Geochemical, Mineralogical, and Geomorphological Characterization of Ash Materials as a Tracer for the Origin of Shifting Sands near Oldupai Gorge, Ngorongoro, Tanzania.

Shifting sand (SS) is a single dune-shaped mass of black ash material moving across western Ngorongoro in northern Tanzania. The moving sand has become an important tourist destination for several decades. Despite being part of the important geosites at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the nature, origin, and behaviors demonstrated by SS remain poorly understood. This work contributes toward understanding the nature and identification of the possible origin of the SS through the correlation of geochemical, mineralogical, and geomorphological data of ash material from four selected locations in the study area. To achieve this goal, elemental, mineralogical, and morphological characterization of ash samples was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, polarized petrographic microscopy, automated sieve shaker, and binocular microscopy techniques, respectively. Correlation studies were based on magnesian-ferriferous associations, similarities in mineralogy, particle size, shape, and distribution patterns of ash materials, and weather data. There are close similarities in the chemical compositions among ash samples of SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai. Augite and magnetite minerals appear only in samples of SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai, while hornblende appears only in the samples from the Ngorongoro crater. Oldoinyo Lengai rock petrography revealed significant amounts of augite minerals. Blocky and elongated-shaped ash particles dominate the samples from SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai. The particle size of ash materials decreases westwards across the study site. The distribution patterns of ash material align with the west-south-west wind direction. Based on these findings, the study concludes that SS and Ootun ash could be tephra depositions resulting from past volcanic eruptions of Oldoinyo Lengai.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with malnutrition among adolescents in rural Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with malnutrition among adolescents in a rural Tanzanian community. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 1226 randomly selected adolescents from the Dodoma Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the Chamwino district in the Dodoma region. Anthropometric measurements for weight and height were collected. Height-for-age-z-scores (HAZs) and body mass index (BMI)-for-age-z-scores (BAZs) were computed. Descriptive estimates were documented in graphs and tables, and weighted linear regression models were used to examine predictors of malnutrition. RESULTS: Stunting prevalence was 18%, and thinness prevalence was 14%. Overweight and obesity affected 5.23% of participants. Girls had higher HAZs (ß: 0.46, 95% CI 0.33, 0.59, P < 0.0001) and BAZs (ß: 0.20, 95% CI 0.05, 0.35, P = 0.0098) than boys. Age was inversely associated with HAZs (ß: -0.13, 95% CI -0.17, -0.08, P < 0.0001) and BAZs (ß: -0.05, 95% CI -0.10, -0.004, P = 0.0327). Wealth score (ß: 0.10, 95% CI 0.04, 0.16, P = 0.0009) and dietary diversity score (ß: 0.04, 95% CI 0.01, 0.07, P = 0.0080) were positively associated with HAZs and BAZs. Out-of-school adolescents had higher HAZs (ß: -0.49, 95% CI -0.75, -0.23, P = 0.0003) and BAZs (ß: -0.68, 95% CI -0.99, -0.37, P < 0.0001) than adolescents who attended school. CONCLUSION: There are substantial variations of HAZs and BAZs across gender, age, education and wealth, with an emerging burden of overweight and obesity among adolescents in this rural population. Interventions are urgently required to curb both ends of the malnutrition spectrum.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs de risque associés à la malnutrition chez les adolescents d'une communauté rurale en Tanzanie. MÉTHODES: Enquête transversale auprès de 1.226 adolescents choisis au hasard dans le Système de Surveillance Démographique et de Santé (SSDS) de Dodoma dans le district de Chamwino, dans la région de Dodoma. Des mesures anthropométriques du poids et de la taille ont été recueillies. Les scores z de la taille pour l'âge (HAZ) et les scores z d'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) pour l'âge (BAZ) ont été calculés. Des estimations descriptives ont été documentées dans des graphiques et des tableaux, et des modèles de régression linéaire pondérés ont été utilisés pour analyser les prédicteurs de la malnutrition. RÉSULTATS: La prévalence du retard de croissance était de 18% et la prévalence de la maigreur était de 14%. Le surpoids et l'obésité touchaient 5,23% des participants. Les filles avaient des scores HAZ (ß: 0,46, IC95%: 0,33-0,59 ; P < 0,0001) et des scores BAZ (ß: 0,20 ; IC95%: 0,05-0,35 ; P = 0,0098) plus élevés que les garçons. L'âge était inversement associé au score HAZ (ß: −0,13, IC95%: −0,17, −0,08, P < 0,0001) et au score BAZ (ß: −0,05 ; IC95%: −0,104, −0,004 ; P = 0,0327). Le score de richesse (ß: 0,10 ; IC95%: 0,04-0,16; P = 0,0009) et le score de diversité alimentaire (ß: 0,04 ; IC95%: 0,01-0,07 ; P = 0,0080) étaient positivement associés aux scores HAZ et BAZ. Les adolescents non scolarisés présentaient des scores HAZ (ß: −0,49 ; IC95%: −0,75, −0,23 ; P = 0,0003) et des scores BAZ plus élevés (ß: −0,68 ; IC95%: −0,99 −0,37 ; P < 0,0001) que les adolescents qui fréquentaient l'école. CONCLUSION: Il existe des variations substantielles dans les scores HAZ et BAZ selon le sexe, l'âge, l'éducation et la richesse, avec une charge émergente de surpoids et d'obésité chez les adolescents dans la population rurale. Des interventions urgentes sont nécessaires pour réduire les deux extrémités du spectre de la malnutrition.

