African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Mar 2023
Effects of prenatal antibiotic treatment on early infant health: a retrospective study in a rural health facility in Ghana.
Infant mortality remains a major developmental challenge in many low-income countries. Epidemiological evidence suggests that infant acquisition of maternal microbiome is essential for programming of immunity and metabolism. As such, irrational maternal antibiotic use may affect infant health. ⋯ Intrapartum antibiotic treatment is associated with poor early infant health. Rationalizing antibiotic use during pregnancy may contribute to reducing infant mortality.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2023
Atherogenic index of plasma and its cardiovascular risk factor correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes in Uganda.
Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) is a reliable predictor of coronary artery disease. There is paucity of data on AIP and its correlates among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Uganda. ⋯ AIP is significantly elevated and correlated with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with T2D. In clinical management, this may be a useful tool in risk stratifying patients with T2D.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2023
Health managers and community representatives' views of a system-wide intervention to strengthen public healthcare in the Free State, South Africa.
A system-wide health system strengthening (HSS) initiative, the Health Systems Governance and Accountability (HSGA) intervention, was developed, translated to policy, and implemented in the Free State province. This study assessed health managers (HMs) and community representatives' (CRs) views of the intervention and whether it improved integration and performance. ⋯ From the perspectives of HMs and CRs, the implementation of the intervention was viewed as a step forward in strengthening public healthcare to respond to system deficiencies in the Free State province. Earlier engagement of especially operational-level HMs during reforms may be beneficial in successfully implementing HSS interventions.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2023
Hypertension in people living with HIV on combined antiretroviral therapy in rural Tanzania.
Exposure to anti-retroviral therapy in HIV infection has been associated with hypertension, but whether and to what extent HIV-related factors and anti-retroviral treatment contribute to hypertension is not well defined; in addition, data are particularly scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aim of the study was to investigate prevalence and awareness of hypertension in a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) on anti-retroviral therapy in rural Tanzania, and to identify possible predictors of hypertension. A cross-sectional study on hypertension in PLWHIV was conducted at Tosamaganga District Hospital, Iringa Region, Tanzania. ⋯ Older age, higher BMI and lower baseline T-CD4 count were predictors of hypertension at multivariate analysis. The results of the study suggest that hypertension screening should become part of ordinary care of PLWHIV in Tanzania, particularly in subjects with more severe immunosuppression. Leveraging already existing HIV services could be an option to prevent the burden of non-AIDS complication and related deaths.
-
African health sciences · Mar 2023
Neonatal pain perception, management and review of practises among medical workers in Nigeria newborn units.
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. The perception of pain is variable and knowledge may not match practise. ⋯ Perception of pain was high but did not match knowledge and practice of NPM. Formal education on NPM was lacking in the training of HCW.