African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2006
Postpartum major depression at six weeks in primary health care: prevalence and associated factors.
Major depression is a common and disabling complication of the postpartum period in women. It is thought to occur three times more commonly in the developing than in developed countries. ⋯ There is indication for routine screening of at risk women in the peri-natal period to avoid, recognize and manage postpartum psychiatric morbidity and its consequence on mothers and their developing children.
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Community involvement has become an important component of the National Malaria Control Strategy in Kenya, resulting in the organization of groups charged with addressing mosquito and malaria-related concerns within the community. ⋯ We found that community groups are willing to participate in control operations, but lack government and technical support. We highlight the importance of strengthening organizational efforts and capacity building, as well as the need to clarify government policy on malaria vector control responsibilities within the communities.
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African health sciences · Dec 2006
Body figure preference in South African adolescent females: a cross cultural study.
Eating disorders have traditionally been associated with the white community in South Africa. The emergence of eating disorders among blacks in the mid 1990's appeared to signal a demographic shift. Subsequent data suggested that eating disorders would increase in prevalence amongst black South Africans. ⋯ The findings of the study demonstrate that racial homogenization exists regarding body figure preference within the urban setting. Data from the rural area suggests milieu specific factors in this regard with fewer respondents desiring to be smaller. This may have implications for the emergence of eating disorders in black South African populations, more specifically those in urban areas.
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African health sciences · Sep 2006
Chronic renal failure at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: Chronic kidney disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This study aims at determining the pattern of chronic renal failure (CRF) in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital. ⋯ Chronic glomerulonephritis, hypertensive nephrosclerosis and diabetes mellitus are the commonest causes of chronic renal failure in Nigeria. Most of the patients presented late. Cardiovascular complications and infections were responsible for a greater morbidity among the patients.
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African health sciences · Sep 2006
Focussed Assessment Sonograph Trauma (FAST) and CT scan in blunt abdominal trauma: surgeon's perspective.
Diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma is a real challenge even for experienced trauma surgeons. Diagnostic tools that help the treating doctor in optimum management of blunt abdominal trauma include; Focussed Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST), Diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and CT scan. ⋯ FAST is useful as the initial diagnostic tool for abdominal trauma to detect intraabdominal fluid. With proper training and understanding the limitations of ultrasound, the results of FAST can be optimized. DPL is indicated to diagnose suspected internal abdominal injury when ultrasound machine is not available, there is no trained person to perform FAST, or the results of FAST are equivocal or difficult to interpret in a haemodynamically unstable patient. In contrast, in haemodynamically stable patients the diagnostic modality of choice is CT with intravenous contrast. It is useful to detect free air and intraperitoneal fluid, delineate the extent of solid organ injury, detect retroperitoneal injuries, and help in the decision for conservative treatment. Helical CT is done rapidly which reduces the time the patient stays in the CT scan room. Furthermore, this improves sagittal and coronal reconstruction images which are useful for detecting ruptured diaphragm.