Effect of women's education on fertility in Rwanda: Evidence from the 2000 RDHS

Faculty of Humanities School of Social Sciences 0513951x [email protected] studies indicate that women’s education plays a very important role in driving demographic transition. This study aims at exploring the effect of women’s education on fertility in Rwanda. The study is based on the analysis of the 2000 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey and employs both direct and indirect methods of estimating fertility. Bongaarts proximate determinants model and such statistical analyses as PATH analysis. The major finding of the study is that although fertility is still high in Rwanda there is some evidence of fertility decline and marriage is the most important proximate determinant of fertility in the country. The study recommends that more studies are needed to find out socioeconomic variables that affect fertility and contribute to low contraceptive use in the country

Colorimetric Nanoparticles for Biosensing

Title of Thesis: COLORIMETRIC NANOPARTICLES FOR BIOSENSING Kankindi Rwego, Master of Science, 2014 Thesis directed by: Professor Peter Kofinas Department of Bioengineering In order to develop biosensors that change color upon the detection of a pathogen, nearly monodisperse polymer nanoparticles that can arrange into an ordered lattice structure that emits structural color, which is color free of pigment, or dye are synthesized. This work investigates methods for preparing electrostatically stabilized lattice structures by investigating the co-polymerization of polystyrene latex particles with the ionic co-monomer sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate ("AMPS") through varying emulsion polymerization reaction parameters. Additionally, this work is the first to deposit polystyrene-co-poly(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) core-shell nanoparticles onto a glass substrate, entrap in an elastomer matrix, and successfully show color change from green to red in less than 30 seconds upon exposure to a non-polar solvent. As such, the ability to induce a color change that is observable by the unaided human eye has been established. Therefore, this thesis promises to lead to the development of colorimetric biosensors in the near future

Investigation on Prevalence of Canine Trypanosomiasis in the Conservation Areas of Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth in Western Uganda

Nowadays, despite the instauration of several control strategies, animal trypanosomiasis continues to be reported all over Uganda. Few canine African trypanosomiasis (CAT) studies have been carried out, yet dogs are known Trypanosoma reservoirs that share identical home ranges with livestock and serve as parasite link between livestock and humans. This study evaluates the prevalence of CAT in dogs in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas. This information will be useful to evaluate the possible role of dogs in the transmission cycle of Trypanosoma species in livestock and wild animals. Trypanosome tests using microhematocrit centrifugation/dark ground microscopy technique (MHCT) followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) were performed in blood samples collected from identified indigenous dogs (n = 124). Four (3.23%) out of 124 dogs were positive for CAT. One dog was positive with Trypanosoma congolense and three with T. vivax. There was no significant statistical difference in CAT prevalence rate in relation to dog's age, sex, and site (P > 0.05). This study reports what we believe is the first time detection of T. congolense and T. vivax in the indigenous dogs found in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas in western Uganda. The noticed T. congolense and T. vivax could be responsible for both canine and animal trypanosomiasis and represent a serious threat to the livestock industry. Therefore, there is a need for continuous trypanosomiasis surveillance and integrated management in contiguity to wildlife reserves

Rodents as potential hosts and reservoirs of parasites along the edge of a Central African forest: Bwindi impenetrable national park, South Western Uganda

Background: Rodents which constitute 42% of the world\u2019s mammalian population are major reservoirs of pathogens that cause zoonoses. Currently we know little about rodents\u2019 potential zoonotic transfer from human settlements into protected areas and how any such threats might be reduced. Objective: To investigate the role of rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens along the boundary of Bwindi. Methods: A rodent inventory in three villages along the edge of Bwindi, was carried using live trapping techniques and the local rodents\u2019 ecto and endoparasite fauna investigated. Results: Two hundred eighty eight rodents captured belonged to 24 species, 17 genera and 4 families with Lophuromys aquilus being most abundant (30.2%). 240 ectoparasites which included mites, fleas and ticks were collected from 88 rodents out of 249. Proamys jacksoni rodents were most infested. Although the mites represented the largest proportion (84.6%), the highest species diversity was shown among the fleas (9 species). Some 36.9% of the rodents were infected with endoparasites of which L. aquilus haboured most. Endoparasitic genera identified included Nippostrongylus, Ascaris , Strongyloides, Trichuris, Hymenolepis , Taenia and Cryptosporidium . Conclusion: Rodents have a zoonotic potentiality. There is need for developing effective integrated rodent management programs against rodent to reduce chances of parasite transmission within the protected areas

