African Journal of Immunology Research

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 2756-3375 Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring Factors Influencing Infant Feeding Choices Among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women in Addis Ababa: Insights from the Theory of Planned Behavior

Bezawit Temesgen¹, Zewdie Birhanu¹*, Tigist Astale¹ and Tariku Dejene²

¹Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma
University, Ethiopia.

²Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Accepted 20 November, 2023

Abstract

Although exclusive breast feeding during the first six months of life or replacement feeding are crucial in prevention of mother to child transmission of human immune deficiency virus (HIV), mothers intention on feeding options remain unstudied in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was intended to assess HIV positive pregnant women’s intention towards infant feeding options. The data were collected from 196 HIV positive pregnant women who were recruited consecutively from nineteen public health institutions in Addis Ababa. The study revealed that 159 (81.12%) and 25 (12.76%) of the respondents intended to exclusive breast feed and use replacement feeding, respectively. Mixed feeding intention was very low (6.12%). Not attending formal education, increased knowledge about preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT), favorable attitude towards exclusive breast feeding, increased control belief (perceived ability to control the difficulties) to use exclusive feeding were significantly associated with intention to use exclusive feeding (p < 0.05). Mixed feeding intention was mainly associated with low control belief to use either exclusive or replacement feeding (p < 0.05). Recommended feeding option might have the chance to be practiced by most of the respondents. However, health professionals are still required to provide tailored messages which addresses attitude and beliefs related to recommended feeding and how to control a condition that makes behavioral performance difficult.

Key words: Intention, infant feeding options, exclusive breast feeding, preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT), theory of planned behavior.
 

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 2756-3375 Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Clinical Experience with Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Sero-discordant Male Partners of HIV-positive Women Seeking Natural Conception

Adetunji Oladeni Adeniji*, Adewale Samson Adeyemi and Kola Musliudin Owonikoko

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Accepted 3 November, 2023

Abstract

The reproductive health needs of sero-discordant couples are issues of concerns, especially in view of high cost of various assisted conception methods in the low-resource economies. Often times, many of these couples resort to un-informed and unsafe practices of unprotected heterosexual intercourse, leading to human immune deficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. The magnitude of the health burden of these populations in Nigeria and other developing economies are currently not fully determined. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in conjunction with other HIV prevention strategies provides the only veritable and possibly safe mean of achieving their reproductive desire. This is a cohort study of 42 HIV-1 sero-discordant male partners of known HIV-1 positive women who were desirous of conception. All the male participants recruited were aware of their female partners’ status, had their HIV status determined by fourth generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit and were HIV negative, but declined the offer of assisted conception. The HIV positive women were all on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Thirty sero-discordant partners were sequentially and equally randomised into the two treatment groups [TDF and daily tenofovi/emtricitabine (TDF-FTC)], while 12 participants who declined PrEp made up the control group. In resource constraint settings, where assisted conception methods are either unacceptable, declined or un-affordable to male sero-discordant couples in heterosexual relationships, pre-exposure prophylaxis, preferably oral daily tenofovir-emtricitabine combination may be considered in addition to other HIV prevention strategies and timed sexual exposure, towards achieving safe reproductive health needs.

Key words: Human immune deficiency virus (HIV), pre-exposure prophylaxis, sero-discordant heterosexual partners, reproductive desire.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 2756-3375 Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Total Crude Extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa on Immune Function in Wistar Albino Rats

Aloysius M.B. Lubega¹, Godfrey S. Bbosa¹*, Nathan Musisi², Joseph Erume² and Jasper Ogwal-Okeng¹

¹Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.

²Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security, Kampala, Uganda.

Accepted 20 May, 2023

Abstract

Medicinal herbs are commonly used worldwide as immune boosters and immunomodulators in the management of various disease conditions. Many of these herbs commonly used have not been scientifically evaluated for their immune modulating activities. The study investigated the immunomodulatory activity of the total crude leaf extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa in Wistar albino rats. It was an experimental study that was conducted on four groups of animals each with 6 healthy adult rats. Group I was dosed each with 1mL of normal saline. Groups II, III and IV were dosed 1mL of 125, 250 and 500 mg/Kg bwt of total crude extract, daily for 14 days respectively. On the 15th day, whole blood was collected into a clean ethlenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA)-vacutainer. The complete blood count (CBC), immune blood cell count, hemagglutination antibody (HA) titers, neutrophil adhesion and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response were determined. All the doses caused an increase in mean red blood cell (RBC) counts as compared to control group. Similarly, the mean percentage neutrophils, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils increased with dose while the opposite was true for percentage lymphocytes. The mean HA titers for the herb were higher than control though no statistical difference (p≥0.05) was observed. Similar effects were observed with neutrophil adhesions response as that of HA titers. For DTH, the highest footpad thickness (175.2% increment) was observed at a dose of 500 mg/Kg bwt after 12 h and was statistically significant (p≤0.05) as compared to control. H. sabdariffa contain compounds with immunomodulatory activity in Wistar albino rats.

