scholarly journals Malaria epidemic in humanitarian crisis settings the case of South Kordofan state, Sudan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 168-171
Author(s):  
Nouh S Mohamed ◽  
Yousif Ali ◽  
Mohamed S Muneer ◽  
Emmanuel E Siddig ◽  
Carol H Sibley ◽  
...  

Introduction: Malaria remains one of the most common public health problems worldwide, especially in Sudan. With this short communication we aimed at reporting on the latest malaria epidemic that had occurred in the humanitarian settings in South Kordofan state, south-western Sudan, during 2018 and 2019. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study analyzing malaria surveillance reports between February 2018 to September 2019. Malaria was reported from febrile patients with confirmed malaria diagnosis using Giemsa stain. According to age, patients were distributed across three categories: less than 5 years, 5 to 15 years, and more than 15 years. Results: In 2019 and 2018, 63,214 and 63,224 cases of malaria were reported, respectively, constituting around 5.5% of the state population (1,152,900). In 2018, 3,571 malaria cases were reported in February, then they decreased in August followed by increase in September-October. In 2019, 15,610 malaria cases were reported in September. Malaria cases aged less than 5 years were 21,848 and 23,561 cases in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Conclusions: The reported sudden epidemic of malaria is alarming. Therefore, identifying the risk factors associated with this epidemic is crucial to malaria prevention and control, and hence successful achievement of malaria elimination.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zalalem Olani ◽  
Samrawit Solomon ◽  
Zalalem Kaba ◽  
Haile Bikila

Abstract Background:-Continues malaria surveillance data analysis plays a significant role in monitoring trends over time and evaluating the effectiveness of malaria prevention and control programs. Hence, this study was part of such an effort to achieve this goal. The main aim of this study was to analyses a five years (2016-2020) malaria surveillance data in Oromia region, Ethiopia.Methods:-a descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to analyse the five years (2016-2020) trends of malaria cases in Oromia regional state, Ethiopia.Results:-A total of 5,843,373malaria suspected cases were reported during the five-year period. Among the total reported cases 727,738 were a total of both clinical and parasitological confirmed cases. An average total malaria annual parasite incidence (API) was 4 per 1,000 person. The highest malaria cases were observed during spring and summer seasons.Conclusions and recommendation:-Trends of total clinical and confirmed malaria cases were decreased from year to year except for the recent one year with an exceptional variability in 2019.The highest or peak of malaria cases was observed during the spring season (September-November). Malaria indicator based performance plans and achievements should be regularly and strictly reviewed and evaluated at each level.


Author(s):  
Bogale Belay ◽  
Tegenu Gelana ◽  
Araya Gebresilassie

Abstract Background Ethiopia has achieved considerable progresses in the prevention and control of malaria in the past decades; hitherto it is a formidable health concern and socio-economic impediment. This study aimed at assessing the magnitude, knowledge, attitudes and practices towards malaria among febrile patients attending Chagni health center, northwest Ethiopia. Methods Health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of malaria and KAP towards malaria among febrile patients at Chagni health center in Chagni Town during September 2017 to February 2018. In order to determine the magnitude of malaria, finger prick blood samples were collected and thick and thin smears were prepared and microscopically examined for the presence of malaria parasites. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was also applied to assess KAP of suspected malaria patients, attending the health center. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results Prevalence of malaria among febrile patients, who visited the sampled health facility, was 7.3%. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed infections accounted for 55, 44.3 and 0.7% of the cases, respectively. This study also revealed that 97% of the respondents had ever heard about malaria and recognized it as a serious health problem. Mosquito bite was identified as the main malaria transmission. Taking drug (86.3%), use of mosquito nets (73.3%), drain stagnated water (68%), and house spay with insecticides (66%) were mentioned as the main malaria prevention methods. Mosquito net coverage and utilizations in the prior night were 98 and 75%, respectively. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage was 99%, of which 77.5% of study participants’ houses have been sprayed in the last 6 months. Conclusions The current study revealed that prevalence of malaria among febrile illnesses in the study area was relatively low (7.3%) with a high proportion of P. falciparum. Besides, participants had adequate knowledge, encouraging attitudes, and good practices about prevention and control of malaria. However, some misconceptions on malaria disease, its transmission, and prevention have been noted that actually require due attention by the concerned stakeholders. The findings of this study could be used as important inputs for the implementation of effective malaria prevention and control methods, including community health education programs, and scaling up coverage of evidence-based interventions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 150-156
Author(s):  
Omar Yousof Mohamed Ali

