African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2013
The impact of HIV/AIDS stigma on HIV counseling and testing in a high HIV prevalence population in Uganda.
Despite its importance in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing (HCT) is low in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease continues to be a serious public health problem. This has in part been attributed to HIV/AIDS related stigma. ⋯ The low level of stigma, older age, higher level of education, being ever married and monogamous sexual relationships are significant predictors of increased uptake of HCT.
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African health sciences · Jun 2013
Malaria and HIV co-infection and their effect on haemoglobin levels from three health-care institutions in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Malaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are two major infections with enormous public health consequence. Together, they are endemic in many developing countries with anaemia being the most frequent haematological consequence of the infections. ⋯ Our data indicated a higher prevalence of malaria in HIV infected patients and also revealed that patients co-infected with malaria and HIV were more likely to be anaemic.
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African health sciences · Jun 2013
Correlates of diarrhoea among children below the age of 5 years in Sudan.
The Millennium Development Goals recognise child health and survival as an important socio-development issue. ⋯ Diarrhoea was associated with child's age, gender, and social status. Our findings provide a useful baseline for interventions and comparisons with future studies.
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African health sciences · Jun 2013
Review Case ReportsNeuropsychiatric perspectives on nodding syndrome in northern Uganda: a case series study and a review of the literature.
Nodding Syndrome (NS), previously called Nodding Disease, is a chronic and debilitating illness affecting thousands of children aged 3-18 years in post-conflict Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Characterised by malnutrition, stunted growth, mental retardation and seizures, some researchers have designated it as epilepsy. With reports appearing in Northern Uganda in1997, NS reached epidemic proportions around 2000-2003 when people were moved into Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camps. Investigations for infections (onchocerciasis) and toxins have been inconclusive as to cause, treatment or outcome. No study has addressed the possible relationship of NS to childhood war-trauma experiences. ⋯ NS could present as an association of childhood complex PTSD, (called Developmental Trauma Disorder), occurring in the chronically war-traumatised children of Northern Uganda, complicated by severe prolonged depression with its characteristic symptoms of psychomotor retardation, anxiety, anhedonia and anorexia. This, coupled with food shortages, resulted in malnutrition, wasting and stunted growth with severe avitaminoses. Many children had seizures. All this calls for multi-disciplinary treatment approaches.
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African health sciences · Jun 2013
A 5 - year surveillance of wound infections at a rural tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
Wound infections are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant etiologic agent of wound infection among in and out patients. A generally higher resistance pattern was observed among nosocomial bacterial pathogens. Prudent use of antibiotics is recommended.