Reliability and Validity of an Interviewer-Administered Adaptation of the Youth Self-Report for Mental Health Screening of Vulnerable Young People in Ethiopia

Objective

Evaluate the reliability and validity of the Youth Self-Report (YSR) as a screening tool for mental health problems among young people vulnerable to HIV in Ethiopia.

Design

A cross-sectional assessment of young people currently receiving social services.

Methods

Young people age 15–18 participated in a study where a translated and adapted version of the YSR was administered by trained nurses, followed by an assessment by Ethiopian psychiatrists. Internal reliability of YSR syndrome scales were assessed using Chronbach''s alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed through repeating the YSR one month later. To assess validity, analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the YSR compared to the psychiatrist assessment was conducted.

Results

Across the eight syndrome scales, the YSR best measured the diagnosis of anxiety/depression and social problems among young women, and attention problems among young men. Among individual YSR syndrome scales, internal reliability ranged from unacceptable (Chronback’s alpha = 0.11, rule-breaking behavior among young women) to good (α≥0.71, anxiety/depression among young women). Anxiety/depression scores of ≥8.5 among young women also had good sensitivity (0.833) and specificity (0.754) to predict a true diagnosis. The YSR syndrome scales for social problems among young women and attention problems among young men also had fair consistency and validity measurements. Most YSR scores had significant positive correlations between baseline and post-one month administration. Measures of reliability and validity for most other YSR syndrome scales were fair to poor.

Conclusions

The adapted, personally administered, Amharic version of the YSR has sufficient reliability and validity in identifying young vulnerable women with anxiety/depression and/or social problems, and young men with attention problems; which were the most common mental health disorders observed by psychiatrists among the migrant populations in this study. Further assessment of the applicability of the YSR among vulnerable young people for less common disorders in Ethiopia is needed.     

Grasshopper assemblage response to a restored national park (Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa)

Twelve grassland sites were sampled inside and outside the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), South Africa to assess changes in grasshopper assemblages to grazing by indigenous mammals inside the park compared to grazing by domestic cattle outside. The MZNP has been restored from cattle-grazed farmland to indigenous mammal parkland for 62 years. The number of grasshopper species and families inside the park was not significantly different from outside the park, but the number of individuals inside the park was significantly higher. Multivariate statistics did not reveal any strong site groupings based on simple inside/outside comparisons, but there were clear groupings of sites based on vegetation characteristics and other environmental variables. The park boundary, therefore, does not significantly determine grasshopper assemblages, although intensity of grazing does. The indigenous mammals inside the park had the same effect on grasshoppers as the domestic cattle outside, and it was the level of defoliation and trampling that was important rather than the type of mammal. Intensive livestock grazing and trampling leads to bush encroachment and reduction in grass cover and/or disappearance of several grass species. In response to this pressure, grasshopper populations dropped, with localized extirpation of some species. Vegetation composition and structure, particularly grass height and percentage cover, had a significant effect on grasshopper assemblages. The MZNP is thus an area of localized, elevated grasshopper abundance in comparison with the surrounding farms, and presumably represents a situation prior to the current, intensive farming activities. Such elevated grasshopper abundances are important for maintaining soil quality and hence ecological integrity of this landscape which is poor in organics and nitrogen. The MZNP could be viewed as a centre where species with high mobility may seek refuge from anthropogenic pressures. The MZNP also serves as a reference illustrating the differences between restored-through-natural-succession and anthropogenically disturbed habitats, and compares desirable with undesirable ecosystem changes for herbivorous invertebrates such as grasshoppers.     

Household Contact Screening Adherence among Tuberculosis Patients in Northern Ethiopia

BackgroundHousehold contacts of active tuberculosis cases are at high risk of getting tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis detection rate among contacts of household members is high. Hence, this study investigated household contact screening adherence and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in Amhara region, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from April 10 - June 30, 2013 in five urban districts of Amhara region, where 418 patients receiving treatment at tuberculosis clinic were interviewed. All patients were interviewed using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Bringing at least one household contact to TB clinic was regarded as adherent to household contacts screening. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to investigate association.ResultsThe overall adherence to household contact screening in Amhara region was 33.7%. Adherence was higher among Muslims than Christians. Adherence was high if patient took health education from Health Care Worker [AOR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.88 to 5.51] and 2.17 times higher if patient had sufficient knowledge on tuberculosis [AOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.67] during interview. Relationship with contact was a significant [AOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.9] social related factor.ConclusionOne third of tuberculosis patients adhered to household contact screening in health facilities during their treatment course. Promoting knowledge of tuberculosis in the community and continuous health education to tuberculosis patients are recommended.     

