Correlates of Physical Activity Among Adults in Botswana: Sociodemographic Factors, Health Status, and Body Image.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence of lower physical activity (PA), higher sedentary behavior, and prevalence of overweight and obesity in African countries calls for more research on PA behavior and its various correlates in this context. This study examined the proportion of adults meeting World Health Organization PA guidelines from 3 urban regions of Botswana, as well as the relationship among sociodemographic factors, body image, and participation in moderate to vigorous PA. METHODS: Using a 2-stage stratified cluster sampling approach, cross-sectional data were collected from 699 participants (females = 66%; M = 32.60 y; SD = 11.96). RESULTS: Overall, 45.8% of participants met World Health Organization PA guidelines. Censored regression analyses indicated that females (B = -221.573, P < .001), and individuals from middle- (B = -331.913, P < .001), and high-income (B = -165.185, P = .036) households spent significantly less minutes in moderate to vigorous PA per week. Evaluative (B = -333.200, P < .001) and affective (B = -158.753, P = .038) components of body image were associated with significantly less minutes spent in moderate to vigorous PA per week. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic approach to PA promotion that targets females, middle- to high-income groups, and individuals experiencing body image concerns is needed.

Perspectives on Gender in Science, Technology, and Innovation: A Review of Sub-Saharan Africa's Science Granting Councils and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Africa's focus on science, technology, and innovation (STI) has grown over the last decade, with emerging examples of good practice. There are however numerous challenges to sustainable development in Africa; for example, inequalities within and among African countries are rising and enormous disparities of opportunity, wealth, and power persist. While policy makers and organizations have put increasing emphasis on integrating gender into STI policies and initiatives as a means to achieve gender equality for all women and girls, inequality remains a key challenge to continental sustainable development. STI funders such as the Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa are key players in national innovation systems. They advise and facilitate policy and program development, disburse funds, build research capacity, set and monitor research agendas, manage bilateral and multilateral STI agreements, and assess the communication, uptake, and impact of research. They, therefore, have a major role to play in enabling countries to achieve SDG5. This study assessed the current actions in gender mainstreaming across the SGCs and the status of gender research and collaboration in participating countries. Our findings provide evidence of uneven progress in promoting gender equality in the operations of the SGCs, including funding research and promoting the integration of gender dimensions in research content and curricula. All SGCs emphasized national commitments to gender, and the importance of gender in STI, but acknowledged that at the structural and institutional levels there was a misalignment between policy and practice. As expected, more men than women were employed across most levels at the SGCs and held positions of seniority and decision making. Most of the SGCs had very limited or no gender-related funding programs to promote gender and STI or to eliminate the barriers that women scholars face. This resulted in persistent inequalities in who received funding, the size of the grants they received, and in the knowledge production, collaboration, and the impact on their country's gender-related research. These findings suggest that SGCs need to strengthen their actions to mainstream gender if they are to achieve success with SDG5.

Early- and mid-career transitions to research leadership in Africa.

This article examines the early-and mid-career transition to research leadership in Africa. Much of the available African literature on research leadership indicate several challenges related to poor conceptualisations of career transitions and gaps in the availability of research training. Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews (n=24) and focus groups (n=27) to identify key transition points of early career researchers (ECRs) and mid-career researchers (MCRs) in selected African countries. The qualitative data was complemented with quantitative survey questionnaires (n=250) and a triangulation approach was adopted to analyse the results. The findings were themed into different categories describing the common career paths, stages and challenges of research leaders. The latter part of the findings present a discussion on development approaches to attract and retain researchers in African universities. By focusing on the African continent, this study contributes to the current body of literature on research leadership in the Global South.

Stewardship of Wild and Farmed Edible Insects as Food and Feed in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Perspective.

