Huambo Province Research Articles

Influential Factors in the Evaluation of Agricultural Lands in the Huambo Province, Angola

The possession and appraisal of agricultural fields have significant economic and social impacts. The objective of this study is to examine the perception of farmers in the Huambo Province, Angola, regarding the characteristics that enhance and diminish the value of agricultural lands in the process of buying and selling. The utilized quantitative methodology is based on a questionnaire administered to farmers in the Huambo Province. The sample size consists of 644 respondents. The results allow us to conclude that the income generated from farming activities and the presence of infrastructure greatly facilitate the appraisal of agricultural fields. Conversely, the absence of legal ownership documentation and conflicts related to land ownership reduce the value of the fields. The exploratory factor analysis identified seven determinant factors, responsible for explaining 61.334% of the total variance, in the appraisal of agricultural fields: inherent location characteristics of the property, market dynamics related to agricultural fields, the availability of water on the property, proximity to tourist destinations, physical conditions of the fields, the positive externalities generated, and the advantages offered by the fields. We believe that this study will assist appraisers, farmers, and public administration in understanding the factors that positively and negatively impact the appraisal of agricultural fields.

Preparação de professores para a realização dos concursos de Matemática na província do Huambo

This paper presents a teaching experience developed in the Huambo province of the Republic of Angola, related to training seminars for managing math contests, whose objective is to understand the need of training teachers in didactic and methodological issues, in order to serve as a basis to achieve the goals of the national contest “Olimpíadas de Matemáticas”. The results obtained in the seminars and the analysis of the main problems that can interfere in the success of the math contests in Huambo province, enable the authors of this paper to propose challenges and necessary changes to improve the performance of the province in mathematics competitions, which focus mainly on the constant improvement of teachers to satisfactorily conduct the teaching-learning process of Mathematics, in general, and of math contest in particular. The theoretical systematization and the analysis of documents are the fundamental methods used in the investigative process.

Lost pigs of Angola: Whole genome sequencing reveals unique regions of selection with emphasis on metabolism and feed efficiency.

Angola, in the western coast of Africa, has been through dramatic social events that have led to the near-disappearance of native swine populations, and the recent introduction of European exotic breeds has also contributed to the erosion of this native swine repertoire. In an effort to investigate the genetic basis of native pigs in Angola (ANG) we have generated whole genomes from animals of a remote local pig population in Huambo province, which we have compared with 78 genomes of European and Asian pig breeds as well as European and Asian wild boars that are currently in public domain. Analyses of population structure showed that ANG pigs grouped within the European cluster and were clearly separated from Asian pig breeds. Pairwise F ST ranged from 0.14 to 0.26, ANG pigs display lower levels of genetic differentiation towards European breeds. Finally, we have identified candidate regions for selection using a complementary approach based on various methods. All results suggest that selection towards feed efficiency and metabolism has occurred. Moreover, all analysis identified CDKAL1 gene, which is related with insulin and cholesterol metabolism, as a candidate gene overlapping signatures of selection unique to ANG pigs. This study presents the first assessment of the genetic relationship between ANG pigs and other world breeds and uncovers selection signatures that may indicate adaptation features unique to this important genetic resource.

Effects, Monitoring and Management of Forest Roads Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Angolan Miombo Woodlands

Angola’s forests are abundant and highly productive with enormous potential to support local needs and exportation. The forests are well distributed across the country, but the existing road network is generally poor and, in some cases, inappropriate. Based on our previous work examining deforestation patterns and the modeling of primary tree attributes of vegetation types, we proposed forest management zones (MZ) for future planning in Huambo province in Angola. Herein, that same framework is applied for the detection of the existing road network in Huambo and the proposal of alternative routes inside the MZ. We used analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information systems (GIS) to optimize connectivity among the existing forest plantations and their distance to the closest major cities within the province. We developed road suitability maps based on AHP and GIS to ensure safer driving conditions and contribute to the forest planner’s access to the current plantations. According to the suitability map created, 59.51% of the total area is suitable for road development and is counted in classes 4 and 5 in automatic classification. Parameters such as geology, slope, distance from roads to the railway, soil types, elevation, flow accumulation, and aspect were used. We provide a completed assessment of the state of existing roads and evaluate the safety of the observed road sections based on the AHP method. The calculated weights of the factors were all consistent with the model used (consistency ratio was 0.09 < 0.1). Finally, we proposed the best alternative routes to the existing cities, MZ in miombo woodlands, and forest plantations inside the province. Our findings indicated that flow accumulation, soil type, and geology were the most significant factors impacting road construction. Overall, our framework is an important starting point for further research activities towards developing a spatial decision support system (SDSS) for planning road networks in Angola.

Deforestation and Biomass Production in Miombo Forest in Huambo (Angola): A Balance between Local and Global Needs

Miombo is one of the most widely distributed ecosystems in Angola, with a great social and environmental value. Thus, the rural population uses the biomass as fuel and miombo provides important ecosystem services, such as its carbon sequestration capacity. The objectives of this work were (i) to assess deforestation in miombo forest in Huambo province (Angola) during the last 20 years, (ii) to evaluate carbon storage capacity of miombo, and (iii) to calculate the charcoal productive capacity of those forests. From 2000 to 2019, 359,130 ha (12.96%) were deforested in Huambo province. Thirty-six woody species were identified as major components of miombo forest, the most frequent being Albizia anthunesiana, Brachystegia spiciformis, Julbernardia paniculata, Monote spp., Brachystegia boemii, Isoberlinea angolensis, Anisophyllea boehmii, Syzygium guineense, and Erythrophleum africanum. The total biomass estimated in miombo forest was 195.05 Mg ha−1 (55.02 Mg ha−1 radical and 140.04 Mg ha−1 area), with a total wood volume of 78.57 m3 ha−1. This represents values of 91.67 Mg ha−1 of accumulated carbon and 336.13 Mg ha−1 of CO2 equivalent. The potential charcoal productivity was 15,359.9 kg ha−1, corresponding to 24.78 trees ha−1. The Annual Allowable Cutting Volume was 10.77 m3 ha−1 year−1, 14.13 m3 ha−1 year−1, 21.17 m3 ha−1, and 32.85 m3 ha−1 year−1 for rotation lengths of 55, 40, 25, and 15 years, respectively, corresponding to a potential annual charcoal productivity of 2107.08 Kg ha−1 year−1, 2762.96 Kg ha−1 year−1, 4139.21 Kg ha−1, and 422.56 Kg ha−1 year−1. However, deforestation rates in the last 19 years and low charcoal productive capacity could compromise the sustainability of the Miombo ecosystem and its value as an ecosystem service provider in the province if appropriate management strategies are not developed.

Uma visita à Ombala Ndala Kandumbu: contribuição para a historiografia dos Reinos Ovimbundu

This work presents a practical research that was conducted at Ombala Kandumbu to contribute to the construction of the Historiography of the kingdoms Ovimbundu, through the leadership of its chiefman, namely, Nondolo, Ndala Kandumbu, Jaime Santos (powerless collaborator of the whitemen), Kacikwalula, Yulembi and Semente. Similarly to others, Ombala has also experienced the Portuguese invasion and occupation during the 20th century. The relevance of Kandumbu's boulder, consists in making known and valuing the Local History of Huambo Province, Angola, Africa and Universal, which can be framed in the disciplines of African History, History of Angola, Cultural History, Oral Tradition and African Cultures, Archaeology and Practical Archaeology, among others. It is ipsus factus that only after the Berlin conference in 1884-1885, taking into account the principle of effective occupation, that forced the Portuguese to occupy the interior of Angola, for the case of Huambo Province, happened at the beginning of the 20th century, more precisely in 1902, which means the aforementioned Ombala was also occupied during the 20th century, as it is part of Huambo Province.

Carvão Sustentável – um projeto de gestão ambiental despertando a tecnologia dos Briquetes nas comunidades urbanas e periurbanas em Angola – Huambo

O processo de produção de carvão em Angola produz grandes males no meio ambiente e numa grande quantidade de resíduos. Dada esta situação, a qual redunda num cenário displicente, propomo-nos de identificar de ações pontuais que possam contribuir para mitigar os impactes ambientais em projetos de produção de carvão vegetal de forma sustentável nas comunidades Província do Huambo. A serragem foi obtida a partir de uma carpintaria na sede da comuna do Belém, do município do Huambo, que dista a 16 km de Katenguenha. Foram avaliados os diferentes impactes que processo de produção de carvão vegetal tem causado naquela localidade, desde os aspetos geofísicos e os de campo biológicos direcionados pela perda da Fauna e de Flora. Como medidas de mitigação teve-se em conta algumas ações que passam por formações ligadas as áreas ambientais com realce a gestão de florestas, acondicionamento de resíduos sólidos e o exercício constante com base na política dos 3 Rs. Uma das fontes alternativas adotadas circunscreve-se ao uso de briquetes que de certa medida contribuem para uma melhor proteção da floresta nativa.