Suitability of nutrients removal from brewery wastewater using a hydroponic technology with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Typha latifolia</Emphasis>

Background

This study aims to assess suitability of hydroponic technology for treatment of brewery wastewater in a hydroponic bioreactor using Typha latifolia. Triplicated hydroponic bioreactor treatment units were designed, constructed and operated at a hydraulic retention time of 5?days with different surface loadings and mean hydraulic loading rate 0.023?m³ m^?2d^??1. Young T. latifolia shoots were collected in the vicinity of study site. Wastewater characteristics, plant growth and nutrient accumulation during experiment were analyzed as per APHA standard methods and nutrient removal efficiency was evaluated based on inlet and outlet values.

Results

T. latifolia established and grew well in the hydroponics under fluctuations of wastewater loads and showed a good phytoremedial capacity to remove nutrients. Significant removal efficiencies (p?<?0.05) varied between 54 and 80% for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 42 and 65% for NH₄⁺ -N, 47 and 58% for NO₃^? -N, and 51 and 70% for PO₄^3?-P. The system improved the removal up to 29% compared to control and produced biomass of 0.61–0.86?kg dry weight (DW) m^??2. Nutrients retained were up to 21.17?g?N?kg^??1 DW and 2.87?g P kg^??1 DW.

Conclusion

The significant nutrients reduction obtained and production of biomass led us to conclude that hydroponics technology using T. latifolia has suitability potential for treatment of brewery wastewater and similar agro-industrial wastewaters. Thus it could be considered as a promising eco-friendly option for wastewater treatment to mitigate water pollution. Integration of treatment and production of biomass needs further improvement.

     

Rapid isolation of DNA from complex biological samples using a novel capture reagent--methidium-spermine-sepharose.

We have synthesized and analyzed the functional properties of a novel DNA capture reagent containing a methidium moiety attached to a sepharose bead by a spermine linker. DNA present in a biological fluid or other complex sample binds to the reagent. The DNA-capture reagent complex is then separated from the sample by centrifugation and the DNA is released from the reagent by brief incubation in 0.1 to 0.5 N NaOH or KOH. Capture of DNA from complex samples is independent of the salt concentration of the sample, and occurs in the presence of high concentrations of EDTA, proteinase K and detergents. Many samples can be processed simultaneously. The following specific applications, in which denatured DNA is quantitated or characterized, are demonstrated: 1). Isolation of hepatitis B virus DNA from serum and quantitation by dot-blot hybridization, 2). Isolation and quantitation of DNA from urine, 3). Isolation of human genomic DNA from one microliter of blood or 100 HeLa cells followed by amplification of a specific gene sequence using the Polymerase Chain Reaction, 4). Isolation of single stranded phage M13 sequencing templates from bacterial cultures. These investigations suggest that a capture reagent containing an intercalating moiety bound to a solid support may be useful for many applications in molecular biology and molecular diagnostics.     

Genome-wide scans identify known and novel regions associated with prolificacy and reproduction traits in a sub-Saharan African indigenous sheep (Ovis aries)