Design and field methods of the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study.

The ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study is an exploratory, community-based survey of 8075 adolescents aged 10-19 in 9 communities in 7 countries: Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Communities were selected opportunistically and existing population cohorts maintained by health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs). The study is intended to serve as a first round of data collection for African adolescent cohorts, with the overarching goal of generating community-based data on health-related behaviours and associated risk factors in adolescents, to identify disease burdens and health intervention opportunities. Household-based sampling frames were used in each community to randomly select eligible adolescents (aged 10-19 years). Data were collected between July 2015 and December 2017. Consenting participants completed face-to-face interviews with trained research assistants using a standardised questionnaire, which covered physical activity, cigarette and tobacco use, substance and drug use, mental health, sexual behaviours and practices, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, food security and food diversity, teeth cleaning and hand washing, feelings and friendship, school and home activities, physical attacks and injuries, health care, health status assessment and life satisfaction, as well as media and cell phone use and socio-demographic and economic background characteristics. Results from this multi-community study serve to identify major adolescent health risks and disease burdens, as well as opportunities for interventions and improvements through policy changes.

L'étude ARISE du réseau sur la santé des adolescents est une étude exploratoire de surveillance basée sur la communauté portant sur 8.075 adolescents âgés de 10 à 19 ans dans 9 communautés de 7 pays: Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopie, Ghana, Nigéria, Tanzanie et Ouganda. Les communautés ont été sélectionnés de manière opportuniste et les cohortes de population existantes maintenues par des systèmes de surveillance de la santé et démographique (SSSD). L'étude est destinée à servir comme premier cycle de collecte de données pour les cohortes d'adolescents africains, dans le but primordial de générer des données communautaires sur les comportements liés à la santé et les facteurs de risque associés chez les adolescents, afin d'identifier la charge de morbidité et les opportunités d'intervention en matière de santé. Des cadres d'échantillonnage basés sur le ménage ont été utilisés dans chaque communauté pour sélectionner au hasard les adolescents admissibles (âgés de 10-19 ans). Les données ont été collectées entre juillet 2015 et décembre 2017. Les participants consentants ont participé à des entretiens de face à face avec des assistants de recherche formés, à l'aide d'un questionnaire standardisé couvrant l'activité physique, l'usage de la cigarette ou la consommation de tabac, l'usage de drogues et autres substances, la santé mentale, les comportements et pratiques sexuels, les infections sexuellement transmissibles, la grossesse, la sécurité et la diversité alimentaire, le nettoyage des dents et le lavage des mains, les sentiments et les amitiés, les activités scolaires et à domicile, les attaques et les blessures physiques, les soins de santé, l'évaluation de l'état de santé et la satisfaction à l'égard de la vie, l'utilisation des médias et du téléphone portable ainsi que les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et économiques. Les résultats de cette étude portant sur plusieurs communautés permettent d'identifier les principaux risques pour la santé des adolescents et les charges de morbidité, ainsi que les opportunités d'interventions et d'amélioration par le biais de changements de politiques.

