Abstract: Maintaining the water quality in the distribution system is crucial to supplying safe drinking water to consumers. The main aim of the study was to analyse physicochemical, bacteriological parameters and investigate prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes in the drinking water distribution system in Maun, Botswana. Forty-four water samples were collected at different season interval and were tested for chlorine and turbidity and the results...
Abstract: Waterborne diseases, especially infectious diarrhoea, remain a public health concern particularly in developing countries where many lack access to safe clean water. The quality of water is assessed using bacterial indicators. However, they may not fully imitate the threat from other non-bacterial pathogens like enteric viruses. The aim of the study was to ascertain and establish the viral load, the seasonal and spatial distribution of rotavirus and norovirus (GI and GII) in sewage...
Abstract: Birth weight is one of the major factors that determine the overall future health outcomes. Predicting birth weight can enable medical practitioners to make early obstetric interventions, thus minimising complications associated with low birth weight. Data-mining models are receiving a great deal of attention for making predictions based on a vast amount of low birth data. Low birth weight research has especially focused on identifying the risk factors of low birth weight However, ...
Abstract: Knowledge with respect to adolescents’ intentions to engage in protective sexual behaviours is still deficient in numerous countries around the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where HIV prevalence is the highest. Increasing cross-sectional research suggests that the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is robust in predicting condom use intentions. This study used secondary, baseline data from a study involving 794 in-school adolescents. A structural equation model w...
Abstract: We propose a mathematical model to investigate the effects of information–dependent vaccination behavior on meningitis transmission. The information is represented by means of information index as early proposed by d'Onofrio et al. (Theor. Popul. Biol., 2007). We perform a qualitative analysis based on stability theory, focusing to the global stability of the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) and the related transcritical bifurcation taking place at the threshold for the DFE. Finall...
Abstract: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a health crisis that is ignored by the developed world and only starts getting attention when there is an outbreak that kills a large population. AIDS associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are viral infections which are just two of the many NTDs that require attention. This thesis presents novel within-host ordinary differential equation (ODE) mathematical models in conjunction with application of the optimal contro...
Abstract: The main focus of this research study is the study of the effect of an effective management control system (MCS), the case study of Lesotho pharmaceutical companies. The primary objectives of the research study were to establish ways of implementing successful MCS in Lesotho's pharmaceutical companies, exceptionally efficient control of human resources, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the execution of MCS, looking at the pharmaceutical industries in Lesotho. For this purpose, ...
Abstract: This study was carried out to determine factors that affect the clinical performance of dental therapy students at the institute of health sciences in Gaborone. A quantitative descriptive research design with a cross-sectional survey was used with the aim of examining the factors affecting the clinical assessment of learners. A sample of 9 students were used to study. Attitudes were measured using a prepared questionnaire which was answered online. Two clinical assessment tools wer...
Abstract: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the attention has now shifted towards universal vaccination to gracefully lift strict COVID-19 restrictions previously imposed to contain the spread of the disease. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing an exponential increase of infections and deaths coupled with vaccines shortages, personal protective equipment, weak health systems and COVID-19 emerging variants. Some developed countries integrated telemedicine to reduce the impacts of the shortage of...
Abstract: The successful development of COVID-19 vaccines accelerates global post-pandemic recovery by vaccinating populations, targeting priority groups to reduce secondary transmission. This facilitates relaxation of imposed restrictions on international and regional travel, tourism industry, education sectors and other aspects of social life. The vaccination process is done by targeting priority groups to reduce secondary transmission and uncertainties triggered by emerging COVID-19 varia...
Abstract: As new viruses and new pandemics emerge we face the question as to whether our global health systems are well prepared to deal with them. Non pharma ceutical measures are a key control measure in the battle against infectious diseases especially in the absence of vaccines or when available vaccine quantities are not sufficient. The 2014-2016 West African outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was the largest and most deadly to date. Contact tracing, following up those who may have b...
Abstract: Mosquitoes account for significant morbidity and mortality globally, with the African region being most affected. In many arid regions, including Botswana, mosquitoes are increasingly becoming problematic, harbouring pathogens and parasites that cause debilitating infectious diseases to differential host species. The risk of mosquito proliferation and burden is accelerated when affected societies have knowledge gaps coupled with climatic mediated global change scenarios. In Bo...
Abstract: Antibiotic resistance has been a growing worldwide public health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the search for new antibiotics is slow, while antibiotic resistance is growing. WHO has also declared that antibiotic resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity in the 21st century. Therefore, this review discusses the potential of metal-based drugs as antibacterial agents from the period of the early 2000s to date. The review...
Abstract: The COVID-19 disease burden continues to be high worldwide and vaccines continue to be developed to help combat the pandemic. Acceptance and risk perception for COVID-19 vaccines is unknown in Botswana despite the government's decision to roll out the vaccine nationally. Objectives This study aims to assess the acceptance rate and risk perception of COVID-19 vaccines amongst the general population in Botswana. Methods We interviewed 5300 adults in Botswana from 1-28 February 2021 u...
Abstract: The Botswana Police Pathology unit records show that a total of 368 cases of suicide were reported between 2016 and 2019. A total of 367 of these cases were suicide by hanging while only 1 was of suicide by self-strangulation. Literature shows that suicidal ligature self-strangulation is uncommon and, in most cases, common household items such as scarves, belts, neckties and rope are used. We report an instance where a 25-year-old African male used two black plastic ligatures, each...