Maximizing the number of offspring born per female is a key functionality trait in commercial- and/or subsistence-oriented livestock enterprises. Although the number of offspring born is closely associated with female fertility and reproductive success, the genetic control of these traits remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa livestock. Using selection signature analysis performed on Ovine HD BeadChip data from the prolific Bonga sheep in Ethiopia, 41 candidate regions under selection were identified. The analysis revealed one strong selection signature on a candidate region on chromosome X spanning BMP15, suggesting this to be the primary candidate prolificacy gene in the breed. The analysis also identified several candidate regions spanning genes not reported before in prolific sheep but underlying fertility and reproduction in other species. The genes associated with female reproduction traits included SPOCK1 (age at first oestrus), GPR173 (mediator of ovarian cyclicity), HB-EGF (signalling early pregnancy success) and SMARCAL1 and HMGN3a (regulate gene expression during embryogenesis). The genes involved in male reproduction were FOXJ1 (sperm function and successful fertilization) and NME5 (spermatogenesis). We also observed genes such as PKD2L2, MAGED1 and KDM3B, which have been associated with diverse fertility traits in both sexes of other species. The results confirm the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction while suggesting that prolificacy in the Bonga sheep, and possibly African indigenous sheep is partly under the control of BMP15 while other genes that enhance male and female fertility are essential for reproductive fitness.

     

Novel biotinylated nucleotide--analogs for labeling and colorimetric detection of DNA.

A series of dATP and dCTP nucleotide analogs have been synthesized which are modified by attachment of aliphatic linkers containing a functional group to the amino-nitrogen at the hydrogen bonding positions of the bases, that is, at the 6-position of adenine and the 4-position of cytosine. These nucleotides are incorporated into DNA probes by standard nick-translation protocols. DNA probes labeled with biotin derivatives of these nucleotides are effectively hybridized to target DNA sequences and can be detected by a streptavidin and calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase conjugate with a sensitivity (0.25 pg DNA) sufficient for reproducible and rapid detection of single copy genes in a Southern blot of mammalian DNA. Also, a procedure has been developed to allow reprobing of nylon filters that have been hybridized with biotinylated probes and developed with the streptavidin/alkaline phosphatase conjugate and a standard dye system.     

Conservation Refugium Value of a Large Mesa for Grasshoppers in South Africa

A 3-year study was undertaken on and around a prominent South African mesa to determine its role for grasshoppers in a sea of grazed flatlands. The number of grasshopper species and individuals on the summit, slopes and flatlands varied significantly in relation to measured environmental variables. The summit, through inaccessibility to livestock grazing, was effectively a conservation refugium for one highly responsive grasshopper species, Orthochtha dasycnemis. There was no significant difference in species richness between years of sampling, although there were significant variations in grasshopper abundance between years. The difference in rainfall between years was significant and appeared to be the key factor influencing grasshopper population dynamics. This study clearly shows that a mesa can act as a conservation island and refugium supporting an insect assemblage that would be otherwise altered by heavy livestock grazing on the surrounding flatlands. This summit assemblage was strongly linked with those on the slopes, and is determined by low grazing intensity and associated soil and vegetation structure.     

Maternal Complications and Women's Behavior in Seeking Care from Skilled Providers in North Gondar,Ethiopia

Background

Maternal complications are morbidities suffered during pregnancy through the postpartum period of 42 days. In Ethiopia, little is known about women''s experience of complications and their care-seeking behavior. This study attempted to assess experiences related to obstetric complication and seeking assistance from a skilled provider among women who gave birth in the last 12 months preceding the study.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional survey of women who gave birth within one year preceding the study regardless of their delivery place. The study was carried out in six selected districts in North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region. Data was collected house-to-house in 12 selected clusters (kebeles) using a pretested Amharic questionnaire. During the survey, 1,668 women were interviewed. Data entry was done using Epi Info version 3.5.3 and was exported to SPSS for analysis. Logistic regression was applied to control confounders.

Results

Out of the total sample, 476 women (28.5%, 95% CI: 26.4%, 30.7%) reported some kind of complication. The most common complications reported were; excessive bleeding and prolonged labor that occurred mostly at the time of delivery and postpartum period. Out of the total women who faced complications, 248 (52.1%, 95% CI: 47.6%, 56.6%) sought assistance from a skilled provider. Inability to judge the severity of morbidities, distance/transport problems, lack of money/cost considerations and use of traditional options at home were the major reasons for not seeking care from skilled providers. Belonging to a wealthier quintile, getting antenatal care from a skilled provider and agreement of a woman in planning for possible complications were significantly associated with seeking assistance from a skilled provider.

Conclusion

Nearly half of the women who faced complications did not use skilled providers at the time of obstetric complications. Cognitive, geographic, economic and cultural barriers were involved in not using skilled maternal care.