African health sciences
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Factors impacting sustainability of community health worker programming in rural Uganda: a qualitative study.
Despite significant global progress towards decreased child mortality in past decades, maternal and child mortality continues to be high, especially in sub Saharan Africa. Most of these deaths are preventable with known interventions. Community health workers (CHWs) are well-positioned to promote these life-saving interventions; however, sustaining CHW programs remains a challenge. ⋯ To sustain CHW programs in rural Uganda and globally, planners, policymakers and funders should maximize community engagement in establishing CHW networks and strengthen accountability, supply chains and linkages with communities and health facilities.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Hearing loss among inmates of a juvenile correctional facility in Nigeria.
Good hearing is essential to learning and rehabilitation of adolescent and young adults in juvenile correctional facilities. Hearing screening programme is not commonly in place for this incarcerated group. ⋯ Hearing loss is prevalent among inmates of juvenile correctional facility. Rehabilitation programme should be balanced with detail attention to health needs of inmates; including pre-admission and periodic hearing screening.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Use of exchange blood transfusion in the management of severe COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: experience from Lagos, Nigeria.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents with symptoms that may be mild or severe. The individual with the severe form of the disease usually presents with a constellation of respiratory symptoms typical of acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this report, we present our experience of the successful management of an oxygen-dependent pregnant woman with severe COVID-19 infection who had 2 sessions of partial exchange blood transfusion. We discussed the principles that informed this intervention and the need to adopt this novel approach in the care of severe COVID-19 infection.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Perceived barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral therapy adherence among youth aged 15-24 years at a regional HIV clinic in SouthWestern Uganda: a qualitative study.
South-Western region has the second highest HIV prevalence in Uganda. Youth aged 15-24 have shown poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy compared to the older cohorts. Previous studies from other regions have shown various barriers and facilitators. Our study was designed to describe specific barriers and facilitators to treatment adherence among youths in a large regional HIV clinic in southwestern Uganda. ⋯ Youths aged 15-24 have challenges with ART associated treatment burden and fear to disclose their HIV status because of the resultant stigma from their communities. Many have however accepted the fact that HIV medications are lifesaving and are strongly motivated to adhere to their medications despite the circumstances.
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African health sciences · Jun 2022
Socio-economic status as predictors of malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A retrospective study.
Understanding the socioeconomic status that influences malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is vital in creating policies and strategies to combat malaria transmission, improve socioeconomic conditions and strengthen the malaria elimination campaign. ⋯ Low socioeconomic status potentially sustains malaria transmission and burden. As an implication, poverty alleviation and malaria intervention resources should be incorporated side by side into the socioeconomic framework to attain zero malaria transmission.