African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2023
High resolution chest computed tomography findings in patients with clinically suspected COVID-19 pneumonia in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.
The alarming spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of RT-PCR kits in Uganda necessitating the use of high-resolution chest Computed Tomography to guide patient management and treatment. ⋯ HRCT was found superior to RT-PCR in diagnosing COVID-19. A patient with positive HRCT findings should be treated as COVID 19 when RT-PCR is inaccessible or results are negative. A patient with negative HRCT requires complimentary RT-PCR and possibly follow up CT scans if symptoms persist before treating for COVID 19.
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African health sciences · Dec 2023
Comparative StudyA comparative analysis of two national tuberculosis reporting systems and their impact on tuberculosis case notification in Uganda.
Before 2018, the use of parallel tuberculosis (TB) reporting systems was resource intensive with duplication of efforts and hence the need to select one that contributed to better TB case notification at the National TB and Leprosy Program (NLTP) in Uganda. We sought to analyse the difference in reporting rates between the two systems in order to improve NTLP TB case notification rates, logistics management, and planning for better health service delivery initiatives. ⋯ The web-based integrated DHIS2 system was more effective in reporting missing TB cases. It presents an opportunity for better planning and allocation of resources for improved service delivery in a low-income setting.
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African health sciences · Dec 2023
Total intravenous anaesthesia in rural sub-Saharan Africa: report of 25 cases.
Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is a potential solution for safe and effective anesthesia administration in rural regions of sub-Saharan Africa, where access to inhalational anesthesia may be limited. However, challenges such as equipment and medication availability, as well as a shortage of trained anesthesiologists, can limit the use of TIVA. In this study, the safety and efficacy of TIVA were evaluated in a case series of 25 female patients undergoing thyroid surgery in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa. ⋯ The use of TIVA may offer advantages such as faster recovery times, reduced incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and reduced risk of environmental pollution compared to inhalational anesthesia. However, the cost and monitoring requirements of TIVA may pose challenges in resource-limited settings. Further research is needed to determine the optimal use of TIVA in this context.
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African health sciences · Dec 2023
The unique contributions of depression and anxiety to suicidal ideation among Nigerian secondary school students: a cross-sectional survey.
It is important to establish the pattern of suicidal ideation among adolescents with depression and anxiety. This will help the schools prevent possible complete suicide among these groups of adolescents' trough counseling and education. ⋯ There is an increasing prevalence of suicidal ideation among adolescents with a preponderance of older age and female gender. There is a link between depression/anxiety and suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the poorest half was higher than that of the richer half. There was a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation among the urban dwellers than the rural dwellers.
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African health sciences · Dec 2023
Clinical characteristics and variables associated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in Luanda, Angola, in the first year of the pandemic.
The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa is still unclear. In comparison to Europe and North America, morbidity and death rates are lower. Several factors have been proposed, including geographical variation in virus impact, environmental factors, differences in age distribution, and the impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV infection and tuberculosis. ⋯ We identified putative factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. HIV and TB were protective and not associated with mortality. Further study with a broader scope should be conducted to explain the main features related to COVID-19 mortality in Angola.