ABSTRACT Currently, there is a growing trend towards gathering children at orphanage centres (OCs) due to societal changes. This leaves many unanswered questions related to the quality of care offered to children living in OCs. This study aimed to examine care practices and support provided to children living in orphanage centers in Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions. A cross sectional study design using a questionnaire, observations, anthropometric and biochemical measurements was used to c...
ABSTRACT Lack of dietary diversity is a serious health problem in developing countries because diets are dominantly starchy staples. This study aimed at assessing healthy eating behaviors and dietary diversity among people living in Morogoro urban, rural and Mvomero districts. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess eating behaviors and dietary diversity in 150 households. Dietary diversity was assessed by using un-quantified validated 24 hours recall method. Anthropometric measureme...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of prisoners living with HIV/ AIDS in Tanzania prisons. A total of 768 (384 HIV-infected, 384 non-infected) prisoners were assessed for nutritional status, dietary intake, Hb status and body fat mass. Results showed that, 75.5% (N=768) of prisoners had good nutritional status of whom 38.3% were HIV-infected and 37.2% were non-infected inmates. About 6.6% (N=768) of the inmates were under-weight, (2.9% HIV-infected, 3.7% non-H...
ABSTRACT Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), a disease that causes morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans. Among the measures considered, vaccines are the most effective control strategy against this RVF disease. While we have available vaccines, effective vaccines and better routes of vaccination are needed to prevent RVF among livestock and humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a li...
ABSTRACT Consumption of vegetables is the most sustainable way of reducing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in resource-poor communities. However, not much has been documented about standard recipes that are of high nutritional quality in terms of minerals and vitamins. The aim of this study was to modify traditional cowpea leaf vegetable preparation methods to enhance carotenoid retention and iron bioavailability. Modification principles included reducing cooking time, addition of...
Abstract This study evaluated the effects of different domestic food processing techniques on the nutrients, antinutrients, food toxicants composition, functional properties, microbial types and sensory properties of food products based on two varieties of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus). Black and dark red varieties of lima bean were purchased, cleaned, cooked, soaked, dehulled, germinated, fermented and milled into fine flours. Both the unprocessed and processed flours were analysed for micr...
ABSTRACT Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological assessment tool that gives a reliable, objective way of recording the level of conscious state of a person. Assessment of consciousness level is considered a primary action of health care practitioners, including nurses, who care for the patients with neurological or neurosurgical problems. Growing evidence suggests that problem is encountered when completing some aspect of the GCS with the potential for performing an incorrect assessment. ...
ABSTRACT The solubility of gentamicin in various formulation vehicles (oils, surfactants and co-surfactants) was determined using the shake flask method. Emulsifying ability of the surfactants for the selected oil was screened. Different SNEF prototypes were developed following the construction of ternary phase diagrams using water titration method. The effect of drug and other additives on the ternary phase diagrams were studied and the selected formulations were optimized. Optimized formul...
ABSTRACT Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is the second most damaging potato disease in tropical and sub-tropical regions causing up to 75% of crop loss and affects 77% of potato farmers in at least 10 Counties in Kenya. Lack of actual information on the distribution of bacterial wilt limits application of strategic approaches in curbing the disease in Nakuru county and other parts of Kenya. A survey was undertaken using a semi structured questionnaire and personal observatio...
ABSTRACT The study was designed to determine prevalence and patterns of Psychoactive Substance use among Senior Secondary School Students in Dala Local Government Area (LGA), Kano State Nigeria. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select two Secondary Schools out of the ten Government Senior Secondary School in Dala LGA, of Kano State. Both Schools have a combined population of 2293 students made up 1202 boys and 1096 gi...
ABSTRACT Vegetables constitute an important part of the human diet as a source of nutrients such as vitamins. The emerging lifestyle changes and need to live a healthy life have led to increased consumption of vegetables. There are, however, growing concerns over the indiscriminate use of pesticides and lack of clear safety standards for maximum residue levels for vegetables sold in the local market. This study was done to assess human exposure to pesticide residues through consumption of exo...
ABSTRACT Intensive agriculture and cut flower farming which are characterized by heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers have been on the increase in developing countries. A number of consequences are associated with heavy use of pesticides; however weak enforcement of laws and regulations suggests that their use will continue. There is a high possibility that Flower Farm Workers (FFW‟s) lack knowledge in handling, storage and use of pesticides in flower farms leading to increased incidenc...
ABSTRACT This study determined the chemical composition and organoleptic attributes of three selected vegetables consumed in Njikoka local government area, Anambra state, Nigeria. The vegetables used for the study were Ipomea batatas, Portulaca olercea and Corchorus tridens purchased from local market in Enugwu- Ukwu, Njikoka local government area, Anambra State, Nigeria. The vegetables were processed (sun and shade dried). The fresh samples served as the controls. Nine yam dishes based on f...
ABSTRACT A number of essential trace elements play major roles in various metabolic pathways. Deficiencies or alterations in the level of these trace elements adversely affect the ability to withstand oxidative stress-mediated cell damage. This study determined the serum status of copper, zinc and manganese in psychiatric patients. One hundred (100) psychiatric patients attending the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Enugu, Nigeria were categorized into two groups: fifty (50) patients on antipsychot...
ABSTRACT The search for new principles in bio-control of plant pathogens different from the classical fungicides is of worldwide interest. The genus Streptomyces is the producer of about 80% of all known world antibiotics. It is of a major interest in bio control of plant pathogens. The study consisted of three steps: (i) collection of soil samples from different sites in the Mau Forest Complex and isolation of Streptomyces from these samples, (ii) screening for antimicrobial activity of the ...