scholarly journals The “Other” Neglected Diseases in Global Public Health: Surgical Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doruk Ozgediz ◽  
Robert Riviello
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Neglected Diseases ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Surgical Conditions

scholarly journals The Chronic Kidney Disease in Africa (CKD-Africa) collaboration: lessons from a new pan-African network

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. e006454
Author(s):  
Cindy George ◽  
Suzaan Stoker ◽  
Ikechi Okpechi ◽  
Mark Woodward ◽  
Andre Kengne
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Sub Saharan

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, seemingly affecting individuals from low-income and-middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the growing evidence pointing to an increasing prevalence of CKD across Africa, there has not been an Africa-wide concerted effort to provide reliable estimates that could adequately inform health services planning and policy development to address the consequences of CKD. Therefore, we established the CKD in Africa (CKD-Africa) Collaboration. To date, the network has curated data from 39 studies conducted in 12 African countries, totalling 35 747 participants, of which most are from sub-Saharan Africa. We are, however, continuously seeking further collaborations with other groups who have suitable data to grow the network. Although many successful research consortia exist, few papers have been published (with none from Africa) detailing the challenges faced and lessons learnt in setting up and managing a research consortium. Drawing on our experience, we describe the steps taken and the key factors required to establish a functional collaborative consortium among researchers in Africa. In addition, we present the challenges we encountered in building our network, how we managed those challenges and the benefit of such a collaboration for Africa. Although the CKD-Africa Collaboration is focused primarily on CKD research, many of the lessons learnt can be applied more widely in public health research in LMICs.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequences of 20 Nontyphoidal Salmonella Isolates from Rwanda

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Byukusenge ◽  
Lingling Li ◽  
Mediatrice Uwanyirigira ◽  
Venkata R. Vepachedu ◽  
Subhashinie Kariyawasam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Sub Saharan

Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica strains are major foodborne pathogens with global public health importance. Foodborne salmonellosis can be life-threatening, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi A Erondu ◽  
Sagal A Ali ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Schadrac C Agbla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic: the implications of the natural history, challenges of diagnosis and management for care in sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Omo-Aghoja ◽  
Emuesiri Goodies Moke ◽  
Kenneth Kelechi Anachuna ◽  
Adrian Itivere Omogbiya ◽  
Emuesiri Kohworho Umukoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Infection ◽  
Identification Technique ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Policies And Programs

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory infection which has afflicted virtually almost all nations of the earth. It is highly transmissible and represents one of the most serious pandemics in recent times, with the capacity to overwhelm any healthcare system and cause morbidity and fatality. Main content The diagnosis of this disease is daunting and challenging as it is dependent on emerging clinical symptomatology that continues to increase and change very rapidly. The definitive test is the very expensive and scarce polymerase chain reaction (PCR) viral identification technique. The management has remained largely supportive and empirical, as there are no officially approved therapeutic agents, vaccines or antiviral medications for the management of the disease. Severe cases often require intensive care facilities and personnel. Yet there is paucity of facilities including the personnel required for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is against this backdrop that a review of key published reports on the pandemic in SSA and globally is made, as understanding the natural history of a disease and the documented responses to diagnosis and management is usually a key public health strategy for designing and improving as appropriate, relevant interventions. Lead findings were that responses by most nations of SSA were adhoc, paucity of public health awareness strategies and absence of legislations that would help enforce preventive measures, as well as limited facilities (including personal protective equipment) and institutional capacities to deliver needed interventions. Conclusion COVID-19 is real and has overwhelmed global health care system especially low-income countries of the sub-Sahara such as Nigeria. Suggestions for improvement of healthcare policies and programs to contain the current pandemic and to respond more optimally in case of future pandemics are made herein.

scholarly journals The Search for a Schistosomiasis Vaccine: Australia’s Contribution

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 872
Author(s):  
Donald P. McManus
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Neglected Tropical Disease ◽  
Vaccine Research ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
Sub Saharan

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, results in considerable human morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, but also parts of the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia. The anti-schistosome drug praziquantel is efficacious and safe against the adult parasites of all Schistosoma species infecting humans; however, it does not prevent reinfection and the development of drug resistance is a constant concern. The need to develop an effective vaccine is of great importance if the health of many in the developing world is to be improved. Indeed, vaccination, in combination with other public health measures, can provide an invaluable tool to achieve lasting control, leading to schistosomiasis elimination. Australia has played a leading role in schistosomiasis vaccine research over many years and this review presents an overview of some of the significant contributions made by Australian scientists in this important area.

scholarly journals Fatal SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection in an infant: insights from Botswana

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e239701
Author(s):  
Unami Koolebogile Mulale ◽  
Thanolo Kashamba ◽  
Jonathan Strysko ◽  
Lynnette Tumwine Kyokunda
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Immune Reconstitution ◽  
Fatal Case ◽  
Failure To Thrive ◽  
Supplemental Oxygen ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Sub Saharan

We report a fatal case of SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection in an infant, Botswana’s first paediatric COVID-19-associated fatality. The patient, a 3-month-old HIV-unexposed boy, presented with fever and respiratory distress in the setting of failure to thrive. Both the patient and his mother tested positive for rifampin-sensitive M. tuberculosis (Xpert MTB/Rif) and SARS-CoV-2 (real time-PCR). Initially stable on supplemental oxygen and antitubercular therapy, the patient experienced precipitous clinical decline 5 days after presentation and subsequently died. Autopsy identified evidence of disseminated tuberculosis (TB) as well as histopathological findings similar to those described in recent reports of SARS-CoV-2 infections, including diffuse microthrombosis. TB remains a serious public health threat in hyperendemic regions like sub-Saharan Africa, and is often diagnosed late in infants. In addition to raising the question of additive/synergistic pathophysiology and/or immune reconstitution, this case of coinfection also highlights the importance of leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic response to strengthen efforts for TB prevention, screening and detection.

Dying To Be Men: Masculinity and Early Cancer Detection Among Nigerian Men

2021 ◽  
pp. 0272684X2110049
Author(s):  
Darlingtina Esiaka ◽  
Candidus Nwakasi ◽  
Kelsey Brodie ◽  
Aaron Philip ◽  
Kalu Ogba
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cancer Detection ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Early Cancer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Early Cancer Detection ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Nigerian Men ◽  
Sub Saharan

Cancer incidence and mortality in Nigeria are increasing at an alarming rate, especially among Nigerian men. Despite the numerous public health campaigns and education on the importance of early cancer detection in Nigeria, there exist high rate of fatal/advanced stage cancer diagnoses among Nigerian men, even among affluent Nigerian men. However, there is limited information on patterns of cancer screening and psychosocial predictors of early cancer detection behaviors among Nigerian men. In this cross-sectional study, we examined demographic and psychosocial factors influencing early cancer detection behaviors among Nigerian men. Participants (N = 143; Mage = 44.73) responded to survey assessing: masculinity, attachment styles, current and future cancer detection behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics. We found that among the participants studied, education, masculinity and anxious attachment were significantly associated with current cancer detection behaviors. Additionally, education and anxious attachment were significantly associated with future cancer detection behaviors. Our finding is best served for clinicians and public health professionals, especially those in the field of oncology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, the study may be used as a groundwork for future research and health intervention programs targeting men in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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