Perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda

The study investigated perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda. Participants (N=95) were made up of 15 leaders of disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and 80 people with disabilities (PWDs). A survey design which used both quantitative and qualitative research methods was adopted. A questionnaire was used for leaders of DPOs while focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with the rest of the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The qualitative data were analysed by means of a content analysis. The study found that although PWDs were aware of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, they felt discriminated against on HIV/AIDS issues. The PWDs had difficulties in accessing HIV/AIDS services because of mainly communication problems. Results further revealedthat the HIV/AIDS policy on disability was not very clear. The PWDs requested for full involvement in HIV/AIDS advocacy and training programmes. Recommendations were made

The acceptability of HIV testing among women receiving post abortion care

Introduction: In South Sudan few women have heard about the HIV. The prevalence of HIV infection in the country is 2.6%. Post abortion care (PAC) accounts for over 50% of all gynaecological admissions at the Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH). HIV testing is not routinely offered as part of PAC services.Objective: To determine factors associated with acceptability of HIV testing among women receiving PAC at JTH.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted at the Gynaecological Unit of JTH. Three hundred and forty patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.Results: The mean age of the participants was 24.7 years with 50.5% aged <25years, 31.5% were employed, and 31.8% had no formal education. Acceptability of HIV testing was 70.9% and the prevalence of HIV was 2.7%. The most common reason for not accepting, was the belief, based on previous results, that they were HIV negative. Patients aged ≥25 years and those with primary and secondary education were twice as likely to accept HIV testing than those <25 years and those with no formal education, respectively. Employment status, religion and marital status were not statistically associated with acceptability of HIV testing. Patients previously tested for HIV were more likely to accept testing.Conclusion: Routine HIV testing should be integrated into PAC services with efforts to increase awareness of HIV and importance of testingKeywords: HIV, abortion, post-abortion care, South SudanSouth Sudan Medical Journal Vol 12 No 3 August 201

Evaluation of vegetable pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] genotypes for yield stability

Background Vegetable pigeonpea is an important food security crop in the marginal dry areas of the Eastern region of Kenya. The adaptation and stability of vegetable pigeonpea genotypes across different agro-ecological zones in Kenya are not adequately determined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield stability and adaptability of genotypes: KAT 60/8, MZ 2/9, ICEAP 00554, ICEAP 00557 and KIONZA based on additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) and Genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE biplot) analysis. Methods Evaluation of vegetable pigeonpea Genotypes was conducted at Kiboko, Katumani and Kambi ya Mawe research stations located in Eastern region and University of Nairobi Field station in central region of Kenya. The genotypes were planted in a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD), replicated three times at all sites. Rainfall at Kiboko and Kabete were supplemented with irrigation, using sprinklers, for a total of 38 times, providing 832 mm of water. The crop was protected from pests by the application of broad-spectrum, non-systemic, pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin and dimethoate, after field scouting. All other agronomic and cultural practices were done as recommended for each location. Results Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) at six environments revealed highly significant (P  < 0.01) variations in G × E interactions for yield (Kg/ha), 100 Seed mass (g/100 seed), days to flower and maturity (P  < 0.05). AMMI model for grain yield interaction principal components analysis (IPCA), explained 96.5% of the total yield variation. The cultivar MZ 2/9 and KAT 60/8 recorded a lower IPCA1, indicating a wider adaptation and stability. Kambi ya Mawe, Katumani and Kiboko had higher IPCA1, indicating greatest interactive environments and adapted genotypes. Kambi ya Mawe, was the most ideal location for evaluating pigeonpea genotypes. While KIONZA was the most ideal genotype for yield performance, MZ 2/9 and KAT 60/8 were most stable with a wider adaptation. Conclusion KIONZA should be used as a reference genotype, while Kambi ya Mawe would be the most ideal location for testing the vegetable pigeonpea genotypes in breeding research. Increased deployment of stable pigeon pea cultivars, MZ 2/9 and KAT 60/8 would enhance food security in the dry areas of Eastern regions of Kenya. These genotypes need to be promoted with farmers for wider adoption in the Eastern region of Kenya

The use of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris ) traditional varieties and their mixtures with commercial varieties to manage bean fly (Ophiomyia spp .) infestations in Uganda

The bean fly (Ophiomyia spp.) is considered the most economically damaging field insect pest of common beans in Uganda. Despite the use of existing pest management approaches, reported damage has remained high. Forty-eight traditional and improved common bean varieties currently grown in farmers’ fields were evaluated for resistance against bean fly. Data on bean fly incidence, severity and root damage from bean stem maggot were collected. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) revealed significant resistance to bean fly in the Ugandan traditional varieties. A popular resistant traditional variety and a popular susceptible commercial variety were selected from the 48 varieties and evaluated in pure and mixed stands. The incidence of bean fly infestation on both varieties in mixtures with different arrangements (systematic random versus rows), and different proportions within each of the two arrangements, was measured and analysed using GLMMs. The proportion of resistant varieties in a mixture and the arrangement type significantly decreased bean fly damage compared to pure stands, with the highest decrease in damage registered in the systematic random mixture with at least 50 % of resistant variety. The highest reduction in root damage, obvious 21 days after planting, was found in systematic random mixtures with at least 50 % of the resistant variety. Small holder farmers in East Africa and elsewhere in the world have local preferences for growing bean varieties in genetic mixtures. These mixtures can be enhanced by the use of resistant varieties in the mixtures to reduce bean fly damage on susceptible popular varieties

Antiviral Activity of Some Plants Used in Nepalese Traditional Medicine

Methanolic extracts of 41 plant species belonging to 27 families used in the traditional medicine in Nepal have been investigated for in vitro antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and influenza virus A by dye uptake assay in the systems HSV-1/Vero cells and influenza virus A/MDCK cells. The extracts of Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata, Cassiope fastigiata and Thymus linearis showed potent anti-herpes viral activity. The extracts of Allium oreoprasum, Androsace strigilosa, Asparagus filicinus, Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata and Verbascum thapsus exhibited strong anti-influenza viral activity. Only the extracts of A. rivularis and B. ciliata demonstrated remarkable activity against both viruses

Cross-boundary human impacts compromise the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem

Protected areas provide major benefits for humans in the form of ecosystem services, but landscape degradation by human activity at their edges may compromise their ecological functioning. Using multiple lines of evidence from 40 years of research in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, we find that such edge degradation has effectively “squeezed” wildlife into the core protected area and has altered the ecosystem’s dynamics even within this 40,000-square-kilometer ecosystem. This spatial cascade reduced resilience in the core and was mediated by the movement of grazers, which reduced grass fuel and fires, weakened the capacity of soils to sequester nutrients and carbon, and decreased the responsiveness of primary production to rainfall. Similar effects in other protected ecosystems worldwide may require rethinking of natural resource management outside protected areas

Effect of light, food additives and heat on the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins in model beverages.

This work aimed to evaluate the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins (DXA) in model beverages (pH 3.5) elaborated with crude sorghum phenolic extract, containing ascorbic acid and sulphite, under fluorescent light exposure and subjected to heat treatment. There was no significant difference in the DXA degradation during storage under light exposure (24.16%) and absence of light (20.72%). DXA degradation did not differ in the presence of ascorbic acid during storage under light exposure (23.99-25.38%) and absence of light (19.87-21.74%). The addition of sulphite caused an initial bleaching reaction, but as a reversible reaction, the anthocyanin content was higher on the last day of storage compared to the first day. There were no significant differences in total anthocyanin content of all treatments subjected to the heat treatment (80 °C for 5 and 25 min). Thus, crude DXA are very stable under light, additives and heat, and may be useful as natural food colourants