The Pan African medical journal
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in 2014, Tanzania introduced the combined measles-rubella vaccine in the routine immunization schedule. Two doses of measles-rubella vaccine (MR1 and MR2) are recommended at 9 and 18 months, respectively. In 2015, MR2 coverage among eligible 18-month-old children in Tanzania was only 57%, lower than the WHO-recommended coverage (95%). During the same period Mtwara District Council (MDC) reported a coverage of 52% which is lower than the nation average. We determined factors associated with non-uptake of MR2 among children in MDC Tanzania. ⋯ more than half the children under five years in MDC were not vaccinated with MR2. Lack of caretaker knowledge about appropriate vaccination age, unavailability of vaccine, having insufficient numbers of children waiting to warrant multidose vial use, and long clinic waiting times were associated with MR2 non-uptake. The community should receive education about MR vaccine; we recommend thorough screening of children?s vaccination status at each clinic visit and provision of vaccine whenever possible. Vaccine distribution should be improved in MDC.
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Regional anesthesia is a safe alternative to general anesthesia. Despite benefits for perioperative morbidity and mortality, this technique is underutilized in low-resource settings. In response to an identified need, a regional anesthesia service was established at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), Rwanda. This qualitative study investigates the factors influencing implementation of this service in a low-resource tertiary-level teaching hospital. ⋯ While the establishment of regional anesthesia in Rwanda is challenged by human and resource shortages, collaboration with local stakeholders in an academic institution is pivotal to sustainability.
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In November 2015 a measles outbreak was detected in several clustered settlements during the Northern Measles Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) campaign in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, a measles outbreak was detected. Six weeks later another outbreak with 17 cases was reported in a different settlement in the same area council in December 2015 and January 2016. An outbreak investigation was initiated to characterize the outbreak in terms of time and person and implement prevention and control measures. ⋯ There had been cases of measles from January 2015 to November 2015 prior to the reported measles outbreak. However there was an unusual increase in the number of measles cases during the measles SIAs in communities where children were missed. Vaccination of all eligible children in the affected wards was carried out. The area council authorities and primary healthcare team need to create awareness on the importance of measles vaccination and ensure that these communities are targeted and covered during subsequent SIAs.
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Pediatric traumatic injury is a major public health concern that is poorly documented in lower and middle-income countries. This study analyzed data on pediatric injuries from a unique hospital trauma registry in Abuja, Nigeria. ⋯ This analysis reveals that motor vehicle accident is a risk factor for traumatic head injury among children in Nigeria. Therefore, efforts should be made to address motor vehicle accidents involving children. These data will help to inform age-related prevention and treatment strategies. The results of this study highlight the importance of collecting pediatric trauma data in developing countries.
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In recent years, low-dose, short-acting anesthetic agents, which replaced the former high-dose opioid regimens, offer a faster postoperative recovery and decrease the need for mechanical ventilatory support. In this study, the aim was to determine the success rate of fast-track approach in surgical procedures for congenital heart disease. There is some evidence, mostly from retrospective analyses, that fast tracking can be beneficial. ⋯ In this setting a carefull choice and dosing of anesthetic agents, alongside a good postoperative analgesia are mandatory. The authors found that an early extubation (< 4 hours) can be both effective and safe as it reduces intubation and ventilator times without increasing post-operative complications in pediatric congenital heart disease. This study supports a wider use of fast-track extubation protocols in paediatric patients submitted for congenital cardiac surgery in developing countries.