12 research outputs found
Comparative analysis of lamivudine in two commercially available brands using HPLC and UV-VIS spectroscopy
No full textOne of the components of care for people living with HIV/AIDS is the use of antiretroviral drugs (ART) and the successful outcome of these drugs requires proven quality, safety and efficacy. The quality of these drugs can be assessed by qualitative and quantitative analysis using different analytical techniques. The objective of this study is to compare the analytical results of two brands of ART drug, Lamivox-150 and Lamidine using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV spectroscopy in order to select a validated, simple, cost-effective and affordable analytical technique. The two brands of a lamivudine tablets were quantified against a reference standard, lamivudine with HPLC and UV spectroscopy and the results were compared. The HPLC method involves the use of methanol:acetonitrile (5:95) as a mobile phase, and octadecylsilane (C18) as a stationary phase. For UV spectroscopic analysis, complete release of the active ingredient from the tablets was achieved with 0.01N HCl using ultrasonic bath for 10 min. This is followed by subsequent quantitative determination of the released drug at maximum absorbance wavelength of 280 nm. Concentrations of lamivudine ranging from 0.2-2 mg/ml and 1.6-16 µg/m were used to construct calibration curves for HPLC and UV spectroscopic analyses, respectively. The content of lamivudine per tablet in Lamivox-150 and Lamidine was found to be in agreement with the labelled amount when analysed by both techniques (
Qualitative laboratory analysis for the detection of conventional drugs in herbal preparations supplied by healers in major towns of Ethiopia
No full textAbstractBackground: There has always been an air of uncertainty whether or not traditional healers, especially those in theurban areas, supplied herbal remedies adulterated with modern drugs.Objectives: This study aims to analyze herbal preparations prescribed by healers against malaria, gonorrhea,tuberculosis, etc. for the presence of conventional drugs, with emphasis on anti-microbial pharmaceutical ingredients.Methods: Patient simulated convenience based survey method was employed to collect samples of remedies suppliedby healers along with other pertinent information on quality of services provided in 60 traditional health careestablishments. Presence or absence of conventional drug ingredients in the collected samples of herbal preparationswas tested using a validated analytical laboratory method.Result: Active pharmaceutical ingredients were detected in 39 or 51% of the 76 samples of traditional remedies tested.The average price that healers charge for herbal preparations adulterated with modern drugs was higher than the fulldose of conventional drugs sold in retail pharmacies. Even the unadulterated preparations were found to be moreexpensive than the latter. Documentation of patient history, diagnostic techniques, dispensing practices of theremedies, etc. as observed in the traditional health service delivery outlets/clinics were generally less satisfactory.Conclusion: Supplying herbal preparations adulterated with modern drugs, particularly with anti-microbial agentsentails a number of untoward effects including increased emergence of resistant pathogenic strains. Sustained effort increating awareness among the communities by health workers and authorities is, therefore, crucial to curb the loomingdanger to public health. While existing legal frameworks may be sufficient to consider punitive measures againstperpetrators of such inappropriate and unauthorized use of anti-microbial agents, new ones that particularly govern theactivities of traditional healers need to be put in place. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2008;22(1):55-62
A Hitherto Unattested Ethio-Sabaean King in a Woman\u27s Altar Dedication from Ṣ́ǝrḥan (Tǝgray/Ethiopia)—Discovery and Context
No full textAn inscription stone was found by peasants in a site at Ṣ́ǝrḥan in the Aḥfärom wäräda of the Tǝgray region. The author examined the site and carried out an archaeological outline of it for the Tǝgray Culture and Tourism Bureau. The original condition of the inscription, however, had been affected by the peasants’ handling of the stone, which in the same time offers an instructive insight into local traditions. Furthermore, the high resolution photography taken of the inscription has been lost due to looting during the recent war. However, lower resolution photography has survived
Unlocking the potentials of community ecotourism: a promising agent of post war reintegration and sustainable development for Ethiopia and Eritrea
No full textThe article was presented in a launching seminar of ‘Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Mekelle University, focused on ‘Restoring Ethio-Eritrean Relations from Bottom-up: People-to-People Reconciliation and its Contribution to Social Cohesion, Economic and Infrastructure Development’. The paper attempts to explore potentials and roles of community ecotourism in improving the livelihood of border communities and influences post-war re-integration of the society in both countries. The design of the research was qualitative approach. Data sources for this research were aligned to primary and secondary aspects. The primary sources were gathered through interviews with individuals, office holders and experts in the industry and visitors from both countries, and documents. Observations were experienced in the tourist destination sites in Tigrai, Ethiopia. Secondary sources were assessed to address the literature-based discussions. Therefore, findings revealed, the availability of high potentials for community ecotourism engagements in both countries. There are encouraging transport accesses, religious pilgrimages. The availability of variety foods, suitability of ecotourism eco-lodges, seashore in Eritrea; and the UNESCO registered sites and carnivals. There are excellent practices for sustainable ecotourism development linked to the environmental protection and land management. During the observations, Ethio-Eritreans appeared harmoniously enjoying the religious and non-religious carnivals. Therefore, sustainable ecotourism contributes to reconciliation, healing and peace building. The author recommends the participation of all stakeholders in the sustainable development of the community-based ecotourism. In this regard, the sector needs comprehensive socio-economic baseline survey to support the development initiatives
Participation of the Ethiopian Police Contingent in the United Nations Peace Operations: Focus on the Role and Challenges
