Factors associated with healthcare seeking behaviour for children in Malawi: 2016

Objective: To characterise health seeking behaviour (HSB) and determine its predictors amongst children in Malawi in 2016. Methods: We used the 2016 Malawi Integrated Household Survey data set. The outcome of interest was HSB, defined as seeking care at a health facility amongst people who reported one or more of a list of possible symptoms given on the questionnaire in the past two weeks. We fitted a multivariate logistic regression model of HSB using a forward step-wise selection method, with age, sex and symptoms entered as a priori variables. Results: Of 5350 children, 1666 (32%) had symptoms in the past two weeks. Of the 1666, 1008 (61%) sought care at health facility. The children aged 5–14 years were less likely to be taken to health facilities for health care than those aged 0–4 years. Having fever vs. not having fever and having a skin problem vs. not having skin problem were associated with increased likelihood of HSB. Having a headache vs. not having a headache was associated with lower likelihood of accessing care at health facilities (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26–0.96, P = 0.04). Children from urban areas were more likely to be taken to health facilities for health care (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.17–2.85, P = 0.008), as were children from households with a high wealth status (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.25–2.78, P = 0.02). Conclusion: There is a need to understand and address individual, socio-economic and geographical barriers to health seeking to increase access and use of health care and fast-track progress towards Universal Health Coverage

Modeling Contraception and Pregnancy in Malawi: A Thanzi La Onse Mathematical Modeling Study

Malawi has high unmet need for contraception with a costed national plan to increase contraception use. Estimating how such investments might impact future population size in Malawi can help policymakers understand effects and value of policies to increase contraception uptake. We developed a new model of contraception and pregnancy using individual-level data capturing complexities of contraception initiation, switching, discontinuation, and failure by contraception method, accounting for differences by individual characteristics. We modeled contraception scale-up via a population campaign to increase initiation of contraception (Pop) and a postpartum family planning intervention (PPFP). We calibrated the model without new interventions to the UN World Population Prospects 2019 medium variant projection of births for Malawi. Without interventions Malawi's population passes 60 million in 2084; with Pop and PPFP interventions. it peaks below 35 million by 2100. We compare contraception coverage and costs, by method, with and without interventions, from 2023 to 2050. We estimate investments in contraception scale-up correspond to only 0.9 percent of total health expenditure per capita though could result in dramatic reductions of current pressures of very rapid population growth on health services, schools, land, and society, helping Malawi achieve national and global health and development goals

The potential for reservoir fisheries and aquaculture in Eastern Province, Zambia

This report provides the background, methodology and findings of a scoping study on dam-based fisheries and small-scale fish farming and consumption in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The aim of the study was to increase understanding of the current situation and the potential for improving sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for greater food and nutrition security. This report focuses mostly on dambased fisheries (capture and culture) and small-scale fish farming in six districts in the province: Chipata, Petauke, Lundazi, Katete, Sinda and Mambwe. The focus was on understanding of the current aquaculture and fisheries landscape and on the potential development pathways of increasing fish production, including for improved incomes and food and nutrition security. A focus on fish trading and consumption was therefore a key priority. Information was collected through key informant interviews with stakeholders and semi-structured interviews with fish farmers, fish traders and consumers. Focus group discussions with fish farmer cooperatives and dam management committees complemented the database. Fish production has high potential in the Eastern Province due to several reasons: there are many small water bodies (SWB) in the region and currently fish farming is entirely in the hands of smallscale farmers due to the absence of commercial aquaculture actors. Fish is an important source of food: small-scale producers consume the fish they produce in their family or market the fish within their own village locally. The report concludes with recommendations for development actors who are keen to engage in fish production in the province

Effects of pre- and post-partum Soya bean (Glycine max L.) meal supplementations on productivity of Angora goats in cummunal rangelands of Molimo Nthuse in Lesotho

No Abstract.URJAST Vol. 9 (2) 2006: pp. 125-13

Pig and Poultry Production: AGA 415

Pig and Poultry Production: AGA 415, supplementary examination July 2010

Pig and Poultry Production: AGA 415

Pig and Poultry Production: AGA 415, degree examinations June 2011

Genetic correlations between female fertility and production traits in South African Holstein cattle

CITATION: Makgahlela, M. L., et al. 2007. Genetic correlations between female fertility and production traits in South African Holstein cattle. South African Journal of Animal Sciences, 37(3):180-188.The original publication is available at https://www.sasas.co.zaFemale fertility is increasingly gaining importance in national dairy cattle breeding objectives worldwide. In South Africa, there is no routine prediction of breeding values for reproductive performance in dairy cattle and selection is mainly focused on production traits. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters among female fertility traits (age at first calving and calving interval) and first, second and third lactation production traits in South African Holstein cattle to determine the effect that selection on production per se may have on female fertility. Performance records on 40 437 South African Holstein cows in 766 herds were used. (Co)variance estimates were obtained by multitrait analysis, using the REML procedure. Heritability estimates were moderate for age at first calving (0.24 ± 0.02) and low for calving interval (0.03 ± 0.01). Genetic correlations between age at first calving and yield traits were low to moderately negative, ranging from -0.17 ± 0.07 with second lactation butterfat percentage to -0.50 ± 0.05 with first lactation butterfat yield. Calving interval had moderate to highly positive genetic correlations with yield traits, ranging from 0.37 ± 0.10 with second lactation milk yield to 0.69 ± 0.06 with first lactation milk yield. Correlations between female fertility and butterfat and protein percentages across all lactations, were close to zero. The observed antagonistic relationship between calving interval and production traits highlights the need to include calving interval in breeding objectives for South African Holstein cattle.https://www.sasas.co.za/journals/genetic-correlations-between-female-fertility-and-production-traits-in-south-african-holstein-cattle/ArticlePublisher's versio

A review of the possibilities of utilising medicinal plants in improving the reproductive performance of male ruminants

Our review condensed evidence on the potential of medicinal plants to improve the reproductive performance of livestock. The success of any livestock farming operation is highly dependent on the reproductive performance of animals. However, infertility has limited the proficiency of livestock and resulted in economic losses. For centuries, farmers utilised medicinal plants extensively in managing reproductive disorders. These plants have few to no side effects, are cheap, easily accessible and readily available. Among others, the inclusion of Moringa olifera leaf extracts for 14 days at levels of 100–300 mg/kg body weight improved sperm characteristics. Zingiber officinale root extracts at levels of 500–1000 mg/kg body weight for 3 weeks increased sperm count, viability and mobility and testosterone. Furthermore, the increase in the volume of ejaculate and sperm concentration has been observed in sheep when Leucaena spp were added to their diets at 100–300 g/sheep/day for 60 days. However, there is little literature regarding the use of medicinal plants on ruminants, as the majority of studies have been laboratory-based and have used experimental animals, including rats and mice. Thus, future research is required through in vivo and in vitro studies to ascertain the efficacy of these medicinal plants in male ruminants