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens infecting livestock and dogs in Tchicala-Tcholoanga, Huambo Province, Angola

The diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) infesting domestic animals in Tchicala-Tcholoanga, Angola, in 2016 was investigated. Seventeen tick species were recorded, Amblyomma pomposum being the most abundant on cattle (40%), goats (38%) and sheep (35%); Rhipicephalus turanicus was the most abundant on dogs (46%). This study presents new records of Haemaphysalis paraleachi, R. compositus, R. kochi and R. sulcatus in Angola, the first georeferenced population of Ha. leachi in southern Africa and the second record of R. microplus in Angola. Using the reverse line blot (RLB) hybridisation assay, fifteen TBP species were detected in blood samples from cattle (n = 88), goats (n = 82), sheep (n = 85) and dogs (n = 85). F The most frequently detected species were Theileria velifera in cattle (78%), Theileria ovis in sheep (80%) and Babesia vogeli in dogs (35%). Species-specific quantitative PCR assays detected Babesia bigemina in 43% (35/80) of blood samples of cattle, while E. ruminantium was detected in 4% (3/70) of blood samples and in 7% of A. pomposum ticks. Anaplasma platys was detected from cattle (18%) and sheep (6%) during RLB analysis. These findings constitute pioneering research in Angola.

Molecular identification and characterization of Rickettsia spp. and other tick-borne pathogens in cattle and their ticks from Huambo, Angola

Ticks are one of the most common vectors of a broad variety of pathogenic agents that significantly affects cattle production causing reduced productivity and important economic losses, while simultaneously having an impact on human health due to the zoonotic risk. In much of the territory of Angola urban population has grown rapidly in recent decades, sharing today close contact with large farms that are generally owned by city residents, providing the ideal conditions for vector-borne pathogens (VBP) transmission between animals and humans. Here we studied the occurrence of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia and Theileria in domestic cattle (n = 98) from Huambo, Angola, and their ticks (n = 116) to obtain a more detailed knowledge into the spectrum of tick-borne agents circulating in this population. We morphologically identified Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus decoloratus and R. evertsi mimeticus ticks, further confirmed by molecular analysis of the 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA genes. Although none of the bovine blood showed to be positive for R. africae by the ompB, ompA and gltA assays, five ticks showed to be positive for R. africae by the ompB, ompA and the gltA PCRs. Two 18S rRNA sequences were retrieved from bovine blood and one sequence from A. variegatum tick, showing 100% identity with Theileria mutans. By using a PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplama spp. we have also obtained six bovine blood samples showing 99–100 % nucleotide sequence identity with A. capra, two showing 98 % nucleotide sequence identity with A. phagocytophilum and three showing 98–100 % nucleotide sequence identity with A. platys. None of the ticks were positive.The present study shows the presence of a wide range of vector-borne diseases in domestic cattle and their ticks in Huambo province, Angola. Given the lack of both animal and human health infrastructures in this rural region, swift diagnosis and treatment is hampered which could produce a more severe impact on health.

Modelos de Estrutura de Capital VS Modelos Econométricos: evidências sobre as PME’S da Província do Huambo – Angola

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar os determinantes da estrutura de capital da PME da província do Huambo, avaliando a relevância e a validade dos principais atributos sugeridos pela literatura como determinantes da estrutura de capital e testar o poder explicativo de cada um dos índices de dívida das empresas. Para atingir este objetivo, foram analisadas empiricamente informações financeiras de 35 empresas sediadas na província do Huambo - Angola. As empresas foram classificadas em quatro setores, de acordo com a NACE Rev1, para o período entre 2012 e 2016. Com base na aplicação de um modelo de regressão linear múltipla de efeito aleatório, nossos resultados indicam que, para as empresas do Huambo, prevalecem os seguintes: (i) crescimento da empresa não influencia a dívida; (ii) em relação ao tamanho da empresa, em geral, quanto maior a empresa, maior será a dívida da empresa; (iii) a estrutura de ativos influencia positivamente os níveis de endividamento, sua baixa significância; (iv) em termos de receita, concluiu-se que não determina dívida firme, uma vez que prefere o autofinanciamento; (v) como variabilidade do lucro, contrariamente ao esperado, determina a dívida de médio e longo prazo e total; (vi) em relação ao setor de negócios, observou-se que ele tem uma influência significativa no nível médio de endividamento das empresas do Huambo.