No full textThis research article delved the role and challenges of the Ethiopian police contingent in the United Nations peace operations. To this end, the author used socio-legal research method. Both primary and secondary data collections tools were employed. Key informant interview based on the mission experience were used to collect primary data. Secondary data critically reviewed relevant normative frameworks, standards, official reports, websites and other materials. The finding indicated that the Ethiopian police contingents are performing policing roles including crime prevention; strengthen administration and capacity of local police, restructure and reform of the host states police. Nevertheless, Ethiopia’s participation remains very low and even nonexistent in most of the peace operations. The finding also indicated that lack of normative and institutional arrangements are among the major challenges of the police contingent. This in particular includes lack of clear selection guideline of the police for mission, pre-deployment training deficiencies to the police candidates on mission language, driving skill and mission area courses and lack of well-established training centers. This in turn stalled the Ethiopian police not to significantly respond to the call for UNPOL peace operations. Hence, Ethiopia’s normative frameworks and institutional arrangements should be in line with the UNPOL legal and policy frameworks. In this regard, lessons ought to be drawn from Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria. Keywords: United Nations Police (UNPOL), Peace Operation, Role, Challenges DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/76-02 Publication date:October 31st 202
Dead Body Management in Armed Conflict: Reflections on Its Position under the Ethiopian Law
No full textOne of the fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is that persons who do not or no longer participate in armed conflict should be maximally protected and, in general, treated humanely. This extends to dead bodies in armed conflict that should be treated with respect and dignity. In many armed conflicts, however, individuals have been separated from their families and died without being identified. Dead bodies are sometimes despoiled, mutilated, and abandoned without any funeral rite. The knowledge that the remains of their loved ones have been properly handled and accorded dignity is a source of solace to the family. This article is, therefore, to examine the position of the Ethiopian legal infrastructure in response to dead body management in armed conflict. To this end, the author employed a doctrinal-based analytical study. Both primary and secondary data sources are utilized and the data retrieved from both sources are analyzed with a normative qualitative approach. The status of the Ethiopian law to do justice to the dead and their families are examined in light of the IHL and FDRE Constitution, Revised Criminal Code, and Defense legislation. Based on this, the article found that the Ethiopian legal regime does not fully recognize dead body management in armed conflict. In particular, though the obligation towards the respectful treatment of the dead bodies, respectful disposal of the dead, and protection of their possessions are recognized, the obligation to search for and collect the body of the dead, return the dead bodies to the family or next of kin, identify and respectfully dispose of the dead is virtually none. Therefore, the Ethiopian legal regime should incorporate the rest obligations to be in line with the international treaty obligations so that effective justice can be done to the dead, their family, and next of kin. Keywords: Armed Conflict, Dead Body Management, IHL, Posthumous Rights DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/95-02 Publication date:June 30th 202
Health information system in primary health care units of the Central Zone, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
No full textAbstract
Background:
Health information systems require the management of health information through health management information systems and research and knowledge management. In many low-income countries, including Ethiopia, poor data quality and limited use of health information remain major challenges in the health system. Reliable health data quality is essential for evidence-based decision-making and improving quality health service delivery. This study aimed to assess and explore the contextual factors of the quality and utilization of health information in primary health care units in the Central Zone, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.
Methods:
A facility-based cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative study design was used. A total of seven primary health care units and four district health offices were selected. Data were collected via document review, structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. A three-month document review was conducted to assess data accuracy via lot quality assurance sampling. Forty-eight health professionals, including Woreda Health Office heads, facility heads, health management information system focal persons, service providers and health extension workers, were interviewed for quantitative analysis. Additionally, 23 key informants with the same roles participated in the qualitative interviews. Descriptive statistics were computed, and thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative data.
Results:
Four of the seven primary health care units have assigned health management information system personnel, and five of them have necessary equipment for health management information systems. The average lot quality assurance sampling of the primary health care units ranged from 35 to 60%, which falls below the national threshold of 90% data accuracy. In knowing and measuring the dimensions of data quality, the informants described this as a difficult task despite acknowledging its importance. Similarly, the culture of data use for decision making was limited.
Conclusion:
This study revealed that primary health care units in the Central Zone of Tigray face significant challenges in terms of data quality and utilization, primarily due to the limited capacity of service providers, unclear understanding of data quality dimensions and weak data use culture. The average lot quality assurance sampling accuracy rates are below the acceptable level, indicating issues in the data documentation and validation processes. Addressing these gaps through targeted capacity-building, including the integration of HMIS curricula at the university level and system-level improvements such as implementing computerized systems, ensuring accountability and allocating budgets, is needed to strengthen health information systems and enable evidence-based decision-making at all levels of the health system.Abstract
Background:
Health information systems require the management of health information through health management information systems and research and knowledge management. In many low-income countries, including Ethiopia, poor data quality and limited use of health information remain major challenges in the health system. Reliable health data quality is essential for evidence-based decision-making and improving quality health service delivery. This study aimed to assess and explore the contextual factors of the quality and utilization of health information in primary health care units in the Central Zone, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.