The age of opportunity: prevalence of key risk factors among adolescents 10-19 years of age in nine communities in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To measure health-related behaviours and risk factors among sub-Saharan African adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in nine communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda between 2015 and 2017. Community-representative samples of males and females 10-19 years of age were selected. All communities used a uniform questionnaire that was adapted from the WHO Global School-based Student Health Survey. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each indicator and stratified by age and sex using SAS version 9.4. All prevalence estimates were pooled across communities through random-effects meta-analyses in Stata version 14. RESULTS: A total of 8075 adolescents participated in the study. We observed a high prevalence of inadequate fruit consumption (57-63%) and low physical activity (82-90%); a moderate prevalence of inadequate vegetable consumption (21-31%), unprotected last sex (38-45%), age at first sex <15 years (21-28%) and bullying and physical fighting (12-35%); and a low prevalence of mental health risk factors (1-11%) and alcohol and substance use risk factors (0-6%). We observed a moderate to high prevalence of daily soft drink consumption (21-31%) for all adolescents. Among sexually active adolescents 15-19 years, 37% of females reported ever being pregnant and 8% of males reported to have ever made someone pregnant. Bullying (23%) and physical fighting (35%) were more common among younger male adolescents . The prevalence of low mood was generally higher among older (15-19 years) than younger adolescents (10-14 years). The proportion of adolescents reporting alcohol, drug or cigarette use was very small, with the exception of khat use in Ethiopia. CONCLUSION: Overall, diet and physical activity, violence, sexual and reproductive health, and depression are important risk factors for these sub-Saharan African communities. These findings suggest that more evidence is needed including novel efforts for the collection of sensitive information, as well as a need to move towards community-tailored interventions to reach adolescent populations with varying needs.

OBJECTIF: Mesurer les comportements liés à la santé et les facteurs de risque chez les adolescents africains subsahariens. MÉTHODES: Etude transversale dans neuf communautés au Burkina Faso, en Ethiopie, à Eswatini, au Ghana, au Nigéria, en Tanzanie et en Ouganda entre 2015 et 2017. Des échantillons représentatifs de la communauté composés d'hommes et de femmes âgés de 10 à 19 ans ont été sélectionnés. Toutes les communautés ont utilisé un questionnaire uniforme adapté de l'Enquête Mondiale sur la Santé des Elèves de l'OMS. Les estimations de prévalence pondérée et les intervalles de confiance à 95% ont été calculés pour chaque indicateur et stratifiées par âge et sexe à l'aide de la version 9.4 de SAS. Toutes les estimations de prévalence ont été poolées dans les communautés via des méta-analyses à effets aléatoires dans Stata, version 14. RÉSULTATS: 8.075 adolescents ont participé à l'étude. Nous avons observé une prévalence élevée de consommation insuffisante de fruits (57-63%) et de faible activité physique (82-90%); une prévalence modérée de consommation insuffisante de légumes (21-31%), du dernier rapport sexuel non protégé (38-45%), du premier rapport sexuel à moins de 15 ans (21-28%) et de l'intimidation et des combats physiques (12-35%), une faible prévalence de facteurs de risque pour la santé mentale (1-11%) et de facteurs de risque pour la consommation d'alcool et de substances (0-6%). Nous avons observé une prévalence modérée à élevée de consommation quotidienne de boissons gazeuses (21-31%) chez tous les adolescents. Parmi les adolescents sexuellement actifs âgées de 15 à 19 ans, 37,0% des femmes ont déclaré avoir déjà été enceintes et 8,0% des hommes ont rapporté avoir déjà enceinté une femme. L'intimidation (23%) et les combats physiques étaient plus fréquents chez les adolescents plus jeunes (35%). La prévalence de la mauvaise humeur était généralement plus élevée chez les adolescents d'âge plus élevé (de 15 à 19 ans) que chez les plus jeunes (de 10 à 14 ans). La proportion d'adolescents déclarant avoir consommé de l'alcool, des drogues ou des cigarettes était très faible, à l'exception de la consommation de khat en Ethiopie. CONCLUSION: Dans l'ensemble, le régime alimentaire et l'activité physique, la violence, la santé sexuelle et reproductive et la dépression sont des facteurs de risque importants pour ces communautés d'Afrique subsaharienne. Ces résultats suggèrent que davantage de données sont nécessaires, notamment de nouveaux efforts pour la collecte d'informations sensibles, ainsi que la nécessité de passer à des interventions adaptées aux communautés pour atteindre les populations adolescentes avec des besoins variés.

Performance of Low-Cost Agar from Gracilaria salicornia on Tissue Culture of Pleurotus HK-37.