This paper represented the founding of community based cross sectional study conducted to assess methods of prevention and control of malaria in Shendi city. Specifically it aims to evaluate the different methods of prevention service offered by local health authorities.Evaluation of community participation towards control of malaria and evaluation of personal protection against mosquito bite.Sample size of 192 was selected randomly out of 9000 households. An interview’ questionnaires and observations were used to collect the data from households, then the data was analyzed using both Microsoft Excel and Statistic Package for Social Sciences program (SPSS).The main results showed that Most dominant level of education of shendi populationwas university and secondary school.The study concludes that most population used personal protection against mosquito bites.


Author(s):  
Melvin K Mathews ◽  
Abubaker Siddiq ◽  
Bharathi D R

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable and treatable disease state characterized by air flow limitation that is not fully reversible. Severity of the symptoms is increased during exacerbations. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to assess and improve the knowledge regarding COPD among study subjects. Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional interventional study was carried out among the peoples in selected areas of the Chitradurga city for a period of six months. Result: A total 207 subjects enrolled in the study in that 155 male and 52 females. In our study mean score of post test was more (5.87±1.68) when compare to pre-test (2.63±1.46) which show significant increase in their knowledge after educating them (p=0.000). A total of 207 subjects were enrolled into the study. SPSS Software was used to calculate the statistical estimation. Paired t-test was used to detect the association status of different variables. Conclusion: The relatively good level of COPD awareness needs to be maintained to facilitate future prevention and control of the disease. This study had identified that negative illness perceptions should be targeted, so that they will not avoid patients from seeking for COPD treatment and adhere to it. Key words: Cross sectional study, Knowledge, practice, COPD.


2019 ◽  
pp. 68-73
Author(s):  
Trong Nghia Nguyen ◽  
Thi Nhan Nguyen ◽  
Thi Dua Dao

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors that tend to cluster together in affected individuals more often than predicted by chance. The presence of the metabolic syndrome substantially increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and is associated with a range of adverse clinical outcomes, many of which are closely associated with aging. Current estimates suggest that approximately 20 - 25% of the world’s population is affected by the metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome rises with age and more than 45% of people aged over 60 years have the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies show that low vitamin D status is very common in the world and this is a risk factor of metabolic syndrome. Objective: (1) Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in subjects with metabolic syndrome. (2) Cut off value of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predicting metabolic syndrome. Material and method: A cross-sectional study with control group on 318 adult subjects for health examinations at International Medical Center at Hue Central Hospital, including 139 subjects with metabolic syndrome and control group of 179 healthy subjects. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the IDF, NHLBI, AHA, WHF, IAS, IASO (2009). Plasma hydroxyvitamin D concentration was measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Reciever operating characteristic (ROC) curve were generated to assess sensitivity and specificity for different cut off value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predicting metabolic syndrome. Results: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in subjects with metabolic syndrome was 26.4 ng/ml, incidence of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency (59.7%) was significantly higher than in control group (23.5%) (p < 0.001). The optimal cut off point for 25-OH-D concentration for predictor of metabolic syndrome as 26.4 ng/ml (AUC=0.657, sensitivity=53.4%, specificity=71.6%). Conclusion: In 139 subjects with metabolic syndrome, the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 26.4 ng/ml and the incidence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in the metabolic syndrome group was 59.7%. The optimal cut off point for plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration for predictor of metabolic syndrome as 26.4 ng/ml. Key words: Metabolic syndrome, 25-hydroxyvitamin D


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Genthe ◽  
N. Strauss ◽  
J. Seager ◽  
C. Vundule ◽  
F. Maforah ◽  
...  

