African health sciences
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialPreliminary efficacy, feasibility and safety of intra-umbilical oxytocin to reduce the time to placental delivery at caesarean section: an exploratory randomized trial.
Delayed placental separation either after vaginal birth or caesarean birth is an important cause of postpartum haemorrhage, among other causes such as uterine atony. Intra-umbilical oxytocin has been shown to reduce the time to placental delivery after vaginal birth. However, the efficacy of intra-umbilical oxytocin to reduce the time to placental delivery following caesarean section birth is not known. ⋯ Administration of intra-umbilical oxytocin is feasible, safe and has potential to reduce the time of placental delivery at caesarean section. Further studies involving larger sample sizes are justified.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Factors associated with poor asthma symptom control in adult Angolan regularly seen at an outpatient respiratory clinic.
Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases and one of the most frequent causes of hospital care. ⋯ A significant number of adults living in Luanda have uncontrolled asthma due to the under-use of inhaled corticosteroid therapy. It is necessary to develop strategic management and prevention plans to improve Angolan asthmatics' medical care.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
The occurrence of fungi from burn wound patients and antifungal susceptibility patterns: a cross-sectional study in Lusaka, Zambia.
Fungal opportunistic infections in burn wound patients are among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Attention remains focused on preventing bacterial infection at the expense of increasing fungal infection in burn wound patients. ⋯ The isolation of Candida albicans and Candida spp from burn wound patients and the hospital ward environment suggests presence of fungi in burn wound patients and hospital ward environments. Candida isolated showed varying susceptibility patterns to fluconazole.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
The practice of using repurposed medications as chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19 by healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that has been reported in virtually every country. Healthcare workers (HCW) are more at risk of COVID-19 than the general population making them a priority group for vaccination. Before the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, some HCW were using some repurposed, unapproved drugs to possibly prevent the disease. This study evaluated the frequency and pattern of drug use for COVID-19 prevention. ⋯ Several HCW in Nigeria take drugs to possibly prevent COVID-19. These medications may not offer significant protection against COVID-19. There is an urgent need to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in HCW in Nigeria.
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African health sciences · Sep 2023
Health-related quality of life associated with different cervical cancer therapies received by patients in two Nigerian tertiary hospitals.
There are important consequences from cervical cancer (CC) disease and its treatment among survivors, especially the impact on quality of life (QoL). ⋯ Chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with highest increase in mean overall health-related QoL. Chemotherapy was associated with the least increase in mean overall health-related QoL.