Molecular Epidemiology of Cross-Species Giardia duodenalis Transmission in Western Uganda

Giardia duodenalis is a common protozoan parasite that infects multiple mammalian species, including humans. We analyzed G. duodenalis from people, livestock, and wild non-human primates in forest fragments near Kibale National Park, western Uganda, where habitat disturbance and human-animal interaction are high. Molecular analyses indicated that endangered red colobus monkeys were infected with G. duodenalis assemblages BIV and E, which characteristically infect humans and livestock, respectively. G. duodenalis infected people at rates of up to 67.5% in one village, and people age 15 years or younger were especially likely to be infected. G. duodenalis infection in people was not associated with other factors related to behavior and hygiene, and infected people were no more likely to have reported gastrointestinal symptoms than were uninfected people. These results demonstrate that G. duodenalis transmission from humans and domestic animals to wildlife may occur with ease in locations such as western Uganda, where habitat disturbance causes ecological overlap among people, livestock, and primates. This conclusion has conservation implications for wildlife such as red colobus, which are already endangered by habitat loss

Knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis in the pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections globally. Lack of knowledge about brucellosis may affect the health-seeking behavior of patients, thus leading to sustained transmission in these communities. Our study assessed knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis among pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP), Kiruhura District, Uganda. METHODS: A community cross-sectional questionnaire survey involving 371 randomly selected household heads from three sub-counties neighboring LMNP were interviewed between June and August 2012. Data collected included communities’ knowledge on causes, symptoms, transmission, treatment, prevention and risk factors of brucellosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore strength of association between overall knowledge of brucellosis and various individual factors using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Only 70 (19%) knew the symptoms of brucellosis in animals, and three quarters (279, 75.5%) mentioned joint and muscle pain as a common symptom in humans. Almost all participants (370, 99.3%) had ever heard about brucellosis, majority (311, 84.7%) believed it affects all sexes and two thirds (67.7%) of the respondents believed close proximity to wildlife contributes to the presence of the disease. Almost all (352, 95.4%) knew that brucellosis in humans could be treatable using modern drugs. The main routes of infection in humans such as consumption of unpasteurized dairy products were known by 97% (360/371); eating of half-cooked meat by 91.4% and eating contaminated pasture in animals by 97.4%. There was moderate overall knowledge of brucellosis 197 (53.1%). Factors associated with higher overall knowledge were being agro-pastoralists (aOR: 2.08, CI: 1.17-3.71) compared to pure pastoralists while those who reported that the disease was a health problem (aOR: 0.18, CI: 0.06-0.56) compared to those who said it was not were less likely to be knowledgeable. CONCLUSIONS: There was moderate overall knowledge of human and animal brucellosis among the participants. Majority of the participants believed that close proximity to wildlife contributes to the presence of the disease in the area. There is a need for collaboration between the public health, veterinary and wildlife sectors to provide health education on brucellosis for better management of the disease in the communities

Determinants of patients' choice of provider in accessing brucellosis care among pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park in Kiruhura district, Uganda

Brucellosis is the commonest zoonotic infection worldwide causing human suffering and economic losses through affected livestock. Symptoms are similar to other febrile syndromes such as malaria and typhoid fever and it is often easily misdiagnosed, resulting in underreporting and misdirected treatments. The study was conducted in pastoralist rangelands. Females and households with six to ten members were more likely to seek health care at government facilities, while those with tertiary education were less likely, after the first provider. Improved geographical access needs to be matched with good quality basic services, adequate medicines, qualified health personnel and regular supportive supervision

Zoonosis emergence linked to agricultural intensification and environmental change

A systematic review was conducted by a multidisciplinary team to analyze qualitatively best available scientific evidence on the effect of agricultural intensification and environmental changes on the risk of zoonoses for which there are epidemiological interactions between wildlife and livestock. The study found several examples in which agricultural intensification and/or environmental change were associated with an increased risk of zoonotic disease emergence, driven by the impact of an expanding human population and changing human behavior on the environment. We conclude that the rate of future zoonotic disease emergence or reemergence will be closely linked to the evolution of the agriculture–environment nexus. However, available research inadequately addresses the complexity and interrelatedness of environmental, biological, economic, and social dimensions of zoonotic pathogen emergence, which significantly limits our ability to predict, prevent, and respond to zoonotic disease emergence