African health sciences
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The most important elements to determine the rate of population growth is fertility. Fertility is the main element to affect the welfare of mother. The survival of a child can be affected by high fertility and shorter birth intervals. ⋯ Significant variation in fertility level was observed among rural and urban residents of Ethiopia. To reduce the gap of fertility between rural and urban population, it is important to modernize different factors. These factors could be access to education, media, and providing employment opportunities in the modern economic sector. Besides this, it is important to develop and maintain the access of family planning services.
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African health sciences · Jun 2015
Emotional distress in Angolan patients with several types of tuberculosis.
There is growing evidence that emotional distress expressed in terms of anxiety and depression is very high among tuberculosis (TB) patients. ⋯ Our study found high rates of anxiety, depression and emotional distress among TB patients. Marital status, gender, type and treatment of TB were related to higher levels of emotional disorder. Mental health services should be an integral part of programs against tuberculosis.
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African health sciences · Jun 2015
The protective effects of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seeds in paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats.
Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of drug induced nephrotoxicity. The study aimed to determine the nephroprotective and ameliorative effects of Carica papaya seed extract in paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. ⋯ Carica papaya contains nephroprotective phytochemicals and may be useful in preventing kidney damage induced by paracetamol.
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African health sciences · Jun 2015
Factors affecting disclosure of serostatus to children attending Jinja Hospital Paediatric HIV clinic, Uganda.
Disclosure of HIV status is important for optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy in children. Identifying factors that affect disclosure of sero-status to children will help improve the process of disclosure. The purpose of the study was to determine the rate of HIV disclosure by the parents/caretakers to their children and other factors affecting disclosure. ⋯ The overall prevalence of disclosure was low. Psychosocial support groups promoted disclosure.
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African health sciences · Jun 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized controlled trial comparing haemodynamic stability in elderly patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia at L5, S1 versus spinal anaesthesia at L3, 4 at a tertiary African hospital.
Spinal anaesthesia is a routinely used anaesthetic technique in elderly patients (> 60 years) undergoing operations involving the lower limbs, lower abdomen, pelvis and the perineum. Spinal anaesthesia has several advantages over general anaesthesia including stable haemodynamic variables, less blood loss, less post-operative pain, faster recovery time and less post-operative confusion. Despite these advantages, the sympathetic blockade induced by spinal anaesthesia can result in hypotension, bradycardia, dysrhythmias and cardiac arrests. Conventionally, spinal anaesthesia is performed at the level of L3,4 interspace; with a reported incidence of hypotension in the elderly ranging between 65% and 69%. A possible strategy for reducing spinal induced hypotension would be to minimize the peak block height to as low as possible for the planned procedure. ⋯ Among this population, there was no difference in the proportion of those with hypotension between the elderly patients who received their spinal anaesthesia at L3,4 and those who received spinal anaesthesia at L5,S1. The intervention group had better outcomes with significantly less episodes of hypotension. It took a longer time to achieve a maximum peak sensory block in the intervention group. Performing spinal anaesthesia at the level of L5,S1 was found to provide an adequate sensory block for a wide range of pelvic, perineal and lower limb surgeries.