Currently, the demand of Pleurotus HK-37 (oyster mushroom) in Tanzania is growing rapidly due to the increasing of awareness on its nutrition, health, and economic benefits. Despite the increasing demand, the availability of strains of Pleurotus HK-37 species is still a challenge due to high cost of tissue culture technology. The high cost of importing agar seems to be among the factors for this failure. This study aimed at investigating the performance of low-cost agar from local Gracilaria salicornia on tissue culture of Pleurotus HK-37. Local extracted agars with different gel strengths ranging between 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 g/cm2 were used to make PDA media. The average mycelia growth rate (mm/day) ranged between 9.87 ± 1.44 and 14.9 ± 0.85 mm/day. Low-cost agar shows quite similar performance as that of standard agar on active growth of Pleurotus HK-37 mycelia. All PDA plates appeared white and feathery and showed to grow in a circular mode (radial extension). Mycelia growth on standard agar PDA took 5 days while on extracted local agar PDA took 5 to 7 days to fully colonize the plate at 27 ± 2°C. The present study shows that the production cost can be reduced by ∼35-78% by using local agar.

Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents: A Cluster Randomized Trial of an Adolescent Nutrition Intervention Package in Tanzania.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to implement and evaluate integrated, school-based nutrition intervention packages for adolescents in Dodoma, Tanzania. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among six secondary schools in Dodoma, Tanzania. Two schools received the full-intervention package of school meals, nutrition education, school gardens, and community workshops. Two schools received the partial-intervention package without the school meals component. Two schools served as the controls and did not receive any intervention. The intervention was implemented over one academic year. The analytical sample included 534 adolescents aged 14 to 17 at baseline and 286 parents. Outcomes included nutrition knowledge, food preferences, diet quality, food insecurity, physical activity, growth, and anemia. Linear models were used to estimate mean differences, and logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: Compared to the control, both the partial (OR: 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35, 1.00) and full (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.59) interventions were associated with lower odds of poor diet quality among adolescents. Among the parents, both the partial (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.40) and full (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.58) interventions were associated with lower odds of poor diet quality. The partial (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.47) and full (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.72) interventions were associated with lower odds of adolescent overweight or obesity. DISCUSSION: School-based nutritional intervention packages incorporating multiple actions may improve the diet quality of adolescents and their household members and reduce the double burden of adolescent malnutrition.

Data from the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar: Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization.

This dataset expresses the experimental data on the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar. Independent variables including concentration of pollutants (10-500 ppm), contact time (30-300 min), adsorbent dosage (1-1000 mg), pH (1-14) and adsorbent calcination temperature (250,300, 600 and 750 °C) were studied and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Empirical models were developed to predict the maximum removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine, and the results were compared with the experimental data. The removal of polutants was more influenced by concentration, followed by adsorbent dosagage, pH, and contact time and the maximum removal reached 90%.

The influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors: a pooled analysis among adolescents in six sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regarding risky behaviors among adolescents remains scarce, despite the large population (approximately 249 million out of 1.2 billion globally in 2019) of adolescents in the region. We aimed to examine the potential influence of depressive symptoms and school-going status on risky behaviors among adolescents in six SSA countries. Methods: We used individual cross-sectional data from adolescents aged 10-19 based in eight communities across six SSA countries, participating in the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study (N = 7,661). Outcomes of interest were cigarette or tobacco use, alcohol use, other substance use, getting into a physical fight, no condom use during last sexual intercourse, and suicidal behavior. We examined the proportion of adolescents reporting these behaviors, and examined potential effects of depressive symptoms [tertiles of 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS-6) score] and school-going status on these behaviors using mixed-effects Poisson regression models. We also assessed effect modification of associations by sex, age, and school-going status. Results: The proportion of adolescents reporting risky behaviors was varied, from 2.2% for suicidal behaviors to 26.2% for getting into a physical fight. Being in the higher tertiles of KADS-6 score was associated with increased risk of almost all risky behaviors [adjusted risk ratio (RR) for highest KADS-6 tertile for alcohol use: 1.70, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.48-1.95, p < 0.001; for physical fight: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36-1.70, p < 0.001; for suicidal behavior: 7.07, 95% CI: 2.69-18.57, p < 0.001]. Being in school was associated with reduced risk of substance use (RR for alcohol use: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53-1.00, p = 0.047), and not using a condom (RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66-0.99, p = 0.040). There was evidence of modification of the effect of school-going status on risky behaviors by age and sex. Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the need for a greater focus on risky behaviors among adolescents in SSA. Addressing depressive symptoms among adolescents, facilitating school attendance and using schools as platforms to improve health may help reduce risky behaviors in this population. Further research is also required to better assess the potential bidirectionality of associations.