Methods:
A facility-based cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative study design was used. A total of seven primary health care units and four district health offices were selected. Data were collected via document review, structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. A three-month document review was conducted to assess data accuracy via lot quality assurance sampling. Forty-eight health professionals, including Woreda Health Office heads, facility heads, health management information system focal persons, service providers and health extension workers, were interviewed for quantitative analysis. Additionally, 23 key informants with the same roles participated in the qualitative interviews. Descriptive statistics were computed, and thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative data.
Results:
Four of the seven primary health care units have assigned health management information system personnel, and five of them have necessary equipment for health management information systems. The average lot quality assurance sampling of the primary health care units ranged from 35 to 60%, which falls below the national threshold of 90% data accuracy. In knowing and measuring the dimensions of data quality, the informants described this as a difficult task despite acknowledging its importance. Similarly, the culture of data use for decision making was limited.
Conclusion:
This study revealed that primary health care units in the Central Zone of Tigray face significant challenges in terms of data quality and utilization, primarily due to the limited capacity of service providers, unclear understanding of data quality dimensions and weak data use culture. The average lot quality assurance sampling accuracy rates are below the acceptable level, indicating issues in the data documentation and validation processes. Addressing these gaps through targeted capacity-building, including the integration of HMIS curricula at the university level and system-level improvements such as implementing computerized systems, ensuring accountability and allocating budgets, is needed to strengthen health information systems and enable evidence-based decision-making at all levels of the health system
Author Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017
No full textAuthor Correction: Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 (Nature Medicine, (2020), 26, 5, (750-759), 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6)
No full textAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper
Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
No full textBackground: Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease. Methods: GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of risk factors, at the global level, regionally, and for 204 countries and territories. GBD uses a hierarchical list of risk factors so that specific risk factors (eg, sodium intake), and related aggregates (eg, diet quality), are both evaluated. This method has six analytical steps. (1) We included 560 risk–outcome pairs that met criteria for convincing or probable evidence on the basis of research studies. 12 risk–outcome pairs included in GBD 2017 no longer met inclusion criteria and 47 risk–outcome pairs for risks already included in GBD 2017 were added based on new evidence. (2) Relative risks were estimated as a function of exposure based on published systematic reviews, 81 systematic reviews done for GBD 2019, and meta-regression. (3) Levels of exposure in each age-sex-location-year included in the study were estimated based on all available data sources using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression method, or alternative methods. (4) We determined, from published trials or cohort studies, the level of exposure associated with minimum risk, called the theoretical minimum risk exposure level. (5) Attributable deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs were computed by multiplying population attributable fractions (PAFs) by the relevant outcome quantity for each age-sex-location-year. (6) PAFs and attributable burden for combinations of risk factors were estimated taking into account mediation of different risk factors through other risk factors. Across all six analytical steps, 30 652 distinct data sources were used in the analysis. Uncertainty in each step of the analysis was propagated into the final estimates of attributable burden. Exposure levels for dichotomous, polytomous, and continuous risk factors were summarised with use of the summary exposure value to facilitate comparisons over time, across location, and across risks. Because the entire time series from 1990 to 2019 has been re-estimated with use of consistent data and methods, these results supersede previously published GBD estimates of attributable burden. Findings: The largest declines in risk exposure from 2010 to 2019 were among a set of risks that are strongly linked to social and economic development, including household air pollution; unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing; and child growth failure. Global declines also occurred for tobacco smoking and lead exposure. The largest increases in risk exposure were for ambient particulate matter pollution, drug use, high fasting plasma glucose, and high body-mass index. In 2019, the leading Level 2 risk factor globally for attributable deaths was high systolic blood pressure, which accounted for 10·8 million (95 uncertainty interval UI 9·51–12·1) deaths (19·2% 16·9–21·3 of all deaths in 2019), followed by tobacco (smoked, second-hand, and chewing), which accounted for 8·71 million (8·12–9·31) deaths (15·4% 14·6–16·2 of all deaths in 2019). The leading Level 2 risk factor for attributable DALYs globally in 2019 was child and maternal malnutrition, which largely affects health in the youngest age groups and accounted for 295 million (253–350) DALYs (11·6% 10·3–13·1 of all global DALYs that year). The risk factor burden varied considerably in 2019 between age groups and locations. Among children aged 0–9 years, the three leading detailed risk factors for attributable DALYs were all related to malnutrition. Iron deficiency was the leading risk factor for those aged 10–24 years, alcohol use for those aged 25–49 years, and high systolic blood pressure for those aged 50–74 years and 75 years and older. Interpretation: Overall, the record for reducing exposure to harmful risks over the past three decades is poor. Success with reducing smoking and lead exposure through regulatory policy might point the way for a stronger role for public policy on other risks in addition to continued efforts to provide information on risk factor harm to the general public. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens
