrait \ueatre utilis\ue9e pour d\ue9terminer le DSI jusqu\u2019\ue0 74% de coefficient de d\ue9termination. Les g\ue9notypes AVRDC G8527 et G89 ont \ue9t\ue9 identifi\ue9s comme g\ue9notypes les plus r\ue9sistants sur la base des niveaux de DSI

Public Libraries and Democratization in Three Developing Countries: Exploring the Role of Social Capital

This article explores the role of social capital. The authors develop a theoretical framework intended to facilitate systematic investigation of the contributions public libraries may make to democratization

Pediatric Surgical Care in Lilongwe, Malawi: Outcomes and Opportunities for Improvement

Background: One of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals is to improve child health. We describe the burden of pediatric surgical disease at a tertiary hospital in Malawi

Findings from a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) in Southern Malawi

BACKGROUND: Data on prevalence and causes of avoidable blindness in Malawi are not readily available. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and causes of blindness in persons aged 50 and above in southern Malawi to plan eye care services for the community. METHODOLOGY: A population-based survey was conducted in 7 districts in southern Malawi. Villages were selected by probability proportionate to size within each district. Clusters were further subdivided into segments. A predetermined number of segments were selected randomly in each cluster. The survey team moved from house to house in each segment until they had examined 50 people over the age of 50. Examination consisted of visual acuity measurement with tumbling "E" chart and ocular examination by an ophthalmologist. Participants were categorized by visual acuity. Those who were visually impaired (VA<6/18 in the better eye with available correction) were assigned a main cause of visual loss. Further information was sought from anyone who had received cataract surgery. RESULTS: A total number of 3,583 persons aged 50 and above were sampled; among these 3,430 (95.7%) were examined. The prevalence of blindness (presenting visual acuity <3/60 in the better eye) among persons aged 50 and above was 3.3% (95% CI 2.5-4.1). Cataract was the most common cause of blindness contributing to 48.2% of all cases, followed by glaucoma (15.8%) and cornea scarring (12.3%). The cataract surgical coverage in blind persons was 44.6%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in persons aged 50 and above was lower than the WHO estimate for Malawi. The majority of the causes were avoidable, with cataract accounting for approximately half of all cases of blindness. The data suggests that expansion of eye care programs to address avoidable causes of blindness is necessary in this area of southern Malawi