East African medical journal
-
This study examined the pattern of psychiatric consultation-liaison service in a West African general hospital setting over a period of five years. Cases seen were recorded in a register and later analysed. The rate of referral was found to be lower than those of Britain and USA. ⋯ The commonest psychiatric syndromes encountered were acute brain syndrome, brief reactive psychosis, depressive disorder and dementia. A negative attitude towards patients with psychiatric co-morbidity was identified. Areas of improving consultation-liaison psychiatric services in West Africa are suggested.
-
This study investigated the profile of breast cancer patients in Tanzania during 1974-87 period. The results were compared with those of African patients in countries south of the Sahara. The maximum number of patients with breast cancer were seen in the sexually active age groups. ⋯ Mastectomy continues to be the treatment of choice for breast cancer in the sub Saharan countries despite the fact that this procedure is resented. Also that the Halstedian principle which governed the treatment of the disease for a century now has been disputed regarding its usefulness. The biological basis for adopting conservative surgery for breast cancer, the need for early detection and the oncogenesis of the disease are discussed.