Edible insects have gained popularity as alternative food resources in the face of climate change and increasing carbon and environmental footprints associated with conventional agricultural production. Among the positive attributes that make edible insects suitable as food and feed substrates include rapid reproduction, high energy conversion efficiency, wide distribution, diversity, reduced greenhouses gases and ammonia emissions, possibility to reduce waste and high nutritional composition. In Sub-Saharan Africa, considerable scientific data exist on use of insects as food and livestock feed. However, coherent policies regarding safety, sustainability, trade and regulation of insects as food and animal feed are lacking. The benefits associated with edible insects are likely to accrue in Sub-Saharan Africa through use of a combination of approaches such as ensured sustainable utilization of edible insects in the wild, preservation of traditional conservation, harvesting and consumption practices, development of captive mass production schemes and strengthening robust value chains to incentivise indigenous participants. Collectively these approaches are referred to as the steward and use of insects as food and animal feed. This paper examines the policy frameworks that exist to support the use of edible insects as food and feed on the African continent. This investigation employed a literature review focussing on national policies in selected African countries to assess the relevance to edible insects. Using a baseline of more than 10 edible insect species consumed, 10 country cases in Sub-Saharan Africa were used to support our in-depth examination of the policy situation that may support good stewardship of edible insects as food and feed. Focus on how policies encompassing biodiversity, natural resources, culture, education, research, technology development, trade, health and nutrition and how that could be improved to support inclusivity of edible insects is discussed. We conclude by proposing a pathway that may accelerate recognition and valorisation of edible insects as important food and feed resources in Sub-Saharan Africa including improving policies to support good stewardship of these resources for sustainability.

The Association of General and Central Obesity with Dietary Patterns and Socioeconomic Status in Adult Women in Botswana.

Dietary patterns and their association with general and central obesity among adult women were studied using a cross-sectional survey with multistage cluster sampling in urban and rural areas nationwide in Botswana. The participants in the study were adult women (N = 1019), 18-75 years old. The dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis, and their associations with the body mass index and the weight-for-height ratio were examined. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify six dietary patterns (fast foods, refined carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits, fish and nuts, Botswana traditional foods, and organ and red meat dietary pattern). Overall, 24.5% of the women were overweight (BMI 25.0-29.99 kg/m2) and 24.5% were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2). A waist-to-height ratio greater than 0.5 was observed for 42.2% of the women. With adjustment for age and education, individuals in the highest tertile of the Botswana traditional food pattern had a significantly higher risk of general obesity (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.07-1.84) and central obesity (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.97-1.48). With respect to the fish and nut pattern, a significant association was observed with central obesity only (RR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.18-1.72). The Botswana traditional food pattern, characterised by a high carbohydrate intake, was found to be associated with a high risk of obesity in this study. However, more research is required to assess other factors contributing to obesity in women so that appropriate intervention programs can be put in place to help control this epidemic.

Effects of a High Protein Food Supplement on Physical Activity, Motor Performance and Health Related Quality of Life of HIV Infected Botswana Children on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

OBJECTIVE: Despite existing evidence about the benefits of nutrition, physical activity (PA) and sport to the overall health and wellbeing of children, knowledge gaps remain on this relationship in children living with chronic conditions like HIV/AIDS. Such knowledge should inform context specific programs that could enhance the quality of life of children. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of integrating a nutrition intervention (culturally tailored food supplement) into antiretroviral therapy (ART) on psychosocial outcomes and physical activity among HIV-positive children in Botswana. METHOD: 201 HIV-positive children (6-15 years; M = 9.44, SD = 2.40) were recruited and randomly assigned (stratified by age and gender) to two groups. The intervention group (n = 97) received a high protein (bean-sorghum plus micronutrients) food supplement, while the control group (n = 104) received a sorghum plus micronutrients supplement. Participants were followed over 12 months. Anthropometric measures, PA, motor performance, and health related quality of life (HRQL) were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Mixed repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant time effect of the food supplement on target variables except body fat percentage, speed, and school functioning. Time × treatment interaction was found for physical functioning, psychosocial functioning and total quality of life score. Scores on physical functioning and total of quality life in the intervention group significantly increased from baseline to 6 months compared with the control group (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: A combination of ART and nutritional intervention had a positive effect on physical functioning and total quality of life of HIV-positive children in this study. There were also improvements to physical activity and motor performance tests over time. More research is needed on long term effects of nutrition and PA interventions on HRQL in children living with HIV.

