African health sciences
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African health sciences · Mar 2024
A retrospective study of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq.
CCHF is transmitted via ticks biting and directly by contact with tissue or blood of infected patients or viremic animals. This study intends to determine the occurrence of CCHF in Iraq between 2015 and 2019. ⋯ Strict precautions and precise surveillance should be implemented to control the disease and protect the community by improving the diagnosis and treatment of CCHF. The authors recommend another future study to detect the genotyping and sequencing of CCHFV in Iraq.
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African health sciences · Mar 2024
Clinicopathological study of otomycosis in a tertiary hospital in South-west Nigeria.
Otomycosis is common in environments with hot, humid weather, and it may be challenging to manage. ⋯ Otomycosis commonly present with itchy ears, the pathogenic fungi commonly being Aspergillus species. The factors associated with positive fungal culture were age, non-usage of ototopic agents and presence of co-morbidity. Treatment modality used was local debridement and topical antifungal agents, which produced favourable response in most patients.
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African health sciences · Mar 2024
Prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among livestock merchants and slaughterhouse workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Most studies on viral infections among livestock handlers have focused on occupational exposure from inadvertent contact with infected animals. Consequently, little emphasis is given to the effect of their lifestyle on the acquisition of other blood-borne viruses. ⋯ A high Infection with HIV, HBV and HCV is common among the study participants. There is a need for continued surveillance and awareness creation on preventive measures against these viruses.
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African health sciences · Mar 2024
Exploring patient referral practices of traditional healthcare practitioners in Soshanguve, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
It may be necessary for healthcare professionals to refer patients to other professionals and institutions that are able to provide the care needed by patients, depending on the severity each case presents, healthcare requirements, and resources available to offer care. In healthcare generally, patient referral is standard procedure; however, in South Africa, referral patterns between allopathic and traditional healthcare practitioners are unknown, and this is a problem yet to be addressed. ⋯ Patient referral being an important part of healthcare practices should be promoted and regulation and traditional health practices improved to promote safe referral practices and curb unsafe self-referrals by patients.
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African health sciences · Mar 2024
Elderly people's perceptions on the use of mobile phones to support the self-management of long-term illnesses at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital.
The global estimate of the aging population is progressively increasing in low and middle-income countries and this is accompanied by the limitations associated with the need for equitable and efficient healthcare delivery among this dire population. Unfortunately, despite the increasing numbers, the adoption of mobile phones is not balanced in the different populations with research showing young persons' adoption rate is higher than that of elderly persons. ⋯ This study provides empirical evidence that there is hardly a known mobile phone adoption model to enable policymakers, systems developers, and health workers to promote the elderly population's use of mobile phones to manage their long-term illnesses in Uganda.