African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2019
An overview of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia for the African generalist practitioner.
Pneumocystis jirovecii is the causative organism of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in humans, which is more common among immunocompromised patients. Classically patients present with fever, non-productive cough, and dyspnoea. In the HIV-infected individuals the symptoms may be subtle at first, but gradually progress over several weeks. In the HIV-uninfected patient, however, the duration of symptoms is shorter and more severe, mainly due to the increased inflammatory response of the HIV-uninfected patient. ⋯ This overview is presented by clinicians who have experience with PCP and is directed mainly at first-line healthcare providers.
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African health sciences · Dec 2019
Psychometric validity of the distress thermometer and problem check list in ART-naïve HIV infected patients in Northern Nigeria.
HIV diagnosis comes with a lot of worry and distress. Ability to objectively estimate this distress by non-psychiatrist will enhance early detection of psychological distress for intervention. ⋯ The DT and Problem List were found to be valid measures of distress in ART-naïve HIV infected patients.
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African health sciences · Dec 2019
Comparative StudyImpact of parity and gestational age of mothers with hypertension on birth weight, red blood cells and mode of delivery of their babies.
Maternal factors are determinants of birth outcome which includes birth weight, haematological indices and mode of delivery of their babies. ⋯ Parity and gestational age of mothers with hypertension have no impact on birth weight and red cells when compared with their non-hypertensive counterparts. However, mothers of babies delivered by elective and emergency caesarean section were about 2-3 times more likely to be hypertensive than those that delivered through spontaneous vertex delivery.
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Patient safety is a fundamental component of health care quality and medical errors continue to occur, placing patients at risk. Medical error reporting systems could help reduce the errors. ⋯ Medical errors occur in the two hospitals and there are no reporting systems. Health workers who report medical errors should not be punished.