Heliyon
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The Rwandan Ministry of Health recently (in February 2017) recommended the use of HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an additional strategy for hard-to-reach populations such as men. However, the level of awareness and acceptability of this testing strategy among this population in Rwanda is not known. The main objective of this study is to assess the level of awareness and acceptability of HIVST among male clinic attendees in Kigali, Rwanda. ⋯ The findings reveal low awareness and high acceptability of HIVST among men in Rwanda. Our findings accentuate the need to promote awareness of HIVST as an important intervention for improving the uptake of HIV testing among men, a traditionally hard-to-reach population in Rwanda.
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Burns are the fourth most common type of trauma worldwide and a major cause of mortality and disability in developing countries. Although burns are common in Kenya, the mortality and morbidity patterns are yet to be well studied and documented comprehensively. ⋯ In our study, death was likely to occur in one in ten patients admitted with burns and TBSA was a predictor of presence of burn complications and length of hospital stay. There is a need for continued health education of the public on fire safety within the home environment for children and other vulnerable persons. Timely hospital intervention would also reduce burn complications as well as length of hospital stay.
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Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes and ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are commonly placed in neurologically impaired patients. There is concern about safety of VPS coexisting with PEG tubes due to the potential for an increased risk of infection. In this study, we assess the risk of VPS infection and the amount of time between both procedures. ⋯ Our VPS infection rate remained low even when they were performed during the same hospitalization as a PEG tube placement. SIRS is not associated with the development of VPS infections and is not an absolute contraindication to placing a VPS.