Clinicopathological Findings of Retinoblastoma: A 10-Year Experience from a Tertiary Hospital in Kampala, Uganda

Background. Retinoblastoma (RB) is one of the most common cancers occurring in young children in sub-Saharan Africa. The incidence rate reported in the literature is 9,000 new cases per year, which corresponds to 1 in 15,000 births. This study aimed at analyzing the clinicopathological findings in children with RB in Uganda. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the clinicopathological findings in the patients with RB. Design. This was a cross-sectional analytical study involving 234 eyeball surgical specimens from 214 patients with RB diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2015. Results. The mean age of the patients was 27.8 months (SD = 21.413, range: 1–132 months). More than half of the cases, 50.9%, presented with leucokoria. Invasion of choroid, sclera, anterior chamber, and optic nerve was found in 26.5% (n = 58), 51.2% (n = 88), 26.2% (n = 45), and 29.2% (n = 49), respectively. Twenty-six percent (n = 56) of the cases with intraocular tumour were at stage I and all patients with metastasis 4.7% (n = 11) had stage IV. The correlation between postlaminar optic nerve invasion and massive choroidal invasion was statistically significant (P=0.002). Also, there was a statistical significance difference between metastasis and postlaminar invasion (P=0.004). Conclusion. The majority of children with RB in Uganda present clinically with leucokoria, and their parents or guardians seek medical intervention at a later stage. Moreover, there was a noticeably significant lag period for the patients to begin treatment after the diagnosis was done.

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Mastalgia: Prevalence at a Sub-Saharan African Tertiary Hospital

Pain Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2014/972726 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

T. Makumbi ◽

M. Galukande ◽

A. Gakwaya

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Western World ◽

African Countries ◽

Breast Clinic ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ethical Approval ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Cyclical Mastalgia

Introduction. Mastalgia is a common breast condition among women referred to breast clinics worldwide. Whereas the prevalence is known in the Western world and Asia, the prevalence of the disease is unknown in many African countries. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the prevalence and describe factors associated with mastalgia among women attending a tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. A cross-sectional study was done in Kampala, Uganda. Mastalgia was defined as self-reported breast pain (unilateral or bilateral) for a period not less than two months. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 11. Ethical approval was obtained. Results. Out of the 1048 women who presented to the breast clinic during the study period, 168 (16%) were diagnosed with mastalgia in the absence of breast cancer. Noncyclical and cyclical mastalgia were 22/168 (13%) and 5/168 (3%), respectively. The onset of noncyclical category as compared to the cyclical type of mastalgia was observed to manifest before 24 years of age (P=0.006). Conclusion. Mastalgia was a common condition among women in this sub-Saharan African setting as is elsewhere. The early onset mastalgia in this sub-Saharan African study requires further exploration for determination of its risk factors.

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Does sub-Saharan Africa truly defy the forecasts of the COVID-19 pandemic? Response from population data

10.1101/2020.07.06.20147124 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dongmo Christophe Fokoua-Maxime ◽

Monique Amor-Ndjabo ◽

Amandus Ankobil ◽

Momah Victor-Kiyung ◽

Steve Franck-Metomb ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statistical Tests ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

P Value ◽

London School ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Population Proportion ◽

Percentage Difference ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractIntroductionSince its identification, the COVID-19 infection has caused substantial mortality and morbidity worldwide, but sub-Saharan Africa seems to defy the predictions. We aimed to verify this hypothesis using strong statistical methods.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the projected and actual numbers as well as population proportions of COVID-19 cases in the 46 sub-Saharan African countries on May 1st, May 29th (4 weeks later) and June 26th (8 weeks later). The source of the projected number of cases was a publication by scientists from the Center for Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, whereas the actual number of cases was obtained from the WHO situation reports. We calculated the percentage difference between the projected and actual numbers of cases per country. Further, “N-1” chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the projected and actual population proportion of COVID-19 cases, along with the 95% confidence interval of the difference between these population proportions. All statistical tests were 2-sided, with 0.05 used as threshold for statistical significance.ResultsOn May 1st, May 29th and June 26th, respectively 40 (86.95%), 45 (97.82%) and 41 (89.13%) of the sub-Saharan African countries reported a number of confirmed cases that was lower than the predicted number of 1000 cases for May 1st and 10000 for both May 29th and June 26th. At these dates, the population proportions of confirmed Covid-19 cases were significantly lower (p-value <0.05) than the projected proportions of cases. Across all these dates, South-Africa always exceeded the predicted number and population proportion of COVID-19 infections.ConclusionSub-Saharan African countries did defy the dire predictions of the COVID-19 burden. Preventive measures should be further enforced to preserve this positive outcome.