A dwarf among giants: phylogenetic position of the elusive Angolan Adder (Bitis heraldica) and biogeographic affinities of Angolan Afromontane regions

ABSTRACT The Angolan Adder, Bitis heraldica (Bocage, 1889), is endemic to the Angolan central plateau and is one of the most poorly known and rarely observed species of African snakes. The phylogenetic placement of B. heraldica within the four subgenera of the genus Bitis (Bitis, Macrocerastes, Calechidna, Keniabitis) has been problematic. The few recent taxonomic and phylogenetic revisions dealing with African viperids and the genus Bitis have not included this species, resulting in the default acceptance of B. heraldica as member of the subgenus Calechidna, based on similar morphology and size. During a survey in Huambo Province, central Angola, we collected the first specimen of this species in the past 65 years, allowing us to examine its phylogenetic relationships to other Bitis using multigene Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of all species of Bitis, except B. harenna. Contrary to expectations that B. heraldica is a member of the subgenus Calechidna, our results unambiguously place B. heraldica among members of the subgenus Macrocerastes, which contains the largest-bodied species of the genus. The placement of B. heraldica within Macrocerastes raises interesting questions about body-size evolution in viperids and contributes to a better understanding of biogeographic patterns in south-western Africa, and particularly Angola.

Cooperativismo e acesso aos serviços agrícolas na província do Huambo: O caso de cooperativas apoiadas pela ADRA

The main problem that family farmers in Huambo province face in carrying out agricultural activities is mainly related to access to agricultural services. The present study aimed to analyze the contribution of cooperatives in promoting access to agricultural services. The study was developed in two phases, in the first stage, an exploratory research was carried out on the theme of cooperativism for which several sources of secondary information were consulted. The second phase consisted of a collection of data supported by direct sources of primary information, using the survey method. Two questionnaires were built and applied, one to cooperative leaders and the other to cooperating farmers. The results of the study show that the main services provided by cooperatives are access to monetary credit, agricultural inputs and equipment and training. Overall, farmers are not satisfied with the services provided by the cooperatives.

Effects of an Educational Intervention on Angolan Adolescents' Knowledge of Human Reproduction: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background and objectives: Sex education is a necessity and a right of young people in Angola. However, this education is deficient or even absent in various subsystems and, therefore, the impact of an educational intervention on human biology and sexuality was addressed. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a non-equivalent control group, pre-test post-test design. It was conducted with students from three secondary schools (6th to 12th grade, two public and one private) in Huambo (Angola), between June and December 2017. First, a questionnaire was distributed to assess the students’ knowledge on aspects related to sexual maturation, psychological development, gynecological organs’ anatomy, human fertilization, contraception, and risks of unprotected sexuality. Then, an educational program was developed by the principal investigator along with the school’s moral and civic education and biology teachers selected for a group of students (experimental group, EG); the others constituted the control group (CG). Classes were held on non-working days, on Saturday mornings (8:00 to 10:00 a.m.), so as not to interfere with the school calendar. The initial questionnaire was redistributed two months later to assess the impact of the intervention. Results: Of the 589 individuals included (mean age of 16.8 ± 2.5 years), 56.7% were males. EG (n = 241) consisted of students from the public school and CG (n = 348) by students from public and private schools. The last part of the questionnaire consisted of 30 questions to assess students’ knowledge, and in 23 of these questions, both groups showed no differences at baseline. After the intervention, the EG showed significant improvements (p < 0.05), while the CG revealed only slight improvements. Conclusions: Students from Huambo province have a significant lack of knowledge on human biology and sexuality. Rigorous development and evaluation of interventions addressing multiple individual and environmental level factors is needed, notably for effective education in human biology and sexuality.

Rediscovery, taxonomic status, and phylogenetic relationships of two rare and endemic snakes (Serpentes: Psammophiinae) from the southwestern Angolan plateau.

