Nebbi District Research Articles

Cholera outbreak associated with drinking contaminated river water in Panyimur and Parombo sub-counties: Nebbi district, Uganda, March 2017

Introduction: On 10thFebruary 2017, Uganda Ministry of Health was notified of a suspected cholera outbreak in Nebbi district. The district experienced numerous cholera outbreaks with the latest in 2016. We investigated to determine the scope, mode of transmission, and exposures. Methods: We defined a suspected case as sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea in a resident (>5 years) from Parombo or Panyimur subcounties in Nebbi district, during 1 January-9 March 2017. A confirmed case was a suspected case with culture-confirmed Vibrio cholerae from stool. We conducted descriptive epidemiology of case-persons to inform hypothesis generation and a case-control study involving 67 case-persons and 134 control-persons to test the hypothesis. Results: We identified 222 suspected case-persons; samples from two yielded Vibrio cholerae O139. Three case-persons died (CFR=1.4%). The epidemic curve indicated a point-source outbreak. Among 67 cases, 40 (60%) drank river water, compared with 56 (42%) of 134 controls (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2- 4.1). Visual assessment revealed that river water had high turbidity and we observed mass open defecation. Conclusion: This outbreak affected two sub-counties and was associated with drinking contaminated river water. We recommended treating drinking water by the community members and health education on drinking water safety and proper waste disposal in the communities. And for long term, the district water department should increase the number and functionality of boreholes or piped water in the communities.

Oral health seeking behaviors of adults in Nebbi District, Uganda: a community-based survey

BackgroundDental health is often neglected by the majority of the population and has contributed to the global burden of oral diseases. We assessed awareness, utilization and barriers to seeking oral health care among adults in Nebbi District, Uganda.MethodsA community-based, cross sectional study was conducted in the central division, Nebbi District in Uganda among adults between the age of 18 years or older. An interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection on socio-demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, oral health utilization, associated factors and barriers.ResultsA total of 400 adults with a median age of 32 years (interquartile range 24–43) years were enrolled. More than half (57.5%, n = 230) of the participants were female. Participants identified smoking (42.8%, n = 171) and consumption of sugary foodstuffs (29.0%, n = 116) as risk factors for oral disease. Not brushing was also identified by 260 participants (65.0%) as the cause of tooth decay and 95.8% (n = 383) believed brushing one’s teeth could prevent tooth decay. Of the 51.5% (n = 206) who had experienced a toothache or discomfort 12 months prior to the study but only about half (52%, n = 106) had sought healthcare from a dental clinic or facility. About 89.5% (n = 94) of the participants were able to see a dentist during their last visits. Dental carries (76.6%, n = 70) and gum bleeding (14.9%, n = 14) were the most frequent reasons for visiting a dental clinic, and 73.7% (n = 70) had their tooth extracted. Barriers to seeking oral healthcare were cost of treatment (47.5%, n = 190), and long waiting time (18.5%, n = 74). The odds of seeking oral healthcare was 2.8-fold higher in participants who were being married (Odds ratio (OR): 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–6.3, p = 0.011) and 3.5-fold higher among housewives (COR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.4, p = 0.040).ConclusionAbout half of the participants had sought healthcare following a dental condition. Cost of treatment seems to be an important factor affecting utilization of oral health services. Optimization of costs, and creating awareness regarding benefits of utilizing preventive dental services are recommended.

Human Resource Capabilities, Financial Support and Enterprise Development in Nebbi District, West Nile Region Uganda

The study examined the role played by Human resource capabilities, financial availability in supporting enterprise development in Nebbi, west Nile region in Uganda. Purposive and simple random sampling was used and the selected sample of participants was 120. The study found out that Enterprise developers seem to understand the role of financial support and that lack of human resource capabilities encounter increased financial cost. Access to credit is still a challenge due to lack of understanding of SMEs by banks. The study recommended that government should support enterprise development by providing an environment which promotes business, provide access to credit, provide affordable interest rates, and provide subsidies to local enterprise developers. Universities should also develop skills that match employment needs.

