East African journal of public health
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East Afr J Public Health · Jun 2011
Reported human traffickers' profiles: a key step in the prevention of trafficking in persons through HIV and AIDS interventions in Tanzania.
a gap in comprehensive knowledge of trafficking in persons and the traffickers exists globally and in Tanzania in particular. Consequently, information on the profiles of human traffickers in the country is tremendously scanty. ⋯ active traffickers at many stages of this crime rarely come into contact with the law enforcement system; fled or rescued victims may not be willing or unable to testify against their traffickers and coercing victims to do so could further traumatize them. Further research in needed to generate knowledge on human traffickers' profiles to inform trafficking in persons control programs through HIV and AIDS interventions in Tanzania.
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East Afr J Public Health · Mar 2011
Availability and affordability of anticancer medicines at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
To ensure effective control of cancer, patients undergoing chemotherapy should get continuous supply of anticancer medicines. In Tanzania and other East African countries little is documented regarding the availability and affordability of anticancer medicines at the patient level. The number of anticancer medicines prescribed to the cancer patients and its cost implication is also not known. ⋯ Availability of anticancer medicines at ORCI in Dar es Salaam is not adequate. As a result, some patients are required to buy anticancer medicines from private pharmacies. In these private pharmacies anticancer medicines are too costly and most patients are not covered by health insurance to purchase their medicines. Efforts should be made to increase budgetary allocation to ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of anticancer medicines to cancer patients at ORCI.
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East Afr J Public Health · Jun 2010
Clinical audit of knowledge and practice of epidural labour analgesia amongst obstetricians in south-west Nigeria.
Epidural analgesia (EA) is the most ideal method for pain relief during labour. We sought to highlight the current knowledge and practice of the obstetricians regarding epidural labour analgesia (ELA). ⋯ Though 37.8% and 53.3% of respondents are of the opinion that there is interference with labour and increased incidence of instrumentation following epidural analgesia in labour respectively, however 84.4% agreed that the technique is not associated with adverse neonatal or maternal outcome and 97.8% will prefer their patients having epidural labour analgesia. We are of the opinion that education regarding ELA, both during and after obstetric speciality training, be improved, and well-established interpersonal relationship between obstetricians and anaesthetists will be needed to achieve this.
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East Afr J Public Health · Jun 2010
Evaluating the opinions of staff and health care service provision of an STD/HIV clinic in Africa: indications for recovery.
Zimbabwe has an incidence of STD/HIV infection and measures are needed to explore the efficiency of clinics in providing adequate patient care. To explore the views or opinions of the currently employed staff of an STD/HIV clinic, and suggest a means for improvement thereof. ⋯ Operational research needs to be conducted. There is little or no direct communication between committee members and decision makers with the staff and power-distance relationships are great.
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East Afr J Public Health · Mar 2010
ReviewLessons learned during active epidemiological surveillance of Ebola and Marburg viral hemorrhagic fever epidemics in Africa.
To review epidemiological surveillance approaches used during Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever epidemics in Africa in the past fifteen years. Overall, 26 hemorrhagic epidemic outbreaks have been registered in 12 countries; 18 caused by the Ebola virus and eight by the Marburg virus. About 2551 cases have been reported, among which 268 were health workers (9,3%). ⋯ Collaboration with those in charge of the conservation of wildlife is essential for the early detection of viral hemorrhagic fever epidemics. Hemorrhagic fever epidemics caused by Ebola and Marburg viruses are occurring more and more frequently in Sub-Saharan Africa and only an adapted epidemiological surveillance system will allow for early detection and effective response.