The use of formative research to inform the design of a seasonal malaria chemoprevention intervention in northern Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Experience of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is growing in the Sahel sub-region of Africa, though there remains insufficient evidence to recommend a standard deployment strategy. In 2012, a project was initiated in Katsina state, northern Nigeria, to design an appropriate and effective community-based delivery approach for SMC, in consultation with local stakeholders. Formative research (FR) was conducted locally to explore the potential feasibility and acceptability of SMC and to highlight information gaps and practical considerations to inform the intervention design. METHODS:The FR adopted qualitative methods; 36 in-depth interviews and 18 focus group discussions were conducted across 13 target groups active across the health system and within the community. Analysis followed the 'framework' approach. The process for incorporating the FR results into the project design was iterative which was initiated by a week-long 'intervention design' workshop with relevant stakeholders. RESULTS:The FR highlighted both supportive and hindering factors to be considered in the intervention design. Malaria control was identified as a community priority, the community health workers were a trusted resource and the local leadership exerted strong influence over household decisions. However, there were perceived challenges with quality of care at both community and health facility levels, referral linkage and supportive supervision were weak, literacy levels lower than anticipated and there was the potential for suspicion of 'outside' interventions. There was broad consensus across target groups that community-based SMC drug delivery would better enable a high coverage of beneficiaries and potentially garner wider community support. A mixed approach was recommended, including both community fixed-point and household-to-household SMC delivery. The FR findings were used to inform the overall distribution strategy, mechanisms for integration into the health system, capacity building and training approaches, supportive interventions to strengthen the health system, and the social mobilization strategy. CONCLUSIONS:Formative research played a valuable role in exploring local socio-cultural contexts and health system realities. Both opportunities and challenges for the introduction of SMC delivery were highlighted, which were appropriately considered in the design of the project

Синтез и функционализация нанокристаллов бактериальной целлюлозы из чайного гриба для раневых повязок

In this study, bacterial cellulose nanocrystals and aldehyde functionalized bacterial cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized from kombucha tea. Bacterial cellulose derived from kombucha tea is a biopolymer synthesized by a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). The main goal of this work was the synthesis and chemical modification of cellulose nanocrystals from bacterial cellulose isolated from kombucha tea. The hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose using sulfuric acid resulted in bacterial cellulose nanocrystals. Aldehyde modified bacterial cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized using periodate oxidation in order to acquire new properties such as a non-toxic crosslinking agent with other biopolymers. The bacterial cellulose nanocrystals and dialdehyde bacterial cellulose nanocrystals were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X‑ray diffraction, thermal analysis and particle size distribution. The synthesized bacterial cellulose nanocrystals and the dialdehyde derivative are excellent materials that could be used as potent wound dressing materials and scaffolds for tissue engineering applicationsВ этом исследовании нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы и нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы, функционализированные альдегидными группами, были синтезированы из чайного гриба. Бактериальная целлюлоза, полученная из чайного гриба, представляет собой биополимер, синтезированный симбиотическим консорциумом бактерий и дрожжей (SCOBY). Основной целью данной работы был синтез и химическая модификация нанокристаллов целлюлозы из бактериальной целлюлозы, выделенной из чайного гриба. В результате гидролиза бактериальной целлюлозы серной кислотой были получены нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы. Нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы, модифицированные альдегидными группами, были синтезированы с использованием перийодата для приобретения новых свойств, таких как нетоксичный сшивающий агент с другими биополимерами. Нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы и нанокристаллы диальдегидной бактериальной целлюлозы были охарактеризованы с помощью ИК-Фурье-спектроскопии, рентгеновской дифракции, термического анализа, и определены распределения частиц по размерам. Синтезированные нанокристаллы бактериальной целлюлозы и ее функционализированное альдегидными группами производное являются превосходными материалами, которые можно использовать в качестве эффективных перевязочных материалов для ран и каркасов для приложений тканевой инженери