Prevalence and determinants of depression among patients under the care of traditional health practitioners in a Kenyan setting: Policy implications

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine W. Musyimi ◽  
Victoria N. Mutiso ◽  
Abednego M. Musau ◽  
Lydia K. Matoke ◽  
David M. Ndetei
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
World Health ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Health Practitioner ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Prevalence Of Depression ◽  
Health Organization

In Kenya, there is paucity of information on depression among traditional health practitioner (THP) patients, particularly in rural areas. The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence and identify determinants of major depressive disorder (MDD) among patients of THP in rural Kenya using the World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guideline (mhGAP-IG). All adult patients seeking care from trained THPs (either traditional healers such as diviners and herbalists or faith healers, who use treatments such as prayers, laying hands on patients, or providing holy water and ash to their patients) over a period of 3 months (September 2014 to November 2014) were screened for depression using mhGAP-IG and their sociodemographic characteristics recorded. Overall, the prevalence of depression among THP patients was 22.9%. Being older, female, single, divorced or separated, as well as unemployment and lack of education were found to be significant determinants of depression. Patients with MDD frequently presented with suicidal behavior (32.9%, OR = 5.94, p < .0001) compared to those that had at least one psychotic symptom (26.3%, OR = 3.65, p < .0001). A measure of the accuracy of THPs’ assessment of MDD showed 86% specificity and 46% sensitivity and the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was 0.686. Our findings shed light on the prevalence of depression among THP patients and thus highlight the need for further research on diagnostic tools for use among THPs in order to avoid substandard care and promote reliance on more evidence-based methods of care.

scholarly journals Collaboration between traditional healers and psychiatrists in Sudan

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Sorketti ◽  
N. Z. Zuraida ◽  
M. H. Habil
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The importance of traditional healing in low- and middle-income countries cannot be under estimated. It is generally perceived as part of the prevailing belief system and traditional healers are often seen as the primary agents for psychosocial problems in these countries; estimates of their service share range from 45% to 60% (World Health Organization, 1992). The World Health Organization (2000) estimated that 80% of people living in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries depend on traditional medicine for their health needs.

scholarly journals WHO guidelines challenged in Botswana: traditional medicine between healing, politics and witchcraft

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Klaus Geiselhart
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Public Health System ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Christian Morality ◽  
Traditional Health Care ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Right ◽  
Political Ecology Of Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports integrating traditional health care into national health systems. The reasons why this is not happening in Botswana are manifold, complex and not always rational. Traditional healers demand the right to practice their techniques and organize themselves with an emancipatory political claim, but they are unsuccessful. Based on a political ecology of health perspective combined with assemblage thinking, this article explores discourses and historical lines of development in order to show how Christian morality, the dualism between tradition and modernity and the introduction of a modern public health system are intertwined with belief in witchcraft that clandestinely hampers development.

Recent developments and opportunities in fighting COVID-19

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Rao ◽  
Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules ◽  
Discharged Patients ◽  
Extensive Literature Search ◽  
Repurposed Drugs ◽  
Health Organization

Background: COVID-19, a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) was first diagnosed in the patients from Wuhan, China in December 2019. Within couple of months of infection, it was declared as pandemic by World health organization. COVID-19 has become the most contagious infection with a serious threat to global health. In this review, we aimed to discuss the pathogenesis, diagnostics, current treatments and potential vaccines for COVID-19. Methods: An extensive literature search was conducted using keywords “COVID-19”; “Coronavirus”; “SARS-Cov-2”; “SARS” in public domains of Google, Google scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Selected articles were used to construct this review. Results: SARS-Cov-2 uses the Spike (S) protein on its surface to recognize the receptor on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and bind with 10-folds greater affinity than SARS-Cov-1. Molecular assays and immunoassays are the most frequently used tests whereas computed tomography (CT) scans, Artificial intelligence enabled diagnostic tools were also used in patients. In therapeutic treatment, few drugs were repurposed and there are 23 therapeutic molecules including the repurposed drugs are in different stages of clinical trial. Similarly, development of vaccines is also in the pipeline. Few countries have managed well to contain the spread by rapid testing and identifying the clusters. Conclusion: Till now, the acute complications and mortality of COVID-19 has been linked to the pre-existing comorbid conditions or age. Besides the development of therapeutic strategies that includes drugs and vaccine, the long term implication of COVID-19 infection in terms of the disorder/disability in the cured/discharged patients is a new area to investigate.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Patterns in India Stratified by Zones, Age, Region, BMI and Implications for COVID-19: A Nationwide Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 097275312199850
Author(s):  
Vivek Podder ◽  
Raghuram Nagarathna ◽  
Akshay Anand ◽  
Patil S. Suchitra ◽  
Amit Kumar Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
World Health ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Home Work ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Physically Inactive ◽  
At Home

