African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Prevalence and predictors of hepatitis C infection among antenatal attendees in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.
Hepatitis C virus infection as it specifically relates to pregnancy has been a neglected condition, thus its recognition and treatment in pregnancy is relevant because of the risks of the long-term complications of the infection in the mother, potential effects of the infection on the pregnancy and risk of vertical transmission to the newborn. ⋯ The prevalence of hepatitis virus infection among the study population was high. Second trimester and increasing gravidity were protective of the infection in pregnancy. There is therefore need for introduction of general routine screening of all pregnant women presenting for antenatal care.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Knowledge of breast cancer, willingness and barriers to mammography screening among rural women in Enugu State, Nigeria.
Breast cancer is a serious public health threat. Mammography is the most reliable screening method that detects breast cancer early, enabling early onset of treatment which improves the prognosis of the disease. ⋯ Health Education should be combined with improving women's economic status and subsidizing the cost of screening to increase breast cancer screening practice.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Evaluation of socio-demographic profile and basic risk factors of tuberculosis patients in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India: a hospital-based study.
To study and analyse the socio-demographic profile and basic risk factors of tuberculosis(TB) patients and their relation with the current epidemiological status of TB registered under the RNTEP program in the study area. ⋯ Our study provides a socioeconomic profile and the risk factors of tuberculosis in patients such as the status of therapeutic intervention, involvement of other chronic diseases, age, sex and malnutrition. The findings of this study can be used to plan future studies with specific risk factors of the region and also for implementing the intervention and evaluating its effectiveness.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Risk factors of recurrent thyroid nodules after radiofrequency ablation.
To investigate the risk factors of thyroid nodule recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS The medical record information of 120 patients with thyroid nodules admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to April 2022 was retrospectively analysed. All participants received RFA treatment. According to the results of the postoperative thyroid ultrasound examination (USG), the patients were divided into the recurrence group (R, N=16) and the non-recurrence group (NR, N=104). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors of thyroid nodule recurrence after RFA. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyse the value of the forecast of each independent factor and combined model for thyroid nodule recurrence after RFA. ⋯ During the follow-up period, 16 patients recurred, and the recurrence rate was 13.33%. Univariate regression analysis showed that whether the nodules are solitary (WNS), nodule diameter (ND), the degree of risk of nodular location (DRN), recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury were associated with thyroid nodule recurrence after RFA (P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that WNS, ND, DRN and RLN injury were independent risk factors for the recurrence of thyroid nodules after RFA (P<0.05). ROC analysis of independent factors and combined model showed that solitary nodules, nodule diameter and nodule location risk degree had diagnostic value, while RLN injury had no predictive value. The combined model is more predictive than the independent factors. Conclusions: The risk factors of recurrent thyroid nodules after radiofrequency ablation are related to WNS, ND, DRN and so on, which should be paid attention to and preventive measures should be taken.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Endoscopic esophageal foreign body removal among children at Lubaga Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy involves examination of the lining of the esophagus, stomach and part of the duodenum. Interventional endoscopy in addition to evaluating the upper gastrointestinal tract to make a diagnosis, also offers a treatment benefit. Traditionally, esophageal foreign bodies (FBs) in Uganda were removed using rigid endoscopy. We therefore report an emerging trend of using flexible endoscopy to remove these FBs. ⋯ We report high success rates of 90.16% for endoscopic removal of impacted esophageal foreign bodies among Ugandan children using the now widely available flexible endoscopy.