The prevalence and socio-demographic associations of household food insecurity in seven slum sites across Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study

Although the proportion of people living in slums is increasing in low- and middle-income countries and food insecurity is considered a severe hazard for health, there is little research on this topic. This study investigated and compared the prevalence and socio-demographic associations of household food insecurity in seven slum settings across Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Data were taken from a cross-sectional, household-based, spatially referenced survey conducted between December 2018 and June 2020. Household characteristics and the extent and distribution of food insecurity across sites was established using descriptive statistics. Multivariable logistic regression of data in a pooled model including all slums (adjusting for slum site) and site-specific analyses were conducted. In total, a sample of 6,111 households were included. Forty-one per cent (2,671) of all households reported food insecurity, with varying levels between the different slums (9-69%). Household head working status and national wealth quintiles were consistently found to be associated with household food security in the pooled analysis (OR: 0·82; CI: 0·69-0·98 & OR: 0·65; CI: 0·57-0·75) and in the individual sites. Households which owned agricultural land (OR: 0·80; CI: 0·69-0·94) were less likely to report food insecurity. The association of the household head's migration status with food insecurity varied considerably between sites. We found a high prevalence of household food insecurity which varied across slum sites and household characteristics. Food security in slum settings needs context-specific interventions and further causal clarification

Pharmacies in informal settlements : a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries

Background Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. Methods We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. Results We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a “pharmacy” across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. Conclusions Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor

Pharmacies in informal settlements : a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries

Background Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. Methods We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. Results We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a “pharmacy” across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. Conclusions Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor

Nitrogen mineralization kinetics and parameter estimates in soil amended with Neem seed cake and inorganic fertilizer in Samaru, Nigeria

A field study was conducted to assess the effect of neem seed cake (NSC) on the kinetics of net nitrogen mineralization and parameter estimates. The experiment consisted of sorghum plots to which milled NSC (with %N > 3) and urea (inorganic N source) were applied. Ammonium-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen were determined after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 19 and 34 weeks from soils covered with PVC tubes inserted into the sixteen treatment combination plots. Inorganic N concentration in the amended plots and the control were analysed using five mathematical N mineralization models. N0, Ne, h and k were estimated from the fit of each mathematical model. The treatments were highly variable in their respective N mineralization characteristics, but the peaks for mineralized N content were observed at early incubation periods, i. e., 10 -28 days. Potential respective mineralizable N (N0) content of the first order rate, consecutive (h ‚ k), consecutive (h = k), Gompertz and mixed order rate constant was -927E-22, 430.90, 1.9E-21, 568.40 and 427.20 mg kg-1 soil and the respretively rate constant (k) was -5E+21, 0.2269, 2E+23, 0.0954 and 0.8116.respretively Net N mineralization was best described by a mixed order rate model (R2 = 0.992) and residual mean square error (RMSE)was = 28.41. A Gompertz function also fitted the data closely (R2 = 0.999; RMSE = 52.47). The two models recognize that N mineralization is not just a function of substrate N concentration but also of the capacity of the microbial community to adjust to substrate quality and composition affecting their growth and activity.Key words: mineralization model, neem seed cake, N mineralization, parameter estimates, PVC tube

Kinetic Adsorption of Heavy Metal (Copper) On Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Leaf Powder

This research was carried out to study the adsorption of copper from aqueous solution onto rubber leaves powder (RLP) using a batch adsorption process. The functional groups responsible for the adsorption of copper onto the rubber leaves surface were investigated using the Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR). Factors influencing adsorption, for example, contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, copper concentration, particle size, and temperature were also studied. The maximum Cu (II) ions adsorption was observed to have occurred at a pH of 5. The adsorption capacity of Cu (II) ions reduced as the particle size and adsorbent dose increased. The Kinetic studies showed a good correlation and best matched the kinetic model of a pseudo-second order. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were used to describe the Cu (II) adsorption onto the rubber leaves powder. The data gotten from the adsorption process were best compliant with the Langmuir model with a correlation value of 0.9912 and a maximum adsorption capacity of 9.074 mg / g. The thermodynamic variables (parameters) like entropy change (∆S°), Gibbs-free energy change (∆G°) and enthalpy change (∆H°) were determined and the adsorption process was observed to be an exothermic and a spontaneous process. The adsorption of copper ions from aqueous solution using rubber leaves power involved physisorption mechanism