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Caregiving Burden among Informal Caregivers of Cancer Patients in Lagos, Nigeria

10.21203/rs.3.rs-769222/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Adedoyin Ogunyemi ◽

Adizat K Umoru ◽

Adewumi O Alabi ◽

Bolanle C Adegboyega ◽

Ejiro Otokpa

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Support Groups ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Caregiving Burden ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Purpose: The coping mechanisms adopted by cancer caregivers especially in developing countries of the world is given little attention. The aim of this study was to assess the caregiving burden and coping mechanisms among caregivers of cancer patients attending a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) tool, Katz index instrument of activity, Lawton Brody tool and Brief-Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale were used to collect data from 385 informal caregiver-patient dyads. The data was analyzed using the Epi Info version 7.Results: Of the 385 caregivers in the study, 162 (42.1%) were males and 223 (57.9%) were females. Almost half (47.3%) of the caregivers had severe burden and the mean ZBI score was 39.1 ± 12.5. Adult children caregivers (56.3%) of cancer patients reported the highest proportion of severe burden among the patients’ relatives. All the respondents who had been caregivers for over a period of 12 months and those who spend at least 12 hours on caregiving role daily experienced severe burden. Almost half (46.3%) of caregivers who received no support from other people in caring for the patient reported severe burden.Conclusion: Older caregivers experienced higher caregiving burden than their younger counterparts. Duration of caregiving was associated with level of caregiving burden experienced. Social support groups and health professional need to assist caregivers reduce the burden of caregiving to chronically ill patients in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Human Papillomavirus Detection in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas at a Tertiary Hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2019/2561530 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Evans Aboagye ◽

Francis Agyemang-Yeboah ◽

Babatunde Moses Duduyemi ◽

Christian Obirikorang

Keyword(s):

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Oral Cavity ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Squamous Cell ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hpv 16 ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Oral Cavity Cancers

Fewer studies have been done over the years to establish the association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSSC) within the subregions of sub-Saharan Africa, and thus this study was designed to investigate the presence of HPV in HNSCC at a tertiary hospital in Ghana, providing additional evidence on the need to explore similar studies in other subregions. A retrospective cross-sectional study was employed to investigate the presence of the DNA of HPV genotypes in HNSCC archived tissue. A total of 100 HNSCC cases were classified as suitable for HPV genotyping. HPV-DNA was detected in 18% of the HNSCC cases, with 17 being HPV-16 and 1 dual infection with HPV-16 and HPV-18. HPV was prevalent in 50% of oropharyngeal cancers, 27% of laryngeal cancers, and 23% of oral cavity cancers. HPV E6/E7 oncogenic DNA was found in 18% of the HNSCC cases, with HPV-16 being the predominant genotype present. The pattern of HPV association was similar to earlier reported studies, recording a higher prevalence in oropharyngeal cancers, followed by laryngeal cancers and oral cavity cancers.

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Use and pattern of previous care received by infertile Nigerian women

Fertility Research and Practice ◽

10.1186/s40738-019-0068-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Amina Mohammed-Durosinlorun ◽

Joel Adze ◽

Stephen Bature ◽

Amina Abubakar ◽

Caleb Mohammed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Previous Treatment ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Fertility Treatment ◽

Care Needs ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nigerian Women ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Prevalence of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa is high yet fertility care, its development and access is limited in resource-poor countries like Nigeria so infertile women resort to different forms of treatment. This study aimed to determine the use and pattern of previous treatments. Methodology This was a descriptive Cross Sectional study conducted at a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Interviewer administered pretested questionnaires were administered to 236 consenting clients seen at their first visit to the gynaecology clinic with complaints of inability to conceive, between January 2016 to March 2018. We collected information on demographic and reproductive characteristics, previous fertility treatment and other data relevant to infertility. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS software version 22. Results Two hundred and thirty six clients participated in the study and majority were 20–29 years (44.5%), with a mean age of 31.5 ± 7.4, while the mean age of their husbands was 41 ± 8.0. More clients were educated up to secondary level or above (80.9%), with more Muslims (65%) than Christians. All clients were married except one, most clients had been married for 5 years or more, 18.2% were in their second order of marriage and 28% were in polygamous marriages. Many of the clients were homemakers (46.6%) and earned an average monthly income of less than fifty thousand naira. About 59.3% of clients presented with primary infertility, with 15.7% being infertile for duration of more than 10 years. One hundred and forty six respondents (61.9%) had received previous hospital treatments before presentation to our facility, 37% had visited more than three hospitals, 70% did not have adequate investigations done, treatment was successful in 15% while 40.7% received traditional treatments. Husbands of women receiving previous treatment were slightly older (p value < 0.05). Conclusion Majority of woman have multiple and unnecessary visits to several hospitals for infertility care with little positive results despite time and resources spent. Quality of infertility care needs to be improved.