Rationale: India has a high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which can be lowered by regular physical activity. To understand this association, recent population data is required which is representative of all the states and union territories of the country. Objective: We aimed to investigate the patterns of physical activity in India, stratified by zones, body mass index (BMI), urban, rural areas, and gender. Method: We present the analysis of physical activity status from the data collected during the phase 1 of a pan-India study. This ( Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017) was a multicenter pan-India cluster sampled trial with dual objectives. A survey to identify all individuals at a high risk for diabetes, using a validated instrument called the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), was followed by a two-armed randomized yoga-based lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of diabetes. The physical activity was scored as per IDRS (vigorous exercise or strenuous at work = 0, moderate exercise at home/work = 10, mild exercise at home/work = 20, no exercise = 30). This was done in a selected cluster using a mobile application. A weighted prevalence was calculated based on the nonresponse rate and design weight. Results: We analyzed the data from 2,33,805 individuals; the mean age was 41.4 years (SD 13.4). Of these, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males; 45.8% were from rural areas and 54% from urban areas. The BMI was 24.7 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 . Briefly, 20% were physically inactive and 57% of the people were either inactive or mildly active. 21.2% of females were found physically inactive, whereas 19.2% of males were inactive. Individuals living in urban localities were proportionately more inactive (21.7% vs. 18.8%) or mildly active (38.9% vs. 34.8%) than the rural people. Individuals from the central (29.6%) and south zones (28.6%) of the country were also relatively inactive, in contrast to those from the northwest zone (14.2%). The known diabetics were found to be physically inactive (28.3% vs. 19.8%) when compared with those unaware of their diabetic status. Conclusion: 20% and 37% of the population in India are not active or mildly active, respectively, and thus 57% of the surveyed population do not meet the physical activity regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. This puts a large Indian population at risk of developing various NCDs, which are being increasingly reported to be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. India needs to adopt the four strategic objectives recommended by the World Health Organization for reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity.

scholarly journals Morphological Characteristics, Classifications and Difficulties in the Use of Diagnostic Criteria for Serrated Lesions of the Large Intestine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar de Souza Bastos Junior ◽  
Vera Lucia Nunes Pannain ◽  
Adriana Caroli-Bottino
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
World Health ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Serrated Adenoma ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
Serrated Lesions ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Introduction Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal neoplasm in the world, accounting for 15% of cancer-related deaths. This condition is related to different molecular pathways, among them the recently described serrated pathway, whose characteristic entities, serrated lesions, have undergone important changes in their names and diagnostic criteria in the past thirty years. The multiplicity of denominations and criteria over the last years may be responsible for the low interobserver concordance (IOC) described in the literature. Objectives The present study aims to describe the evolution in classification of serrated lesions, based on the last three publications of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the reproducibility of these criteria by pathologists, based on the evaluation of the IOC. Methods A search was conducted in the PubMed, ResearchGate and Portal Capes databases, with the following terms: sessile serrated lesion; serrated lesions; serrated adenoma; interobserver concordance; and reproducibility. Articles published since 1990 were researched. Results and Discussion The classification of serrated lesions in the past thirty years showed different denominations and diagnostic criteria. The reproducibility and IOC of these criteria in the literature, based on the kappa coefficient, varied in most studies, from very poor to moderate. Conclusions Interobserver concordance and the reproducibility of microscopic criteria may represent a limitation for the diagnosis and appropriate management of these lesions. It is necessary to investigate diagnostic tools to improve the performance of the pathologist's evaluation, for better concordance, and, consequently, adequate diagnosis and treatment.

scholarly journals Assessment of Antimalarial Activity againstPlasmodium falciparumand Phytochemical Screening of Some Yemeni Medicinal Plants

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Alshawsh ◽  
Ramzi A. Mothana ◽  
Hassan A. Al-shamahy ◽  
Salah F. Alsllami ◽  
Ulrike Lindequist
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Antimalarial Activity ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Antiplasmodial Activity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Moderate Activity ◽  
Phytochemical Screening ◽  
Cissus Rotundifolia ◽  
Health Organization

Developing countries, where malaria is one of the most prevalent diseases, still rely on traditional medicine as a source for the treatment of this disease. In the present study, six selected plants (Acalypha fruticosa,Azadirachta indica,Cissus rotundifolia,Echium rauwalfii,Dendrosicyos socotranaandBoswellia elongata) commonly used in Yemen by traditional healers for the treatment of malaria as well as other diseases, were collected from different localities of Yemen, dried and extracted with methanol and water successfully. The antiplasmodial activity of the extracts was evaluated against fresh clinical isolates ofPlasmodium falciparum. The selectivity parameters to evaluate the efficacy of these medicinal plants were measured byin vitromicro test (Mark III) according to World Health Organization (WHO) 1996 & WHO 2001 protocols of antimalarial drug tests. Among the investigated 12 extracts, three were found to have significant antiplasmodial activity with IC50values less than 4 µg/ml, namely the water extracts ofA. fruticosa,A. indicaandD. socotrana. Six extracts showed moderate activity with IC50values ranging from 10 to 30 µg/ml and three appeared to be inactive with IC50values more than 30 µg/ml. In addition, preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extracts indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides and peptides.

