African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2021
Towards a better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and recipients of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in post-conflict Liberia: a qualitative investigation.
A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war. ⋯ Traditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors. Traditional healer's attitudes towards Western medicine reflected ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with 'modern' health care providers, but this will require reciprocal trust-building.
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African health sciences · Sep 2021
Covid-19 pandemic: chronicle of responses and experiences of the infection prevention and control committee at a tertiary hospital in southwest Nigeria.
Since the advent of 2019-Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria in February 2020, the number of confirmed cases has risen astronomically to over 61,307 cases within 8 months with more than 812 healthcare workers infected and some recorded deaths within their ranks. Infection prevention and control is a key component in ensuring safety of healthcare workers in the hospital as healthcare-associated infection is one of the most common complications of healthcare management. ⋯ The Infection Prevention and Control Committee is a recognised group by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention with their core programmes including drawing up activities, procedures and policies designed to achieve above-stated objectives before, during and after any disease outbreak, especially emerging and re-emerging ones such as the 2019 Coronavirus Disease. In this report, we highlight the roles played by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within and outside the hospital community and the lessons learned to date.
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African health sciences · Sep 2021
Comparative yield of different active TB case finding interventions in a large urban TB project in central Uganda: a descriptive study.
Systematic screening for TB among patients presenting to care and among high risk populations is recommended to improve TB case finding. We aimed to describe the comparative yield of three TB screening approaches implemented by a large urban TB project in central Uganda. ⋯ Targeted community TB screening interventions improve access to TB diagnosis for men and children 0-14 years.
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African health sciences · Sep 2021
Factors associated with delayed uptake of cataract surgery among adult patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness globally. Many patients with cataract in developing countries delay to come for cataract surgery. ⋯ Financial constraints, no felt need for cataract surgery and having good unilateral vision are the factors associated with delayed uptake of cataract surgery among cataract patients. We recommend cataract surgical outreach to remote areas and health education.