African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Multicenter StudyCentral laboratory and point-of-care cardiac marker testing capacity of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria - a multicenter study.
Cardiovascular diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. It is generally recognized that cardiac markers are of particular benefit in the evaluation of patients with suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Tertiary hospitals, mainly teaching hospitals, are expected to be optimally equipped to offer these services. The study therefore aimed at determining the central laboratory and point-of-care cardiac marker testing capacity of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. ⋯ Cardiac marker testing capacity of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, both in the form of point-of-care and central laboratory testing, was found to be barely adequate. Improvement is needed in this area for better diagnosis and evaluation of patients who need the tests.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
ReviewWhy mothers die at a busy tertiary urban hospital in Kampala, Uganda: a comprehensive review of maternal deaths 2016-2018 and implications for quality improvement to reduce deaths.
Reviewing maternal deaths and drawing out lessons for clinical practice is part of an effective cohesive intervention strategy to reduce future deaths. ⋯ A high proportion (84%) of deaths were preventable. Significant delays to care occurred within health-care facilities. Results suggest that a well-supported, and timely maternal death review process with targeted and pragmatic interventions might be effective in reducing maternal deaths in this setting.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Exclusive breast-feeding in the first six months: findings from a cross-sectional survey in Mulago hospital, Uganda.
Improving maternal and child health, one of the key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Exclusive breast-feeding contributes significantly to child survival and development, but many mothers in Africa do not exclusively breastfeed their infants. This paper reports a study in Mulago hospital in Kampala. The study aims to identify factors influencing mothers' choices of infant feeding practices. ⋯ To increase the rate of exclusive breast-feeding in Uganda, it is important that community health is strengthened, and health workers are trained on national breast-feeding policies.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Prevalence and determinants of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction anomalies in adults aged ≥ 40 years in Jimma Town, Southwest of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
The prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia (CA) in the Ethiopian population is unknown. A community study was conducted to assess the magnitude and predictors of CAs in adults aged≥40 years in Jimma Town. ⋯ CA is highly prevalent in Jimma. Hypertension and history of heart diseases are the most potent predictors of cardiac arrhythmia. Large-scale screening for early detection of arrhythmia has important implications for treatment.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Towards developing a comprehensive treatment schedule for patients with cerebral palsy: factors influencing patient's adherence to physiotherapy treatment.
This study is aimed to identify factors influencing patient's adherence to treatment in a bid to characterize the extent to which these factors are considered while developing a treatment schedule for patients with cerebral palsy in Nigeria. ⋯ Distance to the clinic when compared to other (economic, patient-therapist relationship) factors is the major barrier to patient's adherence to treatment and therefore should be considered while developing treatment schedules for patients with cerebral palsy.