Recent Articles

With the current launch of End TB Strategy by World Health Organization, this is a global call to reduce Tuberculosis death by 95percent and tuberculosis incidence by 90 percent by the year 2035. It becomes imperative to investigate some factors that may hinder the achievement of this goal and find solution to these limiting factors. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of distance to Direct Observation Treatment (DOT) centre on one hand and patients’ perception of improved prognostic outcome on tuberculosis treatment default. A random sample of 150 tuberculosis patients on treatment between May – August 2016 attending different health centers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria were interviewed. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from consenting TB patients. Chi-square statistical technique at 5 percent level of significance was used to test the null hypothesis of no relationship. Results indicated that 83 of the 150 TB patients defaulted in their treatment regimen, giving a default rate of 55.3 percent. Residential distance to health /DOT center was statistically associated with Tuberculosis (TB) treatment default, default increased with travel distance between patients’ residence and treatment center (X2 = 16.7003; df = 2; p < 0.001). Also, patients’ experience of disappearance of signs and symptoms as evidence of improved prognosis (perception of recovery) of TB illness was statistically associated with TB treatment default (X2 = 12.5468, df = 4, P = 0.014 ). This study emphasized the need for suitable specific measures for reducing treatment non-compliance as well as proper and repeated motivation of patients during treatment e.g. referring patients to nearby DOT centers, improving contact and default tracing, DOTS expansion and consolidation etc.

Clinical classes are the milestones that help pharmacy students gain clinical competency and to prepare them for their professional life. Although didactic methods provide theoretical knowledge, the retention rate of information is relatively low when compared with problem based teaching methods. Simulators such as high fidelity mannequins or standardized simulated patients are often preferred by clinical teachers in schools that teach health profession. High and low fidelity mannequins, and computerized simulators require a cost and dedicated space, which can be a disadvantage. On the other hand, standardized patients are advantageous to develop communication skills. Hence, use of simulation based methods in clinical training are useful in general, because they lead students to self-directed learning strategies, critical thinking and rational decision-making. Therefore, dissemination of simulation techniques is important to improve clinical skills.

Agriculture is the most susceptible sector to climate change-induced hazards due to the fact that it affects the two most important direct agricultural production inputs, such as precipitation and temperature. Therefore, this study analyzed the susceptibility of agriculture to climate change in three purposively selected agro-ecological area of Northwest Ethiopia. The quantitative climate data were obtained from Global Weather Data for Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) from 1979 to 2010 while data on crop production and perception of households towards crop yield trend were collected using structured questionnaire complemented with informants’ interview and field observation. Analytical techniques such as simple regressions (SR), standardized precipitation index (SPI), one-way-analysis of variance (ANOVA), crop diversification index (CDI) and index of trend of yield (ITY) supported with descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The meteorology data reveal that climate is characterized by increasing annual temperature trend, greater inter-seasonal variation of rainfall, and alteration of wet and dry years in a periodic pattern over the past 32 years (1979 – 2010). Rainfall also showed decreasing tendency at a statistically non-significant trend. Huge unproductive land was reported in the fragile lowland (41 %) distantly followed by Dabat (21.32 %). These ecological contexts have worsened the susceptibility of agriculture to climate change-induced risks. The trend of crop yield stability index was found to be high in the fragile lowland against the official statistics. In fact, places located nearer to the sources of climatic risks continue to suffer from pervasive poverty. In conclusion, ecologically designed agricultural systems that can provide a buffer against extreme events need to be the primary concerns of the regional government to minimize climate change-induced risks thereby increasing resiliency of rural households. Local leaders should enforce green laws through integrated land management practices that enable to regulate the local climate; sequestrating…