Estudo clínico-patológico de odontomas diagnosticados no Laboratório de Patologia Bucal da Faculdade de Odontologia de Pernambuco - FOP / Odontomas Pathological-Clinical Study DiagnosedattheOral Pathology Laboratory from Pernambuco College of Dentistry

O Odontoma é o tipo mais comum de tumor odontogênico. Os odontomas são subdivididos em composto e complexo. Diferem-se histológica e radiograficamente pelo fato de o tipo complexo não apresentar a organização ordenada dos tecidos como o são no tipo composto, no qual estruturas pequenas se assemelham a dentículos. Os odontomas compostos, geralmente, são mais diagnosticados do que a forma complexa. Podem ocupar ambos os maxilares, sendo o tipo composto mais frequente na região ântero-superior e o complexo nas regiões posteriores, superior e inferior. Acometem mais adultos jovens, entretanto sem grandes disparidades quanto aos gêneros. Essa lesão geralmente é assintomática. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os casos de odontomas diagnosticados no Laboratório de Patologia Bucal da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de Pernambuco (FOP/UPE), a fim de verificar a frequência dos tipos clínico-radiográficos, correlacionando com a localização anatômica da lesão e fatores demográficos dos portadores do tumor. A metodologia seguiu: seleção dos casos a partir dos laudos anátomo-patológicos, revisão das lâminas para confirmação diagnóstica e para definição do tipo clínico-radiográfico e obtenção dos dados demográficos constantes na ficha de encaminhamento de cada caso. Foram diagnosticados 59 casos de odontomas, sendo 25 do tipo complexo (42,37%) e 34 do tipo composto (57,63%). A faixa etária mais acometida compreendeu de 11-20 anos, o sexo feminino foi o mais afetado, e a raça branca, a mais predominante, tendo a região ânterosuperior representado a localização anatômica mais frequente... (AU)

The Odontoma is the most common type of odontogenic. Odontomas are subdivided into compound and complex. They differ histologically and radiographically because of the complex type does not present the orderly organization of tissues such as are in the compound type, in which small structures resemble the denticles.Odontomas compounds are generally diagnosed more than complex type. Can occupy both jaws, with the compound type most frequent in the upper anterior region and posterior complex in upper and lower regions. It affects mostly young adults, however no major differences as to gender. This lesion is usually asymptomatic. The objective of this study was to analyze cases of odontoma diagnosed at the Laboratory of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Pernambuco (FOP/UPE) in order to verify the frequency of clinical and radiographic types and to correlate with the anatomical location of the lesion and factors demographics of patients the tumor. The methodology followed: selection of cases from the pathological files, review of slides for diagnostic confirmation reports and to define the clinical and radiographic type, and obtain demographic data contained in the routing record of each case. Were diagnosed 59 cases of patients with odontoma, complex type were 25 (42.37 %) and 34 of the composite type (57.63 %) were diagnosed . It was concluded that the most affected age group was between 11-20 years, females were more affected, the white race was the most prevalent, and the anterosuperior region represented the most frequent anatomical location... (AU)

Therapeutic and Prophylactic Potential of Morama (Tylosema esculentum): A Review.

Tylosema esculentum (morama) is a highly valued traditional food and source of medicine for the San and other indigenous populations that inhabit the arid to semi-arid parts of Southern Africa. Morama beans are a rich source of phenolic acids, flavonoids, certain fatty acids, non-essential amino acids, certain phytosterols, tannins and minerals. The plant's tuber contains griffonilide, behenic acid and starch. Concoctions of extracts from morama bean, tuber and other local plants are frequently used to treat diarrhoea and digestive disorders by the San and other indigenous populations. Information on composition and bioactivity of phytochemical components of T. esculentum suggests that the polyphenol-rich extracts of the bean testae and cotyledons have great potential as sources of chemicals that inhibit infectious microorganisms (viral, bacterial and fungal, including drug-resistant strains), offer protection against certain non-communicable diseases and promote wound healing and gut health. The potential antinutritional properties of a few morama components are also highlighted. More research is necessary to reveal the full prophylactic and therapeutic potential of the plant against diseases of the current century. Research on domestication and conservation of the plant offers new hope for sustainable utilisation of the plant.

Physicochemical and biochemical characterization of transgenic papaya modified for protection against Papaya ringspot virus.

BACKGROUND: Papaya, a nutritious tropical fruit, is consumed both in its fresh form and as a processed product worldwide. Major quality indices which include firmness, acidity, pH, colour and size, are cultivar dependent. Transgenic papayas engineered for resistance to Papaya ringspot virus were evaluated over the ripening period to address physicochemical quality attributes and food safety concerns. RESULTS: With the exception of one transgenic line, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in firmness, acidity and pH. Lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of the pulps of non-transgenic and transgenic papaya were similar but varied over the ripening period (P < 0.05). Fruit mass, though non-uniform (P < 0.05) for some lines, was within the range reported for similar papaya cultivars, as were shape indices of female fruits. Transgene proteins, CP and NPTII, were not detected in fruit pulp at the table-ready stage. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that transformation did not produce any major unintended alterations in the physicochemical attributes of the transgenic papayas. Transgene proteins in the edible fruit pulp were low or undetectable.

Adolescent obesity prevention in Botswana: beliefs and recommendations of school personnel.

The study's objectives were to gain school personnel's (1) perceptions on diet, physical activity, body size, and obesity, (2) description of school food and physical activity practices, and (3) recommendations for programs to prevent adolescent obesity. The study took place in six junior secondary schools of varying socioeconomic status in Gaborone, Botswana. Using a qualitative descriptive design, semistructured interviews were conducted with key school personnel. Directed content analysis was used to summarize the findings. School personnel believed that obesity was an important problem. They felt that school food was unhealthy and that physical activity was provided insufficiently. Participants shared enthusiasm for a school-based health-promoting intervention that must be fun and include active engagement and education on healthy lifestyles for all students. Participants supported on-site food shop inventory changes and physical activity programs. Potential barriers listed were schools' financial resources, interest of students, and time limitations of all involved.

Socio-economic status and urbanization are linked to snacks and obesity in adolescents in Botswana.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patterns of food consumption associated with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) and their links to socio-economic status (SES) and urbanization. DESIGN: A nationwide cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Secondary schools in cities, towns and villages in Botswana, Africa. SUBJECTS: A total of 746 adolescent schoolchildren. RESULTS: OW/OB is associated with greater SES, city residence and a snack-food diet pattern. Students belonging to higher SES compared with those from a lower SES background reported significantly (P < 0·01) more daily servings of snack foods (1·55 v. 0·76) and fewer servings of traditional diet foods (0·99 v. 1·68) and also reported that they ate meals outside the home more often (90% v. 72%). Students in cities ate significantly (P < 0·01) more servings of snacks (1·69 v. 1·05 v. 0·51) and fewer servings of traditional foods (0·67 v. 1·52 v. 1·61) compared with those in urban and rural villages. The odds of OW/OB were increased 1·16-fold with a snack-food diet, a result that was diminished when controlled for SES. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that nutritional transition occurs at different rates across urbanization and SES levels in Botswana. In cities, increasing the availability of fruit while reducing access to or portion sizes of snack items is important. Emphasis on continued intake of traditional foods may also be helpful as rural areas undergo economic and infrastructural development.

Tylosema esculentum (Marama) Tuber and Bean Extracts Are Strong Antiviral Agents against Rotavirus Infection.

Tylosema esculentum (marama) beans and tubers are used as food, and traditional medicine against diarrhoea in Southern Africa. Rotaviruses (RVs) are a major cause of diarrhoea among infants, young children, immunocompromised people, and domesticated animals. Our work is first to determine anti-RV activity of marama bean and tuber ethanol and water extracts; in this case on intestinal enterocyte cells of human infant (H4), adult pig (CLAB) and adult bovine (CIEB) origin. Marama cotyledon ethanolic extract (MCE) and cotyledon water extract (MCW) without RV were not cytotoxic to all cells tested, while seed coat and tuber extracts showed variable levels of cytotoxicity. Marama cotyledon ethanolic and water extracts (MCE and MCW, resp.) (≥0.1 mg/mL), seed coat extract (MSCE) and seed coat water extract (MSCW) (0.01 to 0.001 mg/mL), especially ethanolic, significantly increased cell survival and enhanced survival to cytopathic effects of RV by at least 100% after in vitro co- and pre-incubation treatments. All marama extracts used significantly enhanced nitric oxide release from H4 cells and enhanced TER (Ω/cm(2)) of enterocyte barriers after coincubation with RV. Marama cotyledon and seed coat extracts inhibited virion infectivity possibly through interference with replication due to accumulation of nitric oxide. Marama extracts are therefore promising microbicides against RV.

The morama bean (Tylosema esculentum): a potential crop for southern Africa.

The morama bean is an underutilized leguminous oilseed native to the Kalahari Desert and neighboring sandy regions of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa (Limpopo, North-West, Gauteng, and Northern Cape provinces), and forms part of the diet of the indigenous population in these countries. It is also known as gemsbok bean, moramaboontjie, elandboontjie, braaiboonjie, marama, marumana, tsi, tsin, gami, and ombanui. It is reported as an excellent source of good quality protein (29-39%); its oil (24-48%) is rich in mono- and di-unsaturated fatty acids and contains no cholesterol. Morama is a good source of micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, phosphate, magnesium, and B vitamins including folate. It is also reported to be a potential source of phytonutrients including phenolic compounds (e.g., tannins), trypsin inhibitors, phytates, and oligosaccharides, components which have been shown in other foods to contribute to health in particular, prevention of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some cancers. From a nutritional and health perspective, the morama bean has potential commercial value as a cash crop and value-added products, particularly in the communities where it is found.

Ackee (Blighia sapida) hypoglycin A toxicity: dose response assessment in laboratory rats.

Hypoglycin A, the toxin found in the ackee fruit, has been reported in the literature as the causative agent in incidences of acute toxicity termed Jamaican vomiting sickness or toxic hypoglycemic syndrome. Hypoglycin A toxicity in this study was determined by feeding male and female Sprague-Dawley rats a control diet and ackee diets that contained 4-3840 ppm of hypoglycin. The fixed dose method was used to quantify the acute toxic dose of hypoglycin A and was determined by feeding a diet consisting of the lowest hypoglycin A concentration; this was increased to the next highest dose after 24h until toxicity was observed. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of hypoglycin A was determined by feeding rats the ackee and control diets over a 30-day period. The acute toxic dose for male and female rats was 231.19+/-62.5 5mg hypoglycinA/kgBW and 215.99+/-63.33 mg hypoglycinA/kgBW, respectively. This was considerably greater than the dose of 100 mg hypoglycin/kgBW reported in a previous study when aqueous hypoglycin was administered orally. The MTD of hypoglycin A in both male and female rats was 1.50+/-0.07 mg hypoglycinA/kgBW/day. These findings suggest that the form in which hypoglycin in ackee is administered could affect the toxicological properties it exhibits. Therefore, for the purpose of a hazard assessment, it may be best administered within the matrix of the fruit, which is the form that humans consume it.

Household food safety awareness of selected urban consumers in Jamaica.

Home interviews of 110 randomly selected householders representing three distinct socio-economic groups in North Central St Andrew, an urban community in Jamaica, were conducted during January-March 1999. Respondents were interviewed about their awareness of safe food handling, risk perception, food handling practices and attitude to food safety issues. The majority of respondents reported a fairly high knowledge of safe food handling practices; however, more than one-half were unfamiliar with the correct procedure for freezing and thawing of foods. Householders were very concerned about the food they purchased for preparation at home, displayed strong concerns about sanitation of food handling establishments, food handlers practices, and the appearance of foods purchased. The majority of respondents had never contacted their local Health Department or the Ministry of Health regarding food safety concerns. Diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and nausea were reported as the major symptoms of food-borne illness, while animal foods including dairy, beef, chicken, pork and fish/shellfish were implicated as the main source of food borne illnesses. There were no significant differences (P<0.5) observed between gender and socio-economic groups in the study, except for concern of the appearance of food and shopping options, respectively. These findings raise concerns about consumer food safety knowledge and practices in Jamaica. It is suggested that a national knowledge, awareness and practices survey should be conducted, followed by a properly designed food safety public education campaign, to enhance household food safety awareness in Jamaica.