African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Jun 2021
Rational and design of SATRACD study: detecting subclinical anthracycline therapy related cardiac dysfunction in low income country.
Anthracycline therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (ATRCD) is the most notorious adverse side-effect of chemotherapy. It has become a significant cardiovascular health concern for long-term cancer survivors. With the emerging concept of subclinical ATRCD and newer diagnostictools (Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) and biomarkers), detecting anthracycline cardiac toxicity at an early stage has become an important step to prevent severe cardiac dysfunction and improve the cardiovascular outcome in cancer survivors. Despite the increasing population at risk in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is no contemporary data in Uganda to address the burden, pathogenesis and risk factors of subclinical ATRCD. This big gap in knowledge has led to a lack of local guidelines for monitoring and management of ATRCD. ⋯ This SATRACD study will provide contemporary data on Ugandan cancer patients who have subclinical and clinical ATRCD, help in the development of local strategies to prevent and manage ATRCD, and improve cardiovascular outcome for Ugandan cancer survivors.
-
African health sciences · Jun 2021
Level of utilization and provider-related barriers to the use of hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell disease patients in Jos, North-Central Nigeria.
Hydroxyurea is underutilized by sickle cell health-care providers in Nigeria despite available evidence of its effectiveness in reducing the manifestations and complications of sickle cell disease (SCD). ⋯ The level of utilization of hydroxyurea in the treatment of SCD among the care providers is sub-optimal with the lack of expertise in its use identified as the most prominent barrier. There is an urgent need for the training of sickle cell care-providers and the development of clinical guidelines on hydroxyurea use.
-
African health sciences · Jun 2021
Evaluation of the postal service for referral of specimen of drug resistance tuberculosis in Amhara region, Ethiopia; mixed method.
In Ethiopia, specimens of presumptive drug resistant tuberculosis cases are transported by courier system from district sample collection centers to reference laboratories. It is essential to track the effectiveness of the referral system and identify challenges in order to take timely and appropriate actions. We assessed turnaround time and quality of specimens, and explored challenges of the specimen referral system in Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2017. ⋯ The postal service was effective in keeping quality and majority of test results were timely delivered. Yet, there were operational challenges. Therefore, effective communication, using dedicated vehicle for specimen shipment and awareness creation on specimen collection and handling are recommended.
-
African health sciences · Jun 2021
Prediction of prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Rwanda using the metropolis-hasting sampling.
In this work, we predict the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adult Rwandan people. We used the Metropolis-Hasting method that involved calculating the metropolis ratio. ⋯ The numerical results show that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increases from 2.8% in 2015 to reach 12.65% in 2020 and to 22.59% in 2025. Therefore, this indicates the urgent need of prevention by Rwandan health decision makers who have to play their crucial role in encouraging for example physical activity, regular checkups and sensitization of the masses.
-
African health sciences · Jun 2021
Relationships between cardiovascular signs and neurological signs in asphyxiated neonates in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria.
Perinatal asphyxia is a condition associated with multiple organ dysfunctions inclusive of cardiovascular dysfunction. Neurologic predictors of survival have been studied, but little has been reported regarding cardiovascular signs and their role in determining outcome in asphyxia. ⋯ Abnormal cardiovascular signs increased with the progression of HIE staging but had no relationship with mortality.