African Journals Online
UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology

VOLUME 3 No. 2 April 2000

Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Attitudes Towards Condom Use Among “At Risk” Adolescents in Swaziland

Isabel Thembi Zwane

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine adolscenets' knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards condom use. The study population consisted of 163 adolescents aged 13-19 years. Forty-six were attending antenatal care, 27 had come for family planning services and 90 were seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used with data collected through face-to-face interviews. Findings revealed that although adolescents knew about sexually transmitted diseases, they did not practice safe sex. Knowledge of STDs was higher among adolescents resident in urban areas than those in rural settings (p<0.05). Self reported STD included syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, genital warts and pelvic inflammatory diseases. Condom use was not associated with prevention against pregnancy demonstrating that knowledge cannot be translated into action and behavior change without modification of attitudes and beliefs. Reasons cited for not using the condom reflected a negative attitude towards its use. Findings also revealed that peer pressure and social norms are powerful determinants of behavioural change. In order to control STD/HIV/AIDS it is important that educational programmes encourage adolescents to maintain safe sexual practice mainly condom use.

Midwives and Bereaved Mothers

Isabella S. Ziyane

ABSTRACT

The study investigated midwives' attitudes and knowledge of the grieving process; and the emotional support that is given to women who have delivered stillborns. Data was analyzed from 37 questionnaires administered to midwives who were currently working in maternity wards in Swaziland. The findings demonstrated that because of lack of educational preparation, some midwives were unaware of the emotional needs of women who have experienced stillbirths. Further, hospital policy was such that midwives were denied the privilege of assisting women through their grief. On the basis of the findings emerging from the study, some recommendations are made for changes in both basic and post basic education of midwives and in the timing of discharge for such mothers.

Use of the Interdisciplinary Team Approach in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Ppatients in Swaziland

Priscilla S. Dlamini

ABSTRACT

Research and clinical experience have shown the importance of using a team approach in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The interdisciplinary team approach is recommended in the managing or rehabilitation of such patients. This study sought to determine if the interdisciplinary team approach was utilized in the rehabilitation of stroke patients in two hospitals in Swaziland, Mbabane Government and the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial hospitals. Triangulation, involving a structured questionnaire for health professionals, a semi-structured interview for care givers of stroke patients and the patients, and a checklist tool for the review of stroke patient's charts was utilized to collect data. A convenient sample of health professionals (n=26), family care givers, stroke patients and their charts (n=5) was selected. Data was analyzed using the descriptive statistics and results interpreted using the interdisciplinary rehabilitation model. A major finding was that both hospital used a multidisciplinary team approach instead of an interdisciplinary team approach.

Selection of Important Variables in Principal Component Analysis Using Measures of Multivariate Association

M.M. Sithole and S. Ganesh

ABSTRACT

As part of Exploratory Analysis of Multivariate data, Principal Componet Analysis (PCA) is generally directed towards inspection and dimensionality reduction of the data such that most of the sample variation is preserved. Hence, to be able to identify the subsets of variables which contain the main features of the entire data and possibly reveal interesting patterns or relationships, constitutes one the major aims of PCA. New selection methods based on Canonical Correlation Analysis and Euclidean distances are proposed. While the criterion (M2) based on Procrustes Analysis, found in literature, identifies structure-bearing variables, particularly for grouped data, the proposed criteria retain those variables that preserve the maximum sample variation and carry whatever unknown multivariate structure, which may be present in the complete data. These methods are evaluated and compared on real as well as Monte Carlo simulation data.

An investigation of the Spatial Distribution of Soil Erosion in the Mbuluzi River Basin of Swaziland

Hezekial M. Mushala.

ABSTRACT

Soil erosion is widespread in Swaziland and is very severe on small holder farms and communal grazing areas. The Middleveld of Swaziland is the most affected. Erosion occurs on deep colluvial and saprolitic materials and is associated with convexslope breaks. The erosion upstream of drainage basins affects economic activities downstream especially irrigated agriculture because it contributes sediment yield hence reducing the lifespan of dams and reservoirs. Water and soil pollution is also involved. The paper investigates the spatical distribution of soil eriosion in the Mbuluzi river basin through a visual interpretation of satellite imagery. The results indicate that soil erosion is widespread in the basin. Over 55% of the basin is affected by moderate erosion where estate farming and controlled grazing are the main land uses. Very severe erosion takes place over almost 12% of the area where communal grazing and small holder farms are predominant. It is recommended that a National Land Use policy be established whereby the management of the drainage basins is integrated to include all stakeholders. In this way the environmental impact of all development activities can be reviewed and ameliorative measures agreed upon.

Cattle Performance and Nutritive Value of Pastures on Swazi Nation Land

B.J. Dlamini, G.Z. Khumalo and B.B. Xaba

ABSTRACT

Pasture samples and animal data were collected from 3 areas representing the agro-ecological zones in Swaziland. The crude protein content (CP) was similar in all regions and there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in CP content between the wet and dry seasons. The overall mean dry matter yield for the Highveld (1.56 tons/ha) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with both the Middleveld (0.91 tons/ha) and the Lowveld. There were no seasonal differences (P>0.05) in magnesium content of the pasture among the regions. However, mean calcium levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the Lowveld (1.68 ppm) compared with the Highveld (1.09 ppm) and middleveld (1.34 ppm), and there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the Highveld and the Middleveld. The mean P content for the Middleveld (1.23 ppm) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than both the Highveld (0.70 ppm) and the Lowveld (0.68 ppm), and there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the Highveld and the Lowveld. NDF content was significantly (P<0.05) greater in the Highveld (76.3%) compared with the Middleveld (68.7%) and the Lowveld (66.7%), and there was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the Middleveld and the Lowveld. Digestibility values were similar in all the regions. In all the regions both steers and heifers had a significantly (P<0.05) lower mean live weight change (-2.3 kg per month) in the dry season than in the wet season (+12.4 kg per month).

Milk Hygiene in Commercial Dairy Farms in South Eastern Botswana

R.G. Chabo, C.B. Habana and K.K. Mosetlhanyane

ABSTRACT

Fifty raw milk samples were collected from all five commercial dairy farms that operate in South Eastern Botswana on a monthly basis from August to December 1997 to coincide with the raining season when bacterial contamination is more likely to occur due to the increase in the population of flies and other vectors. The farms practiced either maching or hand milking techniques. Laboratory procedures were carried out at the National Veterinary Laboratory (NVL) on somatic cell counts (SCC), milk ring test (MRT), resazurin test (RST), coliform test (CFT) and Escherichia coli tect (ECT). In general, farms where machine-milking was used recorded the highest SCC, CFT and ECT counts than where hand-milking was used. Escherichia coli organisms were detected in all milk samples. The resazurin test was positive in all farms, indicating poor sanitary measures at farm level. The milk ring test was negative in all farms, indicating no Brucellosis in cows.

The Compositional and Fermentation Quality of Swaziland Emasi

R.T. Nsibande and A.M. Dlamini

ABSTRACT

Three brands of emasi sold in Swaziland shops were analyzed for fermentation and compositional quality. The commercial brands were Inkomazi, Ingula and Emasi Emvelo. The results of the commercial brands were compared with that of a control product prepared in the laboratory from 13% (w/v) total solids standardized milk. Syneresis of all the three brands of emasi were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the control. This indicated that a stabilizer was added and the mix was homogenized prior to the fermentation. Both the lactose and protein contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the different brands of emasi than in laboratory fermented milk. This indicated that milk power might have been added in all the samples to increase their total solids. The fat contents varied from 2.5% (w/v) in Emasi emvelo to 4.3% (w/v) in Inkomazi. In all the different brands of emasi the fat content differed significantly (P<0.05). The insignificant differences in fermentation quality, lactose and protein contents of the commercial brands of emasi, led to the conclusion that the variation on consumer prices of the three different brands of emasi may not be justified on the basis of quality.

Effects of Planting Time and Fertilizer Application on the Productivity of Intercropped Cowpea and Maize in a Sub-humid Zone

Abu Sesay

ABSTRACT

The effects, on the performance of intercropped maize (Zea mays L.) And cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) (Walp.) of varying the planting time of cowpea after maize, varying the planting date of simultaneous maize-cowpea intercropping, and applying fertilizer to the intercrop were studied in two field experiments in Njala (7 6' N, 12 5' W 55 m a.s.l.) Two cowpea cultivars were used, a local erect and determinate cultivar (Temne Local), and an improved semi-determinate cultivar (Tvu 1190), both of which are widely grown in Sierra Leone. Growth and yield of cowpea were strongly influenced by intercropping. Cowpea seed yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in simultaneous intercropping than in staggered intercropping in which the yields of both cultivars were depressed consistently as sowing was delayed after maize. On average, staggered intercropping depressed cowpea yield by 58%, relative to the corresponding sole crop yields. However, in simultaneous intercropping cowpea yield was reduced by only 32%. Maize yield was significantly (P<0.01) depressed only when intercropped with Tvu 1190, and only when the cowpea was planted two or three weeks after maize. On the other hand, when both cowpea cultivars were planted four or five weeks after maize, maize yield was higher (46%) in intercrop than in sole crop. Total productivity measured by LER was greater in simultaneous intercropping than in staggered intercropping. Fertilizer application in simultaneous intercropping resulted in significantly (P<0.01) higher yields than in the non-fertilized treatment for both cowpea and maize, although sole cowpea did not respond to fertilizer application. LERs were greater than unity for most of the planting dates when fertilizer was applied. The results are interpreted as indicating greater overall productive advantage for simultaneous maize-cowpea intercropping than staggered intercropping, and a scope for significant positive response of simultaneous maize cowpea intercropping to improved management in the sub-humid tropics.