Key words: Immunomodulation, Hibiscus sabdariffa, total crude extracts.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 2756-3375 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2024. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and impact of Trichophyton rubrum in human dermatophytoses in Chennai, India

G. Venkatesan¹*, A. J. A. Ranjit Singh¹, A. G. Murugesan², C. Janaki³ and S. Gokul Shankar⁴

¹Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, India

²Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Studies, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India

³Mycology Section, Department of Dermatology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India.

⁴R and D Center, Cholayil Private Limited, Chennai, India.

Accepted 07 November, 2023

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to find the predominant etiological agent of dermatophytoses among the patients attending the out patient clinic of Mycology Section, Department of Dermatology, Madras Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. Specimens were collected from suspected patients with dermatophytoses and examined for the presence of fungal elements, cultured, isolated and identified. Among the 90 suspected patients with clinical symptoms of dermatophytoses, 71 (78.9%) were confirmed in culture. Trichophyton genus was accounted for 93% of dermatophytoses, which was shared by Trichophyton rubrum (73.3%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (19.7%), followed by Epidermophyton floccosum (4.2%) and Microsporum gypseum (2.8%). It was noted that tinea corporis (64.8%) is the most prevalent infection followed by tinea cruris (26.8%), tinea pedis (5.6%) and onychomycoses (2.8%). T. rubrum was the predominant species responsible for the dermatophytoses, especially tinea corporis in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. In addition it was also observed that T. rubrum was most predominant species responsible for the chronic dermatophytoses (81.8%). Further work is in progress to understand the protease profile of the isolates with relation to the chronisity of the infection.

Key words: Dermatophytoses, Dermatophytes, Tinea, Trichophyton and Skin infections.

African Journal of Immunology Research ISSN 2756-3375 Vol. 10 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2023. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of Blood and Biochemical Indices in Plasmodium falciparum Infected Population in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Chikezie Paul Chidoka¹* and Okpara Richard Tochukwu²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
²Department of Biochemistry, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Accepted 8 January, 2023

Abstract

In spite of threats malaria pose to public health, specific records on alterations in some haematologic and biochemical indices of inhabitants of Owerri Municipality infected with P. falciparum malaria have not received wide reports and documentation. Accordingly, the present study sought to investigate alterations in haematologic and biochemical indices of moderately P. falciparum infected male inhabitants of Owerri Municipality. Haematologic and biochemical indices were estimated by spectrophotometric methods. Haemoglobin concentrations of malarious subjects within age brackets of 11 to 20 and 21 to 31 years were below reference interval; [Hb]M;11-21 years = 10.53 ± 0.23 g/dl (p < 0.05); [Hb] M; 21-31 years = 11.51 ± 1.10 g/dl (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) between the two malarious groups; ESRM; 11-20 years = 29.80 ± 0.74 mm/h; ESRM; = 26.51 ± 1.42 mm/h. Packed cell volume (PCV) of malarious subject gave the following values: PCV%M; 11-20 years = 26.82 ± 0.78; PCV%M; 21-31 years = 25.82 ± 0.78; p > 0.05. Serum white blood cell count (WBC) was raised in malarious subjects compared to control groups (p > 0.05) except with WBC × 103 M; 21-30 years = 13.77 ± 3.95; p > 0.05. Serum albumin was lower in malarious subjects; [Albumin]M; 11-20 years = 4.70 ± 0.05 mg/dl and [Albumin]M; 21-31 years = 4.31 ± 0.09 mg/dl; p > 0.05, whereas, serum creatinine concentrations of malarious subjects gave higher values: [Creatinine]M; 11-20 years = 0.88 ± 0.71 mg/dl and [Creatinine] M; 21-31 years = 1.14 ± 0.42 mg/dl; p > 0.05. Serum urea concentrations of malarious subjects were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the corresponding non-malarious age group. Serum fasting blood sugar (FBS) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in malarious groups compared to corresponding non-malarious subjects. Specifically, [FBS]M; 11-20 years = 63.34 ± 1.66 mg/dl and [FBS]M; 21-31 years = 69.45 ± 1.25 mg/dl; p < 0.05. Subjects with moderate malaria infection showed symptoms of anaemia, alterations in nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism, exemplified by raised serum level of urea and low level of FBS.

Key words: Haemoglobin, packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting blood sugar, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum.