African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2021
An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional healers for the treatment of cancer in Hammanskraal and Winterveld, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa.
Knowledge of medicinal plants used by the traditional healers are mostly confined among the locals and the adherents, hence, proper enquiry and documentation can help the ever dynamic scientific world to find permanent cure to the menace of such deadly diseases such as cancer. This study aimed at (1) specifically recording medicinal plants traditionally used for the treatment of cancer in Hammanskraal and Winterveld, South Africa, and (2) documenting the different methods of preparation and administration of those medicinal plants as recorded during the study. ⋯ In addition to the documentation of indigenous knowledge related to the use of medicinal plants in the traditional management of cancer in South Africa, this study opens a vista for investigations into the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the documented plants.
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African health sciences · Dec 2021
Hygiene practices in abattoir and slaughter slab, determinants and assessment of abattoir and slaughter slab facilities in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State South-East Nigeria.
Workers in slaughterhouses engaging in unhygienic practices create conducive environments for zoonoses and meat contamination. Knowledge of hygiene practices and their determinants provides evidence for the design of targeted interventions. ⋯ The level of good knowledge was high and this was a determinant of good hygienic practices. Training on hygiene practices is recommended to prevent meat contamination and zoonoses.
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African health sciences · Dec 2021
ReviewCOVID-19 and impairment of mental health: public health perspective.
The objective of the article is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the members of the general population. ⋯ To conclude, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a state of public health emergency on the global scale. The infection has impacted people from all walks of life and is also responsible for precipitating a number of psychological and mental disorders. Thus, it is the need of the hour to identify those individuals who are prone to psychological disorders, and take urgent steps to ensure the preservation and improvement of the mental health of people.
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African health sciences · Dec 2021
ReviewA systemic review of barriers to accessing paediatric eye care services in African countries.
Global estimate reported that 1.4 million children are blind of which three-quarters live in developing countries. Childhood Visual Impairment is a major public health problem globally especially in rural areas of developing countries. ⋯ The main barriers to accessing paediatric eye care services in Africa were affordability, accessibility and availability. There is therefore a need for all relevant stakeholders to play a significant role in addressing barriers to child eye care in African countries.
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African health sciences · Dec 2021
Stigma among tuberculosis patients and associated factors in urban slum populations in Uganda.
Stigma continues to be a major barrier to tuberculosis (TB) control particularly in urban populations. Stigma can influence health seeking behaviour and affect adherence to TB treatment, yet few studies have examined TB related stigma and associated factors in Uganda. This study was therefore conducted to determine the level of stigma and associated factors among TB patients in an urban setting in Kampala, Uganda. ⋯ Stigma towards TB was high in this urban population and mainly associated with knowing a person who had died of TB, perception that symptoms of TB are similar to those of HIV/AIDS, and previous TB treatment. Interventions to mitigate TB stigma are needed in urban populations and should also address HIV/AIDS related stigma.