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Benign proliferative breast diseases among female patients at a sub Saharan Africa tertiary hospital: a cross sectional study

BMC Surgery ◽

10.1186/1471-2482-13-9 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Christopher Okoth ◽

Moses Galukande ◽

Josephat Jombwe ◽

Dan Wamala

Keyword(s):

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Breast Diseases ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Female Patients ◽

Sub Saharan

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A Multi-Country Analysis of Prevalence of Anxiety-Induced Sleep Disturbance and Its Associated Factors among In-School Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa Using the Global School-Based Health Survey

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9020234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 234

Author(s):

Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽

Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽

Francis Arthur-Holmes ◽

John Elvis Hagan ◽

Joshua Okyere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Health Survey ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Explanatory Variables ◽

School Based ◽

Sub Saharan

(1) Background: Among the health problems affecting adolescents, anxiety disorders are considered among the health-compromising or debilitating outcomes that affect adolescents’ mental health. We examined the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). (2) Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS). We analyzed data on 25,454 in-school adolescents from eleven (11) countries in SSA with a dataset between 2010 and 2017. Two multivariable logistic regression models were built to determine the strength of the association between anxiety-induced sleep disturbance and the explanatory variables. The results of the regression analyses were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. (3) Results: The overall prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in SSA was 12.2%. The prevalence ranged from 5.1% in Tanzania to 20.5% in Benin. The odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance was higher among adolescents aged 15 and above [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.39] compared to those aged 14 or younger. Additionally, the odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance was higher among adolescents who were bullied [aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.42, 1.67], those that felt lonely [aOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 3.52, 4.22], those who had suicidal ideations [aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.52, 1.90], those who had suicidal plan [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.41], those who have had suicidal attempt [aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.08, 1.35], those who used marijuana [aOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.52], and those who were truant at school [aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.46]. However, male adolescents had lower odds of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance [aOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81, 0.95], compared to their female counterparts. (4) Conclusions: We found a relatively high prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance among in-school adolescents in SSA. Higher age, being female, being bullied, loneliness, having suicidal ideations/plan/attempt, use of marijuana and truancy were risk factors for anxiety-induced sleep disturbance. The findings, therefore, highlight the urgency for policies (e.g., early school-based screening) and interventions (e.g., Rational Emotive Behavioral Education (REBE), Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that target in-school adolescents within the most at-risk populations of anxiety-induced sleep disturbance in SSA.

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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Suicidal ideation and associated factors among school-going adolescents in rural Ghana

Current Psychology ◽

10.1007/s12144-021-01378-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽

Samuel Kofi Odame

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Rural Adolescents ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural Ghana ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractSuicidal ideation is a critical risk for attempted suicide and eventual suicide. Little is known about suicidal ideation among rural adolescents in most sub-Saharan African countries. We aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and to describe some of the common and gender-specific associated factors among in-school adolescents in rural Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 1101 in-school adolescents aged 10–19 years in a rural district in Eastern Ghana. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised was used to assess suicidal ideation. Overall, 25.1% participants (95% CI = 22.5–27.7), representing 28.3% females (95% CI = 24.7–32.2) and 21.5% males (95% CI = 18.0–25.2) reported suicidal ideation during the previous 12 months. Females who experienced personal and interpersonal adversities mainly outside the family context were likely to report suicidal ideation, while suicidal ideation among males was associated with conflict with parents. Regardless of gender, adolescents who reported exposure to a friend’s attempted suicide were about two times more likely to report suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among adolescents in rural Ghana compares with in-school estimates from other countries within sub-Saharan Africa, but also underscores the need for targeted and universal prevention programmes and intervention efforts to mitigate the potential transition from suicidal ideations to suicidal attempts and eventual deaths by suicide among rural adolescents.

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Maternal healthcare utilsation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study of 29 nationally representative surveys

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e045992

Author(s):

Eugene Budu ◽

Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽

Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽

Ebenezer Kwesi Armah-Ansah ◽

Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Utilisation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Childhood Vaccination ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Maternal Healthcare ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sub Saharan

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the association between maternal healthcare utilisation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignOur study was a cross-sectional study that used pooled data from 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsA total of 60 964 mothers of children aged 11–23 months were included in the study.Outcome variablesThe main outcome variable was complete childhood vaccination. The explanatory variables were number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, assistance during delivery and postnatal care (PNC).ResultsThe average prevalence of complete childhood vaccination was 85.6%, ranging from 67.0% in Ethiopia to 98.5% in Namibia. Our adjusted model, children whose mothers had a maximum of three ANC visits were 56% less likely to have complete vaccination, compared with those who had at least four ANC visits (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.46). Children whose mothers were assisted by traditional birth attendant/other (aOR=0.43, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56) had lower odds of complete vaccination. The odds of complete vaccination were lower among children whose mothers did not attend PNC clinics (aOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.29) as against those whose mothers attended.ConclusionThe study found significant variations in complete childhood vaccination across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal healthcare utilisation (ANC visits, skilled birth delivery, PNC attendance) had significant association with complete childhood vaccination. These findings suggest that programmes, interventions and strategies aimed at improving vaccination should incorporate interventions that can enhance maternal healthcare utilisation. Such interventions can include education and sensitisation, reducing cost of maternal healthcare and encouraging male involvement in maternal healthcare service utilisation.

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