scholarly journals Iodization of table salt and attitudes and habits in relation to the use of salt in general population

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-229
Author(s):  
Gorica Sbutega-Milosevic ◽  
Zorica Djordjevic ◽  
Zoran Marmut ◽  
Boban Mugosa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
World Population ◽  
Table Salt ◽  
Salt Iodization ◽  
The World ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction. Combating nutritional deficiencies of micronutrients, such as iodine, represents a priority task of health care organizations. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the publication: Global Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), according to which some 2,2 billion people live in areas poor in naturally occurring iodine. Approximately 13% of the world population suffer from goitre - one of the IDD. The recommended iodine content in table salt is 20-40 mg/kg, which should satisfy the daily iodine requirements of an adult. Objective. The authors sought to ascertain whether iodization of table salt in Montenegro was carried out in accordance with the existing legislature. An assessment was also carried out of the attitudes and habits of the population regarding the use of salt in nutrition and the level of awareness in relation to the relevance of table salt iodization. Methods. The research was carried out in 2004 and was sponsored by UNICEF. A sample of 594 homes from the municipalities of Bar and Podgorica was chosen: 354 homes from urban and 240 from rural areas. The participants completed a questionnaire related to the daily use and intake of salt, as well as their understanding of the relevance of table salt iodization. Iodine content was tested in 15 samples of table salt at production level, 170 samples at retail level and 126 samples taken from domestic use. Results. The analysis of table salt samples showed an optimal iodine level in 73.3% of samples from production, in 81.2% from retail, and in 73.0% from domestic use. A lower level of iodine was found in 8.8% retail samples and 15.1% samples from home use. A greater concentration of iodine was found in 26.7% production, 10.0% retail and 11.9% samples from domestic use. Conclusion. Although the application of the WHO programme has led to an improvement in iodization of table salt in Montenegro, both at production and retail levels, this still falls short of the standards recommended by WHO to combat IDD. The levels of iodine in table salt in domestic use also fail to comply with the WHO criteria for elimination of IDD.

Drug control: a prerequisite for health

1980 ◽  
Vol 209 (1174) ◽  
pp. 159-163
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Third World ◽  
Health Care Expenditure ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Limited List

The purchase of drugs employs an increasingly large part of the health budget of many Third World countries. Like health care expenditure as a whole, drug spending is heavily biased in favour of urban hospitals, often for expensive proprietary drugs that offer little benefit over cheaper preparations. As a result, because limited funds are available, vaccines and drugs for prevention and primary care are sometimes unavailable, especially in rural areas. The World Health Organization and many individual countries have responded to the problem of drug costs by creating a limited list of drugs considered essential for health care needs. Other methods of curtailing spending on drugs have included tendering for supplies and the establishment of plants to manufacture and formulate drugs. Controls of this type meet enormous resistance from doctors and pharmaceutical manufacturers, but are vital for the implementation of policies for appropriate health care.

scholarly journals Self-supply as an alternative approach to water access in rural scattered regions: evidence from a rural microcatchment in Colombia

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilmar Torres-López ◽  
Inés Restrepo-Tarquino ◽  
Charlotte Patterson ◽  
John Gowing ◽  
Isabel Dominguez Rivera
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
External Support ◽  
World Health ◽  
Unfinished Business ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Thermotolerant Coliforms ◽  
Health Organization

<p>Globally, access to improved water sources is lower in rural areas compared to urban areas. Furthermore, in rural areas many people use water from individual systems they have developed with their investments, often without external support. This phenomenon has been called Self-supply. Self-supply ranges from simple to complex systems and different water sources. Water quality varies, from achieving World Health Organization (WHO) standards (0 CFU/100 ml) to systems that provide water posing high risks to human health. While most studies in Self-supply have been developed in Africa, little is known in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This research explores Self-supply in a rural microcatchment in Colombia (LAC). Data was collected through household and drinking water surveys and analysed. Results showed that 40% of households used Self-supply systems taking water from springs and brooks. Thermotolerant Coliforms were below 50 CFU/100 ml, both in dry and rainy season, and between 5 to 7% of samples achieved the WHO standard. These results suggest that Self-supply has potential to offer safe drinking water, provided improvements on source protection and institutional support. Therefore, Self-supply could contribute to address “unfinished business”, including ensuring access for the hardest-to-reach people, as stated in the post-2015 development agenda.</p>

The potential of the nursing profession to transform services

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-63
Author(s):  
Lisa Forbes
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Nursing Profession ◽  
World Health ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Lisa Forbes asks if the full potential of nursing as a profession has yet to be realised outside the traditional health environment

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