African health sciences
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African health sciences · Dec 2022
Factors associated with adverse obstetric events following induction of labour: a retrospective study in a tertiary hospital in Ghana.
Induction of labour (IOL) remains an indispensable intervention in obstetric practice; however, it may be associated with significant untoward perinatal outcomes. This study determined the major adverse outcomes of IOL and the associated factors at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. ⋯ Induction of labour may result in significant perinatal complications which are related to both maternal (nulliparity and hypertension) and fetal (gestational age and birth weight) factors. Strict selection criteria and continuous fetal-maternal monitoring are strongly recommended to improve the birth outcomes of IOL.
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African health sciences · Dec 2022
Short-term forecasting of confirmed daily COVID-19 cases in the Southern African Development Community region.
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in complex challenges worldwide, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has not been spared. The region has become the epicentre for coronavirus in the African continent. Combining forecasting techniques can help capture other attributes of the series, thus providing crucial information to address the problem. ⋯ The findings present an insightful approach in monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in the SADC region. The spread of COVID-19 can best be predicted using combined forecasts models, particularly the MCQRNN approach.
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African health sciences · Dec 2022
Therapeutic pluralism and the politics of disclosure: breast cancer patients' experiences in public healthcare.
Despite the widespread utilisation of complementary and or alternative medicine (CAM) by breast cancer patients in low-and-middle-income countries, few disclose CAM use to their physicians. ⋯ Considering the reality of an overstretched public healthcare system, what may be possible is an active attempt to communicate to patients that doctors are aware that patients may use a range of resources (such as CAM), which is their right, and further, recommend patient disclosure of CAM use to their doctors, because of the possibility of drug interactions and other potentially negative effects.