S taphylococcus aureus contamination of animal-derived foods in Nigeria: a systematic review, 2002—2022

Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacterium of public health importance. The zoonotic spread of this pathogen through animal-derived foods has been reported. This systematic literature review investigates the prevalence, distribution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, and molecular characteristics of S. aureus in the food chain in Nigeria. Methods A systematic search of online databases (Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) for published articles from January 2002 to January 2022 was performed using the Prisma guideline. Results Fifty articles were included from an initial 511 extracted documents. These papers included research carried out in 22 states across Nigeria. S. aureus detection in most studies was above the satisfactory level for foods (≥ 104 CFU/g). The prevalence of S. aureus ranged from 1.3% in raw cow meat to 72.5% in fresh poultry meat. Most S. aureus isolates demonstrated multiple drug resistance patterns, especially being resistant to beta-lactams. There is a lack of information on the molecular typing of the S. aureus isolates. The different spa types of S. aureus isolated were t091, t314, t1476, and t4690, categorized into Multi-Locus-Sequence Types ST8, ST121, ST152, and ST789. Virulence genes detected include pvl, sea, see, spa, coa, edin, tsst, and hly. Certain AMR-encoding genes were detected, such as mecA, blaZ, fos, tet, and dfsr.. Factors contributing to the presence of S. aureus were reported as poor processing, poor sanitary conditions of the food processing units, inadequate storage units, and poor handling. Conclusion We showed that S. aureus is a major food contaminant in Nigeria despite the need for more information on the molecular typing of strains from animal-derived food sources. There is a need to control S. aureus by targeting specific entry points based on the findings on risk factors and drivers of food contamination

Additional file 1 of Staphylococcus aureus contamination of animal-derived foods in Nigeria: a systematic review, 2002—2022

Additional file 1. PRISMA 2020 checklist for Staphylococcus aureus contamination of animal-derived foods in Nigeria: a systematic review, 2002—2022

A protocol for a multi-site, spatially-referenced household survey in slum settings : methods for access, sampling frame construction, sampling, and field data collection

Background Household surveys are a key epidemiological, medical, and social research method. In poor urban environments, such as slums, censuses can often be out-of-date or fail to record transient residents, maps may be incomplete, and access to sites can be limit, all of which prohibits obtaining an accurate sampling frame. This article describes a method to conduct a survey in slum settings in the context of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Improving Health in Slums project. Methods We identify four key steps: obtaining site access, generation of a sampling frame, sampling, and field data collection. Stakeholder identification and engagement is required to negotiate access. A spatially-referenced sampling frame can be generated by: remote participatory mapping from satellite imagery; local participatory mapping and ground-truthing; and identification of all residents of each structure. We propose to use a spatially-regulated sampling method to ensure spatial coverage across the site. Finally, data collection using tablet devices and open-source software can be conducted using the generated sample and maps. Discussion Slums are home to a growing population who face some of the highest burdens of disease yet who remain relatively understudied. Difficulties conducting surveys in these locations may explain this disparity. We propose a generalisable, scientifically valid method that is sustainable and ensures community engagement

Compound climate risks threaten aquatic food system benefits

Aquatic foods from marine and freshwater systems are critical to the nutrition, health, livelihoods, economies and cultures of billions of people worldwide, but climate-related hazards may compromise their ability to provide these benefits. Here, we estimate national-level aquatic food system climate risk using an integrative food systems approach that connects climate hazards impacting marine and freshwater capture fisheries and aquaculture to their contributions to sustainable food system outcomes. We show that without mitigation, climate hazards pose high risks to nutritional, social, economic and environmental outcomes worldwide—especially for wild-capture fisheries in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Small Island Developing States. For countries projected to experience compound climate risks, reducing societal vulnerabilities can lower climate risk by margins similar to meeting Paris Agreement mitigation targets. System-level interventions addressing dimensions such as governance, gender equity and poverty are needed to enhance aquatic and terrestrial food system resilience and provide investments with large co-benefits towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals