Medical journal of Zambia
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Medical journal of Zambia · Oct 1977
Intensive care unit in the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka. A retrospective study for the year 1975.
A retrospective study was made of cases admitted to intensive care unit at U. T. ⋯ Head injury alone or in combination with other injuries was the commonest cause of admission and death. This study is hoped to help those who will work in the new intensive care unit and also to help those hoping to open similar units in Zambia.
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Eighty maternal deaths occurring at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Lusaka, from 1974-1976 have been reviewed. The maternal mortality rate was 1.5 per 1000 births. The commonest causes of death were pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (23), septicaemia (14), haemorrhage (13) and ruptured uterus (11). ⋯ Thirty two per cent had no antenatal care. The mortality rate may be reduced by increased awareness of high risk patients by medical staff in the central hospital. Improvements in community maternal health services and better transport and communications are essential.
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Medical journal of Zambia · Oct 1975
Comparative StudyEffect of oral therapy for treatment and prophylaxis of anaemia of pregnancy in an urban Zambian population.
The effect of iron and folic acid tablets supplied antenatally was studied in 77 urban Zambian patients with haemoglobin levels of 70% (10.2 grams) or over at first visit. No significant difference was found between treated and untreated groups. A haemoglobin level of 80% (10.2 grams) or over at first visit was found to be no guide to the likelihood of anaemia at term. The practice of providing treatment for these patients on the basis of the haemoglobin level at first visit is of doubtful value.