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Background and Aims:There is a high burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in the children under five years of age, particularly pneumonia diarrhea and which is greatly affected by low immunization coverage despite the existing efforts and policies. This study was carried out in Butaleja district and was aimed at establishing the socio-demographic determinants of vaccine coverage for pneumococcus and rotavirus among under five children (U5C) in the district. Study Design:This was a mixed methods cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study:Busolwe Town Council, Butaleja District, Eastern Uganda.Methodology:Structured researcher administered questionnaires were administered to 434 caregivers of U5C in different parts of Butaleja district. In-depth interviews with key informants and focused group discussions with Village Health Teams and community members were conducted. Review of Health Management Information Systems records was done. STATA 15 was used to analyze the data.Results:The study found that there is a declining trend in completion of the doses of Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) and Rotavirus vaccine. For example, in quarter 1 of 2019, out of the 312 children who started immunization, only 2 completed Rota virus immunization and only 117 completed PCV vaccinations a trend that has been observed since 2016. The factors that showed a significant association with the the fact that they gave their child at least one dose of the vaccinewere having been sensitized on the current immunisation schedule(P-value = <0.001), misunderstanding that vaccine is harmful for child(P-value = 0.007), willingness to take children to vaccination(P-value = <0.001), and social factors such as family (P-value = <0.030). Gender also played a key determinant role where the children’s fathers lacked knowledge on significance of immunization and thus discouraged the mothers from taking the children for immunization. Inadequate funding was also highlighted from the Focus Group Discussions.Conclusion:Vaccine coverage for pneumococcus and rotavirus is still low in Butaleja district mainly due to the attitudes and perceptions of caregivers as well as the knowledge gap. There is need forextensive sensitization of all community members to enable them understand the significance of immunization. It would further be important to increase the funding of the immunization programme to intensify and ensure effectual outreaches as well as the establishment and enforcement of a policy for immunization compliance.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The biological green synthesis of nanoparticles via nanobiotechnology processes have a significant potential to boost nanoparticles production without the use of harsh, toxic, and expensive chemicals commonly used in conventional physical and chemical processes. Annona muricata, a tropical plant belonging to family Annonaceae is one of the most used plants in folk medicine because of its many medicinal uses and therefore presents a strong candidate for use in green synthesis. Aims: The aim of this study was to optimize a method for the synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) from ethanolic extracts of leaves of Annona muricata as well as to characterize the green synthesized AgNPs. Methodology: AgNPs were synthesized from Annona muricata leaves using AgNO3 solution. The AgNPs were characterized using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. Results: The formed AgNPs had an absorption maximum at 429 nm using UV–Visible spectroscopy and were stable under different pH, temperature, and storage conditions. Fourier transform infrared analysis revealed the different functional groups responsible for the synthesis and stabilization of the AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a spherical nature of the synthesized AgNPs. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis showed presence of Ag, O, and Cl with Ag having the highest composition at 60%. X-Ray Diffraction and Dynamic Light Scattering revealed a crystalline nature of AgNPs with an average size of 87.36 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.16 respectively. Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis further confirmed the crystalline and spherical nature of the AgNPs. Conclusion: In this article, an efficient, eco-friendly and low-cost method for the synthesis and recovery of stable AgNPs using Annona muricata leaves ethanolic extracts as both a reducing and capping agent has been reported for the first time. The synthesized AgNPs could be promising candidates for many biomedical, clinical, engineering, and polymer applications.
ABSTRACT
Aim:To determine nutritional knowledge and practices among patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) attending Mbale Regional Referral hospital, in Eastern Uganda. Study Design:A mixed methods cross sectional study design was used.Place and Duration of Study:Mbale Regional Referral Hospital among patients attending the NCD clinic from May to July 2017.Methodology:Two hundred sixty clients were recruited for the study. Quantitative data was collected through structured administered questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Chi square test and logistic regression were used to determine the association between nutrition knowledge and utilization. Qualitative data was coded first and summarized according to the themes.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 55 years (SD= 14) andhospital was the main source of nutrition information (n=156, 60%). Most respondents (n=156, 60%) had a high level of nutrition knowledge, however only 48.8% (n=127) were utilizing the knowledge.Those who had attained secondary level of education were 2.308 more likely to utilize the nutrition knowledge than those who had never studied Pvalue of .028, 95CI (1.093-4.874).Those with tertiary education were even 9.261 times more likely to utilize the knowledge Pvalue <.001 95CI (2.721-31.522). Those with adequate knowledge were about 1.6 times most likely to utilize the nutrition knowledge compared to those with inadequateknowledge level, however, with the adjusted odd ratio of 1.573 at 95% CI (0.923-2.868) the results were not statistically significant (Pvalue .098).Conclusion:NCD patients had adequate knowledge, with a few of them utilizing the knowledge. High education level was associated with better nutrition practices