Two rare and endemic psammophines (Serpentes: Psammophiinae) occur in Angola. The taxonomic status of Psammophylax rhombeatus ocellatus Bocage, 1873 and Psammophis ansorgii Boulenger, 1905 have long remained problematic, with both having varied past and present taxonomic assignments, and whose distributions may therefore present zoogeographic anomalies. Little was known of their biology, habitat associations, or phylogenetic relationships. New material was collected during biodiversity surveys of the Humpata Plateau, near Lubango, Angola. It allowed fuller descriptions of scalation and live coloration for both species, and resolution of their taxonomic status. Genetic analysis confirms that both are distinct at the specific level. In addition, within Psammophis, Jalla's Sand Snake (Psammophis jallae Peracca, 1896), of which P. rohani Angel, 1925, remains a synonym, is sister to P. ansorgii, and Boulenger's comment on similarities with P. crucifer are not supported. The status of an unusual skaapsteker from Calueque, Cunene Province, Angola, is discussed and its assignment to Ps. ocellatus is provisional and requires additional material for taxonomic resolution. The new P. ansorgii records from Tundavala represent a range (+400 km southwest) and altitude (1800 m to 2286 m a.s.l) extension from the previous only known precise locality of Bela Vista (= Catchiungo), Huambo Province, whilst that for Ps. ocellatus doubles the known altitude from 1108 m to 2286 m a.s.l and extends the range about 122 km to the northwest from historical material from the plateau of Huíla and Cunene provinces.

PO 8505 LEISHMANIASIS IN ANGOLA – AN EMERGING DISEASE?

BackgroundPoverty, lack of resources, inadequate treatments and control programmes exacerbate the impact of infectious diseases in the developing world. Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is among the ten major neglected tropical diseases. Although endemic in more than 90 countries, the ones most affected, representing over 90% of new cases, are Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, and Sudan. In Africa south of the equator, the impact of leishmaniasis is much lower. In several countries, like Angola, little is known about this infectious neglected disease. In the 1970s, a group of Portuguese researchers described three cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children from Huambo district and in the 1990s visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed in an African patient. More recently a canine survey in Luanda revealed two Leishmania-infected dogs.After some suspected cases of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Huambo region in 2017, the Angola health authorities and the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Lisbon, Portugal, established a collaboration to analyse samples from some suspected cases.MethodsThree paraffin-embedded human skin samples from dermatological lesions were sent to IHMT for molecular analysis. After DNA extraction, PCR was performed by using four protocols with different molecular markers.ResultsOne PCR protocol using a nested approach was positive in two of the samples. Sequencing analysis confirmed Leishmania sp. DNA.ConclusionThis was the first time that suspected human cutaneous samples were screened for leishmaniasis by molecular methods with detection of Leishmania sp. DNA. These preliminary studies highlight the need for higher awareness of health professionals for leishmaniasis clinical forms, to recognise risk factors and the epidemiological features of leishmaniasis in the Huambo province. It would be relevant to perform further epidemiological studies to confirm if this vector-borne disease could be emergent in this country.

Defining Deforestation Patterns Using Satellite Images from 2000 and 2017: Assessment of Forest Management in Miombo Forests—A Case Study of Huambo Province in Angola

A few studies have recently been published on changes in land use/land cover (LU/LC) of Angolan Miombo forests, however, none have attempted to offer forest management solutions for degraded Miombo forests. Landscapes are witness to past and present natural and social processes influencing the environment, where each period in the past leaves footprints on the landscape’s development, which can be described by a continual decrease in forest area over time. The expansion of degraded areas from 2000 to 20017 began near urban areas where many Miombo forests have been eliminated or highly degraded, particularly in the southwest and northeast of the Huambo province. Large areas of degraded forests were observed along the Benguela railway (Caminho de ferro de Benguela). Our detailed analysis of the landcover map suggests that the impact has been devastating and there is no form of forest protection, which leads to unregulated exploitation. Descriptions of the Miombo forest dynamics are explained using height–diameter curves developed for different vegetation types that provide important insights about forest structures in the management zones. The height–diameter models differed for all vegetation types, and four management zones (MZ) were created based on a set of particular attributes. The vegetation types differed in each management zone, which included agricultural land and bare soil (MZ–E), grassland or savanna (MZ–C), open Miombo forests (MZ–B), and closed Miombo forests (Miombo forests). The four management zones were easily identified on the available maps and the height–diameter models developed represent a fundamental tool for future studies on forest planning.

Dynamic Patterns of Trees Species in Miombo Forest and Management Perspectives for Sustainable Production—Case Study in Huambo Province, Angola

This paper aims to assess important forest parameters, including tree density, diameter at breast height (DBH), and age distribution, investigate the dynamic growth of miombo tree species, and employ this information to design a management framework in miombo forests. The delineation of the management zones was based on unsupervised land cover classification that began with three zones where ground data was collected and increased to five zones. Eighteen circular plots (25.2 m radius) were randomly distributed over the study areas to assess the current situation and potential growth patterns for each species. The patterns of the six most representative tree species of miombo in Angola were described and we used KORFiT 2.4 software to fit data and develop growth curves for at least three miombo species. Growth function fitness was evaluated by root mean squared error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), significance of the parameters (p &lt; 0.05), and Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). The diameter distribution of miombo tree species resembled a typical distribution of uneven-aged forest stands; higher DBH classes had lower abundances of tree species. Logistic and Gompertz growth functions were the best fits for miombo tree species. Brachystegia spiciformis Benth., is suggested as a potential species for timber management in the region because they displayed high growth potential to more quickly reach an assumed minimum DBH of 20 cm. This study concluded that miombo forest stands present an irregular structure in which DBH distribution illustrated only two patterns: many small stems and a bimodal forest structure.

