African health sciences
-
African health sciences · Sep 2023
A retrospective study on side effects of first-line antiretroviral drugs on HIV patients based on 1A, 2A, and 5A regimen records at Zomba Central Hospital, Malawi.
AIDS is an incurable disease that is common in Africa. Patients with HIV/AIDS having a CD4 count of less than 240 are put on life prolonging ARV drugs. The ARVs have serious side effects on some patients which may be handled by treating them or switching patient's drug to one with no or less serious side effects. ⋯ The probability of having peripheral neuropathy (0.0042, p< 0.01), however, increases with age. Knowledge of HIV patient's socio-demographics and the patient's regimen side effects can be utilised to appropriately manage severe ARV side effects. A therapy consideration that takes into account chemicals in ARV regimen responsible for specific side effects can be directed to patients with compatible socio-demographic characteristics.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2023
Predictors of fertility awareness among selected married women of childbearing age in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey.
Increased fertility awareness can help infertile couples to achieve pregnancy. ⋯ Menstrual cycle charting and level of education were predictors of fertility awareness.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2023
Spatio-temporal modelling of under-five mortality in Lesotho using demographic and health survey data.
Lesotho is in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) region which aims to reduce the under-five mortality (U5M) to the average of 25 deaths per 1000 live births by the end of 2030 under the sustainable development goals (SDGs) initiative by the United Nations. ⋯ The study recommends that mothers of under-five children be educated about breastfeeding and encouraged to use contraception in order to postpone birth and reduce parity. Rural development should be prioritized through improved primary health care; and public health services should be made more accessible to rural residents.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2023
Risk factors analysis of endoscopy and TIPS in the treatment of secondary esophagogastric varicose bleeding with cirrhosis.
To analyse the risk factors of secondary hemorrhage and survival rate in cirrhotic patients with esophagogastric variceal rupture and to compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic hemostasis and TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt). ⋯ Severe varicose veins, infection, ascites, portal vein thrombosis or cancer thrombus, child pugh classification, albumin, and prothrombin activity were the major risk factors for failed secondary endoscopic therapy, child Pugh classification, albumin and prothrombin activity were the main risk factors for failure TIPS treatment. There is no significant difference in long-term survival between the two methods.
-
African health sciences · Sep 2023
Relationship of body mass index to percent body fat determined by deuterium isotopic dilution and impedancemetry among Tunisian schoolchildren.
This study aims to evaluate the relation of body mass index (BMI) to fat mass among children by two techniques impedancemetry and deuterium oxide dilution (D2O). ⋯ This study has demonstrated that the percentage of overweight and obesity varied according the methods used. Further development of body composition methods is needed in children for the real determination of the obesity prevalence and therefore a better monitoring of this public health problem.