Proximate nutrient composition of some wild edible medicinal plants from Uganda

There are high levels of malnutrition especially among children in Africa. In Uganda, this is compounded by widespread food insecurity. There are various wild edible plant species in Uganda. However, little research has been carried out to document and validate the claims associated with their use. A study was, therefore, carried out to analyse the nutritional contents of six commonly used wild edible medicinal plant species from Nebbi district in Northwestern Uganda. These plants were Erythrococca bongensis, Grewia trichocarpa, Leptadenia hastata, Nymphaea lotus, Oxygonum sinuatum and Talinum portulacifolium. The plants were selected mainly because of their use as both food and medicine. All the selected plant species have documented medicinal uses among the local communities in Nebbi district where they are used. However, many of them are often neglected and underutilized, despite their potential therapeutic and nutritional benefits. The vitamin C, β-carotene, macronutrient, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium compositions of the selected edible parts of the plant species were analysed. With the exception of Grewia trichocarpa fruits and Nymphaea lotus seeds, the leaves of Talinum portulacifolium had higher Fe (4.54±0.07 mg/100g), P (0.31±0.01 mg/100g), Mg (0.3±0.3 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.275±0.00 μg/100g) and crude ash (22.13±0.19%) contents than the rest of the plant species. The leaves of Leptadenia hastata had higher levels of vitamin C (17.93±2.01 mg/100g) than the leaves of other plant species. All the plant species analysed were richer in iron than the common cabbage Brassica oleracea var capitata. There were significant differences in the nutritional contents of the plant species analysed (p<0.05). However, the nutrient values of the plant extracts were generally much lower, providing a small percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance or Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) values. The vitamin C, β-carotene and other nutrient contents of most of the plant species analysed were generally comparable or even higher than those of the common cabbage in some instances. Consumption and conservation of these plant species should be encouraged by local authorities because they not only supplement the local staples with the much needed nutrients, but they could also have medicinal properties. Key words: Wild, edible, Medicinal plants, Nutrient, Food-security, food, underutilized, Uganda

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Some Wild Nutraceutical Plant Species from Nebbi District, Uganda

Aims:&nbsp;The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antifungal properties of selected wild nutraceutical plants from Nebbi district in Uganda.Study Design:&nbsp;Experimental study.Place and Duration of Study:&nbsp;The study was carried out at the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and BioSecurity, Makerere University, between January and March 2012.Methodology:&nbsp;The diameters of the zones of inhibition and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) were determined using the Agar well diffusion Assay and the serial dilution methods respectively.Results:&nbsp;Seven plant species were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activity against&nbsp;Staphylococcus aureus&nbsp;(ATCC 25923),&nbsp;Escherichia coli&nbsp;(ATCC 25922),&nbsp;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&nbsp;(ATCC 27853) and&nbsp;Candida albicans&nbsp;(clinical isolates). The ether extract for&nbsp;Balanites aegyptiaca&nbsp;(L.) Delile showed the lowest MIC (150 µg/ml) against&nbsp;C. albicans,&nbsp;with a corresponding large diameter of the zone of inhibition (22.0 mm). The ether extract of Capparis erythrocarpos Isert. showed the highest activity against&nbsp;C. albicansand&nbsp;S. aureus,&nbsp;with MIC values of 330 µg/ml and 400 µg/ml respectively.Conclusion:&nbsp;Balanites aegyptiaca&nbsp;(L.) Delile, and Capparis erythrocarpos Isert were the most potent antifungal and antibacterial nutraceutical plant species. The ether extract of&nbsp;Balanites aegyptiaca&nbsp;(L.) Delile, had the lowest MIC (150 µg/ml) against&nbsp;C. albicans&nbsp;and&nbsp;Capparis erythrocarpos&nbsp;Isert. showed the highest activity against&nbsp;C. albicans, S. aureus,&nbsp;and&nbsp;E. coli&nbsp;with MIC values of 330 µg/ml, 400 µg/ml and 320 µg/ml, respectively. The bioactivity of the selected wild nutriceutical plant species can be used to justify their ethnobotanical uses as ‘medicinal foods’.

Wild Plants Used as Nutraceuticals from Nebbi District, Uganda

ABSTRACT Aims: To inventory the wild plant species used both as food and medicine and how theyare used in Panyago Sub County, Nebbi district.Study Design: Ethnobotanical study.Place and Duration of Study: The villages of Kaal, Padoch South, Nyakaduli and PacerSouth, Panyango Sub County, Jonam County in Nebbi district, between May and July2011.Methodology: Data were collected from the local people using questionnaires, FocusGroup Discussions (FGD’s) and field observations. Both purposeful sampling and simplerandom sampling methods were used to obtain the required information. Triangulationwas achieved by combining the different data collection techniques and tools.Results: Forty six plant species belonging to 28 different plant families were reported tohave overlapping uses as both foods and medicines. They were reported to treat 32conditions, the commonest being stomach or abdominal aches. Leaves were the mostfrequently used parts of the plants as food (45.1%), while roots were the most commonlyused parts of the plants as medicine (33.8%). Some of the plant species were reported tohave the same parts used both as medicine and eaten as food (26.1 %) while other plantOriginal Research Article