Diagnosis delay of tuberculosis in the Huambo province, Angola

IntroductionEarly diagnosis is necessary for the success of the tuberculosis (TB) program. Goal: To identify factors associated with diagnosis delay of TB in Huambo, Angola. Material and methodsCross-sectional study carried out in patients diagnosed with TB at the Huambo Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary (ATD) in the period between October 2015 and January 2016. ResultsThe 247 patients included in the analysis had a median age of 27 years and a median diagnosis delay of 64 days. In the univariate analysis, age, consumption of alcoholic beverages, living in a residence further than 10km from a healthcare unit, and looking for any other health unit than the emergency unit were associated with longer diagnosis delay. In the multivariate analysis model, to be between 30 and 44 years of age (p=0.018), to live in a residence more than 10km from a healthcare unit (p=0.006) and to turn to traditional medicine as the first healthcare option (p<0.001) were factors that led to greater time delay before diagnosis. ConclusionsIn the Huambo province, age, distance to healthcare facility and the first healthcare service consulted were associated with diagnosis delay of TB.

EMPRESAS AGRÍCOLAS E DESENVOLVIMENTO ECONÔMICO: POTENCIALIDADES DA PROVÍNCIA DO HUAMBO, EM ANGOLA

Este artigo tem como objetivos avaliar as potencialidades das Empresas Agrícolas Empresariais e Familiares no desenvolvimento da província do Huambo (Angola) e procurar fundamentos que reforcem a ideia da contribuição que a agricultura pode dar ao crescimento e desenvolvimento econômico e, em particular, à diversificação da economia da província. É realizada uma revisão da literatura sobre a relação entre o setor agrícola e o desenvolvimento econômico, sendo igualmente caracterizada a situação atual de Angola e da província do Huambo em termos agrícolas. Com base na população alvo das empresas agrícolas empresariais e empresas agrícolas familiares foi aplicado um questionário junto aos responsáveis dessas entidades, sendo analisados estatisticamente, respectivamente, 197 e 300 inquéritos válidos. Os resultados evidenciam algumas das principais fragilidades da agricultura na província, nomeadamente, a baixa produtividade, explicada pelo baixo índice de mecanização, pela fraca utilização de fertilizantes, pela dependência das chuvas e pelas dificuldades de acesso a apoios financeiros e técnicos. São igualmente identificadas algumas diferenças significativas entre os dois tipos de entidades inquiridas, as quais motivam um conjunto de recomendações e a adoção de políticas diferenciadas.

Impact of introducing subsidized combination treatment with artemether-lumefantrine on sales of anti-malarial monotherapies: a survey of private sector pharmacies in Huambo, Angola.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) against malaria are subsidized in many African countries, but the impact of subsidy programs in reducing the sales of concomitantly available antimalarial monotherapies is poorly defined. Data from The MENTOR initiative, that introduced subsidized artemether-lumefantrine (sAL) in the private sector of Huambo province, Angola, were used. The main response variable was represented by sales of sAL and of monotherapies, measured as number of treatment courses. Sales in private pharmacies of sAL and four antimalarial monotherapies between 2009 and 2013 were organized in four time-periods, and analyzed using generalized linear models for repeated measures. A secondary analysis evaluated changes in relative market share. We analyzed data from 34 pharmacies at four time points, taken from a larger survey that involved 165 pharmacies between June 2009 and March 2013. The sAL, following its introduction, became the dominant antimalarial treatment in the private sector, usually exceeding the total sales of all antimalarial monotherapies combined (1480/2800 total treatment courses, 52.8% of all sales in March 2013). Sales of monotherapies decreased significantly, but did not stop, representing 36.7% (1028/2800) of sales at the end of the survey. Subsidized ACTs can attain rapidly a high relative market share. Their introduction reduced, but did not eliminate the demand for less effective monotherapies, that might favor parasite resistance.