African health sciences
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
The Pattern of COVID-19 in Horn of Africa countries, from March-December 2020.
Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) is a novel, highly infectious, and potentially fatal communicable pandemic disease. It has taken longer to reach Africa than the other continents. ⋯ The epidemiological pattern of COVID-19 among the Horn of African countries seems to have slow progress, given the prevalence of the new infections remains low, and the death toll seems stable throughout the study periods, except for Djibouti. Hence, the prevention control measures implemented in the countries should be further strengthened and supported. It is recommended that relevant stakeholders responsible for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic should put up measures to curb the spread of the virus in the region and set up a crisis management system to combat future pandemics.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Human immunodeficiency virus positive status disclosure among children in northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive status disclosure is an essential component of pediatric care and longterm disease management. However, one of the greatest challenges that caregiver/mothers and health care workers face is the disclosure of HIV positive status to children living with the virus. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess HIV positive status disclosure and associated factors among HIV positive children in northwest Ethiopia. ⋯ The HIV positive status disclosure was high in the study area relative to other studies. Family size, children age, and length of children on ART were predictors of HIV positive status disclosure for HIV positive children. Health care providers, especially those working at pediatrics ART clinics should keep these factors in mid while working with caregivers to encourage disclosure of HIV positive status.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Assessment of the willingness of Nigerian Orthodontists to offer face-to-face orthodontic services to patients infected with Covid-19.
Efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease led to suspension of many services which caused orthodontists to resort to providing only emergency services. The aims of this study were to assess the willingness of Nigerian Orthodontists and Orthodontic resident doctors to treat patients infected with Covid-19 as well as to ascertain advice given regarding traumatic arch wires and aligners during the pandemic. ⋯ Majority of Orthodontists and orthodontic residents practicing in Nigeria expressed unwillingness to treat patients infected with COVID-19. Aligner therapy was proffered as an alternative to bracket therapy.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Laboratory characteristics among patients with COVID-19: a single-center experience from Khartoum, Sudan.
COVID19 is associated with a number of laboratory characteristics and changes with different levels of prognostic significance. We report changes in lab findings between severe and non-severe COVID-19 in patients that had molecular testing of nasopharyngeal swabs in Khartoum, Sudan. ⋯ The laboratory findings of CBC, D-dimer and CRP provide an essential contribution to predicti COVID-19 severity and prognosis.
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African health sciences · Mar 2023
Occupational therapy assessment and interventions for young autistic children in South Africa.
Occupational Therapy is among the top interventions for autistic children, hence the need for equitable and effective services in the public and private health and education sectors. Ongoing research into the therapies for autism spectrum disorders in different contexts is also required. ⋯ Occupational therapy assessments had diagnostic value. Informal tools such as developmental checklists were found to have clinical utility, whilst standardised tools were most commonly used to assess sensory processing and visual perception. Recommendations included incorporating ASI® into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training opportunities with multidisciplinary input to develop ASD professionals in South Africa. It is imperative to advocate for services in under-resourced rural areas and marginalised communities that lack financial and social resources. Occupational therapists need to find new ways of working collaboratively across sectors to ensure effective and comprehensive services in public health and special schools.