The acceptability and safety of praziquantel alone and in combination with mebendazole in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in children aged 1–4 years in Uganda

There is limited information on the acceptability and safety of praziquantel for treatment of schistosomiasis in children below the age of four years. In addition, although mebendazole has been extensively used together with praziquantel against infections with schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) in school-aged children, no specific acceptability or safety studies have been published on this drug combination in younger children. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the safety of praziquantel alone and in combination with mebendazole in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni and STH in children aged 1 to 4 years. A total of 596 children from Bwondha fishing community in Mayuge district and Wang-Kado fishing community in Nebbi district were investigated using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears of two stool samples and 130 (21·8%) were found infected with S. mansoni. Of these, 19·2% (25) had heavy intensity of infections. Of the infected children, 82 were included and randomised into praziquantel (40 mg/kg) + mebendazole (500 mg) or praziquantel (40 mg/kg) alone. Many symptoms were reported before treatment while very few were reported after treatment and all on treatment day. No serious adverse events were reported or observed after treatment. Praziquantel with or without mebendazole was well tolerated in small children in the study area.

Poverty Eradication Dilemma: Understanding Poverty Dynamics in Nebbi District, Uganda

This paper addresses a current methodological gap in poverty measurement, which stems from acknowledging the multi-dimensionality of poverty, on the one hand, and using an income/consumption measurement of poverty as the norm, on the other. The current income-based measure of poverty presents onlypart of measuring poverty status as a whole. The consumption basket is wrongly taken by those of economic inclination to wholly represent the entire, even nonmonetary valued, range of poverty. The paper approaches this dilemma using a participatory and community-driven approach where the subjective views of people are used to define and categorize the poor, contrary to the poverty line approach. Such categorization was based on the perceived wellness of life andwhat made/denied wellness. A survey follows to explore the quantitative scope of poverty. This participatory, qualitative and quantitative mix of method, it is argued, provides for ascertaining organizational accountability in terms of the relevance of programme targeting and outreach as well as performance measurement over time. The method can also be used to deepen current participatory poverty assessments that simply stop at defining and identifying poverty causes, effects and solutions.

Diversity and conservation of on‐farm woody plants by field types in Paromo Subcounty, Nebbi District, north‐western Uganda

AbstractA study aimed at assessing diversity and local conservation strategies for on‐farm woody plants (OFWPs) under different cropping systems was conducted in Nebbi District, north‐western Uganda in 2004. Forty farmers were randomly selected and interviewed on local conservation practices of OFWPs. One field per interviewed farmer was randomly selected and woody plants enumerated. On‐farm plants’ diversity was calculated using the Shannon–Weiner Diversity Index (H′). Results indicate that &gt;87% of the OFWPs, majority being indigenous species, were utilized. The highest proportion of OFWPs was retained for poles, shade, fruits and medicine. The OFWPs were conserved by deliberately retaining them while opening the field. Woody plant diversity varied between field types. Fields associated with continuous cropping (H′ &lt; 1.7) were less diverse than those associated with fallows (H′ &gt; 1.7) as fallows allow species to regenerate. Poor access to planting materials of OFWPs, inadequate training on nursery techniques, lack of adequate extension services and markets for indigenous woody products limited their conservation. Farmers need to be trained on tree nursery techniques and provided with relevant extension information in order to diversify the production of OFWPs.

NGOs and the Development of Local Institutions: a Ugandan Case-Study

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have a long history of promoting grass-roots membership organisations, but have made few attempts to document this experience in ways that are accessible to external audiences. Academic analysis has partially filled this gap by identifying the characteristics of strong organisations, but has had relatively little to say about how they develop, or the specific rôle which NGOs might play in helping them to emerge. This issue has recently assumed greater importance in the light both of donor wishes to strengthen civil society, and the more specific concerns of NGOs to scale-up their activities by helping the organisations with which they work to become more self-sufficient.This article is drawn from a wider study which explores the strategies employed by NGOs in promoting membership organisations, and asks whether this can be done in ways which are both broadly equitable and reasonably cost-effective. It describes a programme mounted by the pan-African NGO consortium known as ACORD (Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development) to initiate a process of institutional development in the Nebbi District of Uganda. The case is of particular interest as an example of an attempt to introduce new institutions into a highly volatile environment, and provides a basis for arriving at a number of more general propositions about good practice.