African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2015
Prevalence of intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) use during pregnancy and other associated factors in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana.
Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has been adopted as policy by most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of IPTp-SP usage for prevention of malaria among pregnant women as well as evaluated factors associated with IPTp-SP use during pregnancy in Sekondi-Takoradi region of Ghana. ⋯ IPTp-SP usage among pregnant women in Sekondi-Takoradi reduces malaria and its use for malaria prevention should be strengthened with proper dosage completion and coverage.
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African health sciences · Dec 2015
Magnitude and factors associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding among mothers who deliver in Mulago hospital, Uganda.
Breastfeeding as a determinant of infant health and nutrition saves up to 1.5 million infant lives annually. Though breastfeeding is mostly universal in sub-Saharan Africa, early initiation of breastfeeding is rarely practiced. ⋯ In Mulago Hospital 1:3 mothers delayed initiation of breastfeeding. The reasons for delayed initiation include; inadequate information during ANC, HIV positive serostatus, caesarian section delivery and negative cultural ideas.
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African health sciences · Dec 2015
Sexual orientation and quality of life among students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria.
Sexual orientation is an individual's pattern of physical and emotional arousal toward members of the same and/or opposite gender. ⋯ Same sex sexual attraction and practice occur among young people in Nigeria and this has sexual and reproductive health implications. GLB youth report a lower QOL compared to heterosexual counterparts and this may suggest some distress among this vulnerable group. More studies should be undertaken to explore issues raised in planning interventions and health services that would improve safe sexual practices within this group.
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African health sciences · Dec 2015
Effect of low-intensity continuous training on lung function and cardiorespiratory fitness in both cigarette and hookah smokers.
The decline in cardiorespiratory fitness and lung function was higher in smokers. Training method could mitigate some of the negative consequences of smoking among smokers unable or unwilling to quit. ⋯ The low-intensity continuous training improves cardiorespiratory fitness and reduces lung function decline in both cigarette and hookah smokers. It seems to be beneficial in the prevention programs of hypertension. It could have important implications in prevention and treatment programs in smokers unable or unwilling to quit.
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African health sciences · Dec 2015
Poverty and inequality - but of what - as social determinants of health in Africa?
Many African economies have achieved substantial economic growth over the past recent years, yet several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including those concerned with health, remain considerably behind target. This paper examines whether progress towards these goals is being hampered by existing levels of poverty and income inequality. It also considers whether the inequality hypothesis of Wilkinson and Pickett1 applies to population health outcomes in African states. ⋯ The study shows that tackling poverty should be the immediate concern in Africaas a means of promoting better health for all. There is a question mark over whether the findings of Wilkinson and Pickett1 on the relationship between income inequality and health apply to Africa. The reasons for this question mark are discussed. More research is needed to investigate whether the inequality results found in this study are replicated in other studies of African health.