African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2009
Towards an understanding of regional disparities in social inequities in maternal health in Malawi.
Improving maternal health remains a major challenge facing Malawi because at 984 deaths per 100,000 live births, the maternal mortality ratio is among the highest in the world. Although the health status of women in child-bearing age groups is low in all the three regions of Malawi, there are marked regional differences in several health indicators. ⋯ The free government medical services appear to be effective in ensuring that the poor do not spend a higher proportion of their income on health than the non-poor. However, there is a wide mismatch between utilization of antenatal care services and skilled attendance at childbirth.
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African health sciences · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialErgogenic effect of varied doses of coffee-caffeine on maximal aerobic power of young African subjects.
Caffeine one of the readily available stimulants consumed daily by more than 80% of the world's population, making it the most widely consumed drug in history. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different doses (5, 10 &15 mg.kg(-1)) of caffeine per kilogram body weight on maximal aerobic power of normal young black African (Nigerian) male adults. ⋯ It was concluded that caffeine dose of up to 15mg/kg seems not to have any ergogenic effect on maximum aerobic power of young black African male adults.
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This study was designed to determine the clinical and socio economic features of breast cancer in young females aged 40 years and below treated at the Radiotherapy Department of The University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria. ⋯ This study shows that we have a higher proportion of young females with breast cancer in our environment than in developed countries. Most of them present late and majority of the patients have very low income. Physicians should pay serious attention to breast lumps in young females and free health care services for these patients can promote early access to treatment.
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African health sciences · Dec 2009
Attitude and perception of patients towards amputation as a form of surgical treatment in the University of Calabar teaching hospital, Nigeria.
A survey of the attitude and perception of a cross- section of residents of Calabar to therapeutic limb amputation was done to determine the level of knowledge and understanding of the indications, advantages as well as the prospects for the amputees in our environment. ⋯ Though majority of respondents have a fair knowledge of amputation and would accept or advice others to accept it, there is still need to create more awareness on the importance of amputation and it indications.
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African health sciences · Dec 2009
Unmodified electroconvulsive therapy: changes in knowledge and attitudes of Nigerian medical students.
The relevance of ECT as a treatment option for some psychiatric disorders continues to generate debate in professional and lay circles. Scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of ECT (with anaesthesia) abounds. In some developing countries, the process of change towards the full implementation and use of modified ECT has been slow. The unmodified format is still used for largely economic reasons despite the ethical concerns it raises. ⋯ Exposure of medical students to ECT and lectures are important in changing negative attitudes during clerkships and should be incorporated in their teaching curriculum. We may infer that future psychiatrists would prefer the modified form of ECT and acceptability would be better with this format.