African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Oral dysbacteriosis in type 2 diabetes and its role in the progression to cardiovascular disease.
Salivary changes and proliferation of specific bacterial communities are known to result in oral disease which may adversely impact on systemic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. ⋯ Disruption in the salivary environment and changes in microbial ecology with increased load of cariogenic bacteria were found in diabetic and cardiac patients. This study brings forward new evidence of a markedly higher load of Streptococcus mutans in cardiac patients which may underlie the progression of diabetes to cardiovascular disease in this population.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Case ReportsAn erroneous opinion on a cause of death in a forensic autopsy: a case report.
The quality of autopsies is always questioned in courts, especially in developing countries. Wrong decisions or misjudgments are undesirable in medicine, but they are very dangerous in forensic medicine. If a wrong opinion is given, either a culprit can be acquitted or an innocent person can be sentenced. Therefore, an expert opinion is always required before the announcement of a judgment. ⋯ An erroneous opinion was reached regarding cause and manner of death in this autopsy report.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
The reality of every day communication for a deaf child using sign language in a developing country.
Research that focuses on the communication between deaf children and their hearing families is scarce despite the majority of deaf children being born into hearing families where a common communication mode needs to be forged. ⋯ Communication for deaf children within the home is problematic as communication partners are not fluent in SASL.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Assessing regional variations in the effect of the removal of user fees on facility-based deliveries in rural Zambia.
Maternal health remains a concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where maternal mortality averages 680 per 100,000 live births and almost 50% of the approximately 350,000 annual maternal deaths occur. Improving access to skilled birth assistance is paramount to reducing this average, and user fee reductions could help. ⋯ Although user fees matter, to a degree, service quality is a relatively more important contributor to the promotion of facility-based deliveries. Thus, in the short-term, strengthening and improving community-based interventions could lead to further increases in facility-based deliveries.
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African health sciences · Dec 2017
Suicidal ideation and associated factors among school going adolescents in Swaziland.
Suicide among children has been a major issue and the statistics are considerably alarming. However, no studies have been conducted in Swaziland on suicidal ideation which is a starting point for committing suicide. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its correlates. ⋯ The rate of suicidal ideation was high among adolescents in Swaziland and intervention considering violence, social support from friends and parents, and drug abuse should be designed to prevent suicidal thoughts.