Estimating Leaf Area Per Plant in Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean) Using Leaf Number and Leaf Dry Weight

A. Sesay and H. Zungu

ABSTRACT

Equations relating leaf area to leaf dry weight and leaf number were developed for two local landraces of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) grown in a greenhouse and in the field during the 1998/99 cropping season in Swaziland. During the seed filling stage the number of leaves on 10 plants per landrace were counted and the dry weight and are of individual terminal leaflets and trifoliate leaf areas, terminal leaflet areas and leaf dry weights were summed to give total leaf area/plant, total terminal leaflet indicated that leaf number per plant was not correlated with leaf area in bambara groundnut. However, leaf dry weight per plant was highly correlated with leaf area per plan in both genotypes (R-values ranged from 0.88 to 0.92). The ratio of the terminal leaflet area to the total trifoliate leaf area was constant (0.55) for both genotypes and for environments. Total leaf area per plant (mm2) for the dark red-seeded and the cream-seeded landraces used in the study, could be estimated for field grown plants by the following equations respectively: LA=5.72 + 3.71LDW (R2=0.84); LA = 281.67+11.52LDW (R2=0.77). Total leaf area per plant could also be estimated by multiplying the total terminal leaflet area by 1.8. This factor was found to be constant across genotypes and environments.

The Relationship Between Genotypes at the Red Flower Colour Loci (R1/R1 and R2/R2) and Four Basic Flower Colour Forms in Zonal Pelargoniums (Pelargonium X Hortorum L.H. Bailey)

H.H. Kabwazi and J.A. Barrett

ABSTRACT

The relationship between genotypes at two red flower colour loci (R1/rl and R2/r2) and four basic flower colour forms (red, salmon, rose-pink and soft-pink) in zonal pelargoniums (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey L.H.) was studied using complementation tests. The results confirmed that red flower colour is due to complementary gene interaction at the two loci hence R1-R2 plants with rose-pink and salmon colored flowers always complemented each other to produce red-flowered plants among theprogenies. The two flower colour forms were also the only ones that complemented each other to produce red-flowered progeny.

The genotypes r1r1R2 and r1r1r2r2 always corresponded to salmon, rose-pick and soft-pink flower colours respectively. Thus genotypes at the two red flower colour loci (R1/r1 and R2/r2) were also directly responsible for salmon, rose-pink and soft-pink flower colours in zonal pelargoniums.

Comparative Effects of Water, Acid and Sodium Benzoate as Additives on the Micelle-Influenced Aquation Reactions of Some Iron (II) Phenanthroline Complexes in Acetone

A.O. Fadiran and J. Ige

ABSTRACT

The relative effects of water, sulphuric acid and sodium benzoate as additives on the micelle-catalyzed aquation reactions of the complexes:Fe(Me2Phen)3 2+ and FE(Me4Phen) were studied in acetone using Triton X-100 (TX-100), as the surfactant-catalyst. FE(Me4Phen)2+ equates faster than FE(Me2Phen)2+ in the presence of H+ and PhCOONa while the reverse holds when H20 is the additive. And with the exception of some high surfactant concentration: (45.0=[TX-100]=</- 71.25% v/v) in the case of Fe(Me4Phen)2+, the aquation rates of both complexes in the presents of the three additives generally follow the order:k o(water)>k o(benzoate)>k o(acid) for additive concentration ranges considered.

Investigation of TV Signal Strength at Kwaluseni Campus

V.O. Nkambule and S.V. Simelane

ABSTRACT

A field strength meter (an instrument for measuring the strength of television (TV) signals) was designed, built and tested. It was then used in conjuction with a broadside array ultra-high frequency (UHF) antenna to measure the Swazi TV signal strength at different points around the Kwaluseni Campus of the University of Swaziland. Variation in the signal strength at various points of reception were observed to be mainly influenced by the time of day, the terrain of the land, atmospheric conditions and the buildings and thick tall trees in the vicinity. The signal strength at a given location is a guide as to how high the TV antenna should be to avoid obstructing objects like tall trees, buildings, as well as hills.