African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Mar 2024
Glycemic control and its associated factors among adult diabetic patients in Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Diabetes mellitus is a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia causes vascular complications, mortality, and life-threatening disabilities in low-income countries including Ethiopia. Glycemic control status in diabetic patients is crucial to maintain the blood glucose level at the optimal level and to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications and mortality. However, there is limited data on poor glycemic control status and its associated factors among diabetic patients in southern Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Thus, this study aimed to determine glycemic control status and its associated factors using glycated hemoglobin among adult diabetic patients at Nigist Elleni Mohammad Memorial Referral Hospital, Hossana, southern Ethiopia. ⋯ A high prevalence of poor glycemic control status (82.4%) was observed among diabetic patients in this study area, and disease-related factors like duration of diabetes, complication, treatment type and lack of self-glucose monitoring, physical exercise, and dyslipidemia were identified as factors significantly associated with poor glycemic control status. The finding of the current study should be taken into account to conduct a strategic and timely intervention on significantly associated factors to delay diabetic complications and to improve the health outcome of diabetic patients. Routine screening and monitoring of dyslipidemia and providing health education on behavioral factors were the necessary measures that should be conducted to reduce the burden of poor glycemic control status among diabetic patients.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2024
Women's experience of preterm birth in an East African context: a qualitative study.
Approximately 15 million children are born each year prematurely, representing more than 10 percent of all childbirths worldwide. Prematurity is an acute event and the leading cause of death among newborns and children under five. Sixty percent of these premature deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. ⋯ This study provided a deeper understanding of women's experiences and perceptions of premature childbirth. The current study indicated the importance of caregivers' awareness of the women's emotional distress, their need to adapt to a sudden unexpected situation, and the necessity of emotional support.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2024
Prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among livestock merchants and slaughterhouse workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Most studies on viral infections among livestock handlers have focused on occupational exposure from inadvertent contact with infected animals. Consequently, little emphasis is given to the effect of their lifestyle on the acquisition of other blood-borne viruses. ⋯ A high Infection with HIV, HBV and HCV is common among the study participants. There is a need for continued surveillance and awareness creation on preventive measures against these viruses.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2024
A retrospective study of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq.
CCHF is transmitted via ticks biting and directly by contact with tissue or blood of infected patients or viremic animals. This study intends to determine the occurrence of CCHF in Iraq between 2015 and 2019. ⋯ Strict precautions and precise surveillance should be implemented to control the disease and protect the community by improving the diagnosis and treatment of CCHF. The authors recommend another future study to detect the genotyping and sequencing of CCHFV in Iraq.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2024
Exploring patient referral practices of traditional healthcare practitioners in Soshanguve, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
It may be necessary for healthcare professionals to refer patients to other professionals and institutions that are able to provide the care needed by patients, depending on the severity each case presents, healthcare requirements, and resources available to offer care. In healthcare generally, patient referral is standard procedure; however, in South Africa, referral patterns between allopathic and traditional healthcare practitioners are unknown, and this is a problem yet to be addressed. ⋯ Patient referral being an important part of healthcare practices should be promoted and regulation and traditional health practices improved to promote safe referral practices and curb unsafe self-referrals by patients.