African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2007
A community-based investigation of the avoidable factors of maternal mortality in Nigeria: the pilot experience.
Reduction of maternal mortality is one of the major goals of several recent international conferences and has been included within the Millennium Development Goals. However, because measuring maternal mortality is difficult and complex, reliable estimates of the dimensions of the problem are not generally available and assessing progress towards the goal is difficult in some countries. Reliable baseline data are crucial to effectively track progress and measure that targets or goals of reducing maternal mortality have been met. ⋯ The pilot raised a number of fundamental issues related to the process of designing the research instrument, identifying and recruiting Data Collectors, training and supervision of Data Collectors and the research project, gaining access to respondents and obtaining support and approval from "gatekeepers". This paper highlights the lessons learned and reports practical issues that occurred during pilot study.
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African health sciences · Sep 2007
Drug sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates from septic post-operative wounds in a regional referral hospital in Uganda.
Wound infections have been a problem in the field of surgery for a long time. Advances in control of infections have not completely eradicated this problem because of development of drug resistance. Antimicrobial resistance can increase complications and costs associated with procedures and treatment. ⋯ Since a high proportion of samples had positive cultures, infection control is recommended as a strategy to minimise spread of resistant organisms. It is recommended that gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime be used in preference to ampicillin and amoxycillin for treatment of septic wounds. There is need to develop national surveillance of antibiotic- resistant organisms.
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African health sciences · Sep 2007
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus in a population of pregnant women and commercial sex workers in South Western Nigeria.
Over 20 million persons are infected with HTLV-I/II globally. The virus is endemic in Africa and it is also transmitted sexually. Continued identification of high risk groups is important for the control of the disease. ⋯ Routine screening for HTLV infection may go a long way to understanding the epidemiology of HTLV infection in Nigeria and subsequently provide tools for its prevention and control.
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African health sciences · Jun 2007
Functional adrenal insufficiency among critically ill patients with human immunodeficiency virus in a resource-limited setting.
Functional adrenal insufficiency (FAI) is associated with increased mortality and is defined as subnormal cortisol production during acute severe illness. ⋯ The diagnosis of FAI should be considered in severely ill patients with stage IV HIV disease using rifampicin or those found to have unexplained eosinophilia. Further studies to determine benefits of corticosteroids in critically ill HIV patients are needed in this setting.
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African health sciences · Jun 2007
Epidemiological factors that promote the development of severe malaria anaemia in children in Ibadan.
Effective control and management of severe malaria cases depends on a clear understanding of the local epidemiological factors and specific clinical manifestations of the disease in the different endemic regions. ⋯ The study underscores the need for community involved partnership for malaria control especially through health education for the home management of malaria, especially among those experiencing some form of inequity in access to healthcare.