COVID-19 Preventive Practices, Psychological Distress, and Reported Barriers to Healthcare Access during the Pandemic among Adult Community Members in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Phone Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious negative health and economic impacts in sub-Saharan Africa. Continuous monitoring of these impacts is crucial to formulate interventions to minimize the consequences of COVID-19. This study surveyed 2,829 adults in urban and rural sites among five sub-Saharan African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana. Participants completed a mobile phone survey that assessed self-reported sociodemographics, COVID-19 preventive practices, psychological distress, and barriers to healthcare access. A modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs to investigate potential factors related to psychological distress and barriers to reduced healthcare access. At least 15.6% of adults reported experiencing any psychological distress in the previous 2 weeks, and 10.5% reported that at least one essential healthcare service was difficult to access 2 years into the pandemic. The majority of participants reported using several COVID-19 preventive methods, with varying proportions across the sites. Participants in the urban site of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (aPR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.74-3.03) and in the rural site of Kintampo, Ghana (aPR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.21-2.34) had a higher likelihood of experiencing any psychological distress compared with those in the rural area of Nouna, Burkina Faso. Loss of employment due to COVID-19 (aPR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.47-2.11) was also associated with an increased prevalence of psychological distress. The number of children under 5 years in the household (aPR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.14-1.33) and participant self-reported psychological distress (aPR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.48-2.27) were associated with an increased prevalence of reporting barriers to accessing health services, whereas wage employment (aPR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49-0.90) was associated with decreased prevalence of reporting barriers to accessing health services. Overall, we found a high prevalence of psychological distress and interruptions in access to healthcare services 2 years into the pandemic across five sub-Saharan African countries. Increased effort and attention should be given to addressing the negative impacts of COVID-19 on psychological distress. An equitable and collaborative approach to new and existing preventive measures for COVID-19 is crucial to limit the consequences of COVID-19 on the health of adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on diet quality and food prices in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa faces prolonged COVID-19 related impacts on economic activity, livelihoods and nutrition, with recovery slowed down by lagging vaccination progress. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the economic impacts of COVID-19 on food prices, consumption and dietary quality in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using a mobile platform to collect data from July-December, 2021 (round 2). We assessed participants' dietary intake of 20 food groups over the previous seven days and computed the primary outcome, the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), with higher scores indicating better quality diets. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) linear regression models to assess factors associated with diet quality during COVID-19. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were male and the mean age was 42.4 (±12.5) years. Mean PDQS (±SD) was low at 19.4(±3.8), out of a maximum score of 40 in this study. Respondents (80%) reported higher than expected prices for all food groups. Secondary education or higher (estimate: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.32, 1.15), medium wealth status (estimate: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.81), and older age were associated with higher PDQS. Farmers and casual laborers (estimate: -0.60, 95% CI: -1.11, -0.09), lower crop production (estimate: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.46) and not engaged in farming (estimate: -1.38, 95% CI: -1.74, -1.02) were associated with lower PDQS. CONCLUSION: Higher food prices and lower diet quality persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic and social vulnerability and reliance on markets (and lower agriculture production) were negatively associated with diet quality. Although recovery was evident, consumption of healthy diets remained low. Systematic efforts to address the underlying causes of poor diet quality through transforming food system value chains, and mitigation measures, including social protection programs and national policies are critical.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine readiness and hesitancy among adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is very limited data on the extent and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults living in sub-Saharan Africa since the global roll-out of vaccines began in 2021. This multi-country survey sought to investigate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and other predictors of readiness to get vaccinated. We conducted surveys among adults residing in nine urban and rural areas in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania in late 2021. Log binomial regression models were used to identify prevalence and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and beliefs around COVID-19 misinformation. We completed a total of 2,833 interviews. Among all respondents, 9% had never heard of a COVID-19 vaccine, 12% had been vaccinated, and 20% knew someone else who had been vaccinated. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy varied by country (Ethiopia 29%, Burkina Faso 33%, Nigeria 34%, Ghana 42%, Tanzania 65%), but not by rural or urban context. People who did not think the vaccine was safe or effective, or who were unsure about it, were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Those who reported they did not have a trusted source of information about the vaccine (aPR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.18,1.31) and those who thought the vaccine would not be made available to them within the year were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Women were more likely to be vaccine hesitant (aPR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.19,1.43) and believe COVID-19 falsehoods (aPR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02,1.08). The most commonly believed falsehoods were that the vaccine was developed too fast and that there was not enough information about whether the vaccine was effective or not. Educational campaigns targeted at misinformation and tailored to suit each country are recommended to build trust in COVID-19 vaccines and reduce hesitancy.

