African health sciences
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Since the genocide occurred in 1994, Rwanda has faced up to the challenge of rebuilding. Public health is a main field to understand this rebuilding. ⋯ Public health research on Rwanda appeared 14 years after the genocide. A main field was emerging: the spread of HIV with mother-child transmission, and the policies to take this subject into account in rural zones. The network of institutions developing these studies was USA-Rwanda.
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African health sciences · Dec 2014
Sero-prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2) and HIV infection in Kampala, Uganda.
Prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2) is high worldwide. Previous studies in Uganda were rural or in women. We estimated age and sex-specific sero-prevalence of HSV-2 in Kampala, Uganda. ⋯ Prevalence of HSV-2 and HIV was high especially in women. Syphilis was rare. Awareness of herpes was low. Interventions in young people are needed.
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African health sciences · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffectiveness of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme in pulmonary function and health related quality of life for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a pilot study.
Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) often develop impairment in pulmonary function due to anatomical changes secondary to the illness. Physiotherapy in the form of pulmonary rehabilitation has been advocated. ⋯ The outcome of the study provides motivation for further consideration and implementation of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with PTB.
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African health sciences · Dec 2014
Health seeking behaviour and challenges in utilising health facilities in Wakiso district, Uganda.
The health seeking behaviour of a community determines how they use health services. Utilisation of health facilities can be influenced by the cost of services, distance to health facilities, cultural beliefs, level of education and health facility inadequacies such as stock-out of drugs. ⋯ There is potential to increase access to health care in rural areas by increasing the frequency of mobile clinic services and strengthening the community health worker strategy.
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African health sciences · Dec 2014
The utility of the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test in managing dyspepsia: an experience from a low resource setting.
Dyspepsia is defined as a chronic or recurrent pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Endoscopy is the best strategy for confirming the cause of dyspepsia. Non- invasive strategies would be more appropriate in low resource countries where endoscopy is not readily available. However, there is concern that these strategies may miss serious disease like gastric cancer. One test that needs to be assessed in this regard is the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test (HPSAT). ⋯ The HPSAT may be used in the test and treat strategy for young patients with dyspepsia without alarm signs and symptoms in low resource settings. However, because of its low validity in predicting H.pylori associated disease, it is important to follow up patients so that if symptoms persist or recur endoscopy is performed.