The most common health risk associated with consumption of beef is microbial contamination, therefore the study was aimed to assess the level of bacterial contamination of beef and evaluate the hygienic practices in butcheries in Kasama district. Beef samples were collected from participating butcheries and a structured questionnaire was also administered to the food handlers. Microbiological quality of the beef samples was determined by Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Faecal Coliform Count (FCC) and bacterial isolation such as Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus. The APC results revealed 40.7% of the butcheries sold meat in good bacterial condition (<4 Log10 cfu/g) while 40.7% and 18.5% were critical (4-5 Log10 cfu/g) and non-acceptable conditions (>5 Log10 cfu/g), respectively. The FCC revealed that 74.1% of the butcheries sold meat in good bacterial conditions (<2 Log10 cfu/g), while 14.8% and 11.1% were critical (2-3 Log10 cfu/g) and non-acceptable conditions (>3 Log10 cfu/g), respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 37% of the butcheries, none of the outlets recorded Salmonella spp. Overall, the microbial quality of most (74.1%) of the market-ready beef in Kasama district was acceptable for human consumption. Therefore, regular bacteriological monitoring and maintaining hygiene in the sales outlets and distribution chain is mandatory.

Fever is one the most reported out-patient complaint and predictor for malaria illness in regions were the disease is endemic. The capacity for care-givers of febrile children under 5 years to recognise fever early is very important in the control of malaria. There has been a decline in health seeking-behaviour among care-givers of febrile children under-5 years in Zambia, from 36% in 2015 to 26% in 2018 as reported by the Malaria Indicator Surveys (MIS) in Zambia. The study identified and compared the proportion and factors associated with health-seeking behaviour among care-givers of febrile children suspected to have malaria between the 2015 and 2018 MIS in Zambia.MethodsThis was a comparative cross-sectional analysis of the 2015 and 2018 MIS data in Zambia. Analysis of factors associated with health-seeking behaviour among care-givers of children was undertaken using logistic regression with STATA software version 16 SE.Of the total 4272 respondents, 67% were children in the 2015 MIS, 50.6% were males and 58.5% were less-than 24 months old. At adjusted logistic regression in the 2015 MIS; age less-than 12 months compared to 12-59 months was not associated with health-seeking behaviour (AOR 1.6;95% CI 0.8 to 3.1; p=0.117). Middle wealth quintiles compared to children in other quintiles were more likely to seek prompt health-care after onset of fever, (OR=3.08; CI 95% 1.26 - 7.56; p 0.014). While in 2018, children less 12 months compared to 12 months-59 months (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.24 -1.39; p=0.220) was not associated with health-seeking behaviour. Residence: rural compared to urban (OR= 5.47; 95% CI 1.06 - 28.05; p<0.05) was associated with care-givers’ promptness to seek health-care for children under 5 years.ConclusionEarly health-seeking behaviour among febrile children was associated with wealth status and rural residence in both the 2015 and 2018 surveys. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in health-seeking behaviour between the two years. It is critical that strengthened socio behavior change communication is on the importance of prompt health-seeking among care-givers of children under 5 years. Provision of health services as close to the family as possible is important as it enhances health-seeking as time taken and distance health facilities are reduced.

No abstract