The Continued Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education and Mental Health Among Sub-Saharan African Adolescents.

PURPOSE: This multicountry survey assessed the levels and the determinants of the impacts of the pandemic on education and mental health among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and the potential factors that may exacerbate these adverse impacts. METHODS: A phone survey was conducted among adolescents in nine diverse areas in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania between July and December 2021. Approximately 300 adolescents per area and 2,803 adolescents in total were included. The survey collected information on adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics, current COVID-19 preventive measures, and the impacts of the pandemic on daily activities, education, and mental health. Log-binomial models were used to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for determinants of education and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 17% of the adolescents were not receiving any education. Compared to boys, girls were 15% more likely than boys to lack fully in-person education (aPR: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.30). Rural residence was associated with 2.7 times the prevalence of not currently receiving any education (aPR: 2.68; 95% CI: 2.23, 3.22). Self-reported experience of the current impacts of the pandemic on daily activities was associated with a higher prevalence of possible psychological distress (aPR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.24), high anxiety level (aPR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.25, 5.06), and high depression level (aPR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.05, 4.41). DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 pandemic presents continued challenges to adolescents' education and mental health. Multisectoral efforts are needed to ensure that adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa do not fall further behind due to the pandemic.

Characterization of agar extracted from Gracilaria species collected along Tanzanian coast.

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of spatial variation, alkali treatment and the volume of extractant on yield and gel strength of agar for three Gracilaria species (G. salicornia, G. edulis and G. corticata) collected from the Tanzanian coast (Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Zanzibar). Treated and untreated G. corticata showed the highest yield (27 ± 0.7 % and 26.2 ± 1.3 % for treated and untreated, respectively), followed by G. salicornia then G. edulis. G. salicornia collected from Zanzibar showed the highest mass yield (22.9 ± 4.3 % for treated) followed by those collected from Tanga. Varying the volume for extraction showed no significant difference in mass yield where the p-value was >0.05. The highest gel strength was recorded from treated G. salicornia collected from Tanga (495 ± 29.5 gcm-2). Gel strength varied significantly between species. Spatial variability showed a significant difference in gel strength; the sample collected from Tanga showed the highest gel strength, followed by Zanzibar then Dar es Salaam. The variation due to the volume of distilled water used for extraction showed no significant difference in gel strength at a p-value >0.05. The highest gel strength was recorded at the volume of 1500 mL (467.5 ± 98.4 gcm-2), and the smallest gel strength was recorded at 500 mL. In all cases, there was a significant difference in mass yield and gel strength between treated and untreated samples. G. salicornia showed promising results as a local source of agar as it showed the highest gel strength though it produced an intermediate amount of agar. Based on the finding of this study, the volume of extraction of agar should be maintained as 1000 mL because by increasing the volume of extraction from 1000 mL to 1500 mL, the agar yield and gel strength don't change significantly. Agar yield and gel strength of Gracilaria species (G. salicornia, G. edulis and G. corticata) can be improved by alkali treatment, but further study is needed to determine the optimum amount and concentration of alkali to be used that will produce maximum yield and gel strength.

Attenuation of nitrate from aqueous solution using raw and surface modified biosorbents from Adansonia digitata fruit pericarp.

The prevalence of nitrate in potable water is a serious environmental concern. Several methods for eliminating nitrate from water have been made and implemented. During the course of this research, raw (RADFP) and surface-modified fruit pericarp (SMADFP) biosorbents derived from the Adansonia digitata plant were applied in order to remove nitrate from an aqueous solution. The external features of the biosorbents were studied with the aids of SEM and BET. The FT-IR spectrometer was utilized for identification of the functional groups of the adsorbents. A UV-Vis device was used to quantify the nitrate concentration. The adsorbents under investigation exhibit a heterogeneous pore structure with a considerable number of mesopores, with surface areas of 361.527 and 379.877 m2 per gram for RADFP and SMADFP, respectively. FT-IR spectra revealed the presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and halogen groups on the adsorbent. The maximum nitrate removal efficiencies of RADFP and SMADFP were 64.55 and 88.95%, respectively. The maximum adsorption efficiencies are achieved when the pH is 2, the starting concentration is 27.50 mg/L, the contact period is 75.00 min, and the amount of biosorbent is 5.50 g. RADFP and SMADFP have a removal capacity of 12.45 as well as 25.18 mg per gram and adsorption intensity of 3.2300 and 5.4500, respectively. The investigational values for the elimination of nitrate ions concurred well to both Freundlich and Langmuir models with R2 values of 0.99917 and 0.99763 for RADFP and SMADFP, respectively, and pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R2 values of 0.99817 and 0.99947, respectively for RADFP and SMADFP. It can be concluded that SMADFP is a relatively better biosorbent than RADFP, which will be utilizable for the remediation of nitrate from an aqueous solution.

Contribution of Illicit Drug Use to Pharmaceutical Load in the Environment: A Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Illicit drug abuse and addiction are universal issues requiring international cooperation and interdisciplinary and multisectoral solutions. These addictive substances are utilized for recreational purposes worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, conventional wastewater treatment facilities such as waste stabilization ponds lack the design to remove the most recent classes of pollutants such as illicit drug abuse. As a result, effluents from these treatment schemes contaminate the entire ecosystem. Public health officials are concerned about detecting these pollutants at alarming levels in some countries, with potential undesirable effects on aquatic species and increased health hazards through exposure to contaminated waters or recycling treated or untreated effluents in agriculture. Contaminants including illicit substances enter the environment by human excreta following illegal intake, spills, or through direct dumping, such as from clandestine laboratories, when their manufacturer does not follow accepted production processes. These substances, like other pharmaceuticals, have biological activity and range from pseudopersistent to highly persistent compounds; hence, they persist in the environment while causing harm to the ecosystem. The presence of powerful pharmacological agents such as cocaine, morphine, and amphetamine in water as complex combinations can impair aquatic organisms and human health. These compounds can harm human beings and ecosystem health apart from their low environmental levels. Therefore, this article examines the presence and levels of illicit substances in ecological compartments such as wastewater, surface and ground waters in sub-Saharan Africa, and their latent impact on the ecosystem. The information on the occurrences of illicit drugs and their metabolic products in the sub-Saharan Africa environment and their contribution to pharmaceutical load is missing. In this case, it is important to research further the presence, levels, distribution, and environmental risks of exposure to human beings and the entire ecosystem.

A comparative in-vitro study on antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based hand washing sanitizers towards combating microbes and its application in combating Covid-19 global outbreak.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has created endless social, economic, and political fear in the global human population. Measures employed include frequent washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and hand rubs as instant hand hygiene products. Due to the need to mitigate the pandermic, there is an increase in the local production of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, whose quality and efficacy against germs and the virus are questionable. Therefore, the current study investigated the in-vitro antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based handwashing sanitizers used to mitigate the Covid-19 global outbreak toward combating enveloped bacteria such as E. Coli, P. aeroginosa, S. aureus, and a fungus C. albicans. The antimicrobial effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizer was performed by the agar well diffusion method, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used for statistical analysis. Results indicate that alcohol hand-based sanitizers were more effective in inhibiting P. aeroginosa, with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.47 mm, followed by E. coli, a gram-negative bacterium with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.13 mm than both S. aureus and C. albicans as gram-positive bacteria, and fungi respectively had the same inhibition average of 11.40 mm. The overall mean diameter of inhibition was statistically significantly different among the fifteen tested products. Only one brand of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was the most effective in inhibiting microbes. Less effective sanitizers may impair Covid 19 mitigation efforts and put the population at risk instead of protecting it. Indicating the need for all materials used to mitigate Covid 19 pandermic, including alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be evaluated and monitored to ensure public health safety.

Relaxed complex scheme and molecular dynamics simulation suggests small molecule inhibitor of human TMPRSS2 for combating COVID-19.

As the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to pose a health and economic crisis worldwide, the quest for drugs and/or vaccines against the virus continues. The human transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) has attracted attention as a target for drug discovery, as inhibition of its catalytic reaction would result in the inactivation of the proteolytic cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. As a result, the inactivation prevents viral cell entry to the host's cell. In this work, we screened and identified two potent molecules that interact and inhibit the catalytic reaction by using computational approaches. Two docking screening experiments were performed utilizing the crystal structure and holo ensemble structure obtained from molecular dynamics in bound form. There is enhancement and sensitivity of docking results to the holo ensemble as compared to the crystal structure. Compound 1 demonstrated a similar inhibition value to nafamostat by interacting with catalytic triad residues His296 and Ser441, thereby disrupting the already established hydrogen bond interaction. The stability of the ligand-TMPRSS2 complexes was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, and the binding energy was re-scored by using molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy. The obtained compounds may serve as an initial point toward the discovery of potent TMPRSS2 inhibitors upon further in vivo validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents (MEGA): study protocol for a cluster randomised trial of an integrated adolescent nutrition intervention in Dodoma, Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: Secondary schools have the transformative potential to advance adolescent nutrition and provide a unique entry point for nutrition interventions to reach adolescents and their families and communities. Integrated school nutrition interventions offer promising pathways towards improving adolescent nutrition status, food security and building sustainable skill sets. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents (MEGA) project aims to implement and evaluate an integrated, school-based nutrition intervention package among secondary schools in the Chamwino District of Dodoma, Tanzania. MEGA is a cluster-randomised controlled trial, including six public secondary schools assigned to three different arms. Two schools will receive the full intervention package, including school meals, school gardens, nutrition education and community workshops. Two schools will receive the partial intervention package, including the school garden, nutrition education and community workshops. Two schools will serve as the controls and will not receive any intervention. The intervention will be implemented for one academic year. Baseline and end-line quantitative data collection will include 750 adolescents and 750 parents. The domains of outcomes for adolescents will include haemoglobin concentrations, anthropometry, educational outcomes and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding nutrition, agriculture and health. The domains of outcomes for parents will include knowledge, attitudes and practices of nutrition, agriculture and health. End-line focus group discussions will be conducted among selected adolescents, parents and teachers to assess the facilitators and barriers associated with the intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (approval number: IRB20-1623), the Institutional Research Review Committee at the University of Dodoma (approval number: MA.84/261/02) and the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research (approval number: NIMR/HO/R.8a/Vol. IX/3801). A manuscript with the research findings will be developed for publication. Local dissemination meetings will be held with key stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04788303.; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier.

Continued disruptions in health care services and mental health among health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in five sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Continuous monitoring of the pandemic's impact on health service provision and mental health, COVID-19 perceptions, and compliance with prevention measures among health care providers (HCPs) can help with mitigating the pandemic's negative effects. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was conducted among 1499 HCPs in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Nigeria (Lagos and Ibadan), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), and Ghana (Kintampo). Self-reported mental health, perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevention measures available in the workplace were assessed. HCPs' responses to questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on nine essential health services were summed into a score; high service disruption was defined as a score higher than the total average score across all sites. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify potential factors related to high service disruption. Results: Overall, 26.9% of HCPs reported high service disruption, with considerable differences across sites (from 1.6% in Dar es Salaam to 45.0% in Addis Ababa). A considerable proportion of HCPs reported experiencing mild psychological distress (9.4%), anxiety (8.0%), and social avoidance or rejection (13.9%) due to their profession. Participants in Addis Ababa (absolute risk ratio (ARR) = 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-2.74), Lagos (ARR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.24-2.17), and Kintampo (ARR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.94-3.52) had a higher likelihood of reporting high service disruption compared to those in Ouagadougou. Reporting ever-testing for COVID-19 (ARR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69-0.97) and the presence of COVID-19 guidelines in the workplace (ARR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.53-0.77) were both associated with lower reported health service disruption among HCPs. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt essential health services and present a challenge to HCPs' mental health, with important differences across countries and settings; interventions are needed to mitigate these negative effects of the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its determinants among sub-Saharan African adolescents.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents poses a challenge to the global effort to control the pandemic. This multi-country survey aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa between July and December 2021. The survey was conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing among adolescents in five sub-Saharan African countries, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. A rural area and an urban area were included in each country (except Ghana, which only had a rural area), with approximately 300 adolescents in each area and 2662 in total. Sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions and attitudes on COVID-19 vaccines were measured. Vaccine hesitancy was defined as definitely not getting vaccinated or being undecided on whether to get vaccinated if a COVID-19 vaccine were available. Log-binomial models were used to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between potential determinants and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 14% in rural Kersa, 23% in rural Ibadan, 31% in rural Nouna, 32% in urban Ouagadougou, 37% in urban Addis Ababa, 48% in rural Kintampo, 65% in urban Lagos, 76% in urban Dar es Salaam, and 88% in rural Dodoma. Perceived low necessity, concerns about vaccine safety, and concerns about vaccine effectiveness were the leading reasons for hesitancy. Healthcare workers, parents or family members, and schoolteachers had the greatest impacts on vaccine willingness. Perceived lack of safety (aPR: 3.52; 95% CI: 3.00, 4.13) and lack of effectiveness (aPR: 3.46; 95% CI: 2.97, 4.03) were associated with greater vaccine hesitancy. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents is alarmingly high across the five sub-Saharan African countries, especially in Tanzania. COVID-19 vaccination campaigns among sub-Saharan African adolescents should address their concerns and misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.