Efforts to provide water to developing communities in South Africa have resulted in various types of water supplies being used. This study examined the relationship between the type of water supply and the quality of water used. Source (communal taps, private outdoor and indoor taps) and point-of-use water samples were examined for heterotrophic plate counts (HPC), total and faecal coliforms, E. coli, and coliphages. Ten percent of samples were also analysed for enteric viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Approximately 320 households were included in a case-control study. In addition, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Both studies examined the relationship between different types of water facilities and diarrhoea among pre-school children. The source water was of good microbial quality, but water quality was found to have deteriorated significantly after handling and storage in both case and control households, exceeding drinking water quality guideline values by 1-6 orders of magnitude. Coliphage counts were low for all water samples tested. Enteric viruses and Cryptosporidium oocysts were not detected. Giardia cysts were detected on one occasion in case and control in-house samples. Comparisons of whether in-house water, after handling and storage, complied with water quality guideline values demonstrated households using communal taps to have significantly poorer quality than households using private outdoor or indoor taps for HPC and E. coli (χ2 = 14.9, P = 0.001; χ2 = 6.6, P = 0.04 respectively). A similar trend (although not statistically significant) was observed for the other microbial indicators. The cross-sectional study demonstrated an apparent decrease in health risk associated with private outdoor taps in comparison to communal taps. This study suggests that a private outdoor tap is the minimum level of water supply in order to ensure the supply of safe water to developing communities.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175717742110127
Author(s):  
Salma Abbas ◽  
Faisal Sultan

Background: Patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities during outbreaks hinges on a prompt infection prevention and control response. Physicians leading these programmes have encountered numerous obstacles during the pandemic. Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate infection prevention and control practices and explore the challenges in Pakistan during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and administered a survey to physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes at 18 hospitals in Pakistan. Results: All participants implemented universal masking, limited the intake of patients and designated separate triage areas, wards and intensive care units for coronavirus disease 2019 patients at their hospitals. Eleven (61%) physicians reported personal protective equipment shortages. Staff at three (17%) hospitals worked without the appropriate personal protective equipment due to limited supplies. All participants felt overworked and 17 (94%) reported stress. Physicians identified the lack of negative pressure rooms, fear and anxiety among hospital staff, rapidly evolving guidelines, personal protective equipment shortages and opposition from hospital staff regarding the choice of recommended personal protective equipment as major challenges during the pandemic. Discussion: The results of this study highlight the challenges faced by physicians leading infection prevention and control programmes in Pakistan. It is essential to support infection prevention and control personnel and bridge the identified gaps to ensure patient and staff safety at healthcare facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. e148-e157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Rader ◽  
Laura F White ◽  
Michael R Burns ◽  
Jack Chen ◽  
Joseph Brilliant ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zayid K. Almayahi ◽  
Fahad Alswaidi ◽  
Abdullah Alzahrani

Abstract Background The established aim of the Saudi Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) is to support the prevention and control of different health events, and to facilitate the delivery of other public health programs. This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of active HESN users regarding its general performance through five major components: practicability, design, data and communication, technical support, and general impression. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 using a sample of active HESN users. Out of 1535 active users, 700 were randomly selected. A predesigned electronic questionnaire was sent to each participant via email which was completed by 485 participants. Different composite scores were calculated and compared to the sociodemographic and other technical variables. Results The mean age of the participants was 36.92 ± 9.12 (24–65 years), and 57.8% of the sample were male. Riyadh and the KSA’s eastern province represented the highest two regions of participation, at (18.4%) and (14.2%) participants, respectively. About 70.8% were generally satisfied with HESN, while 86.6%% believed that it is better than the traditional paper-work system. Participants who used to work more frequently expressed more level of satisfaction compared to those with minimal use per week or month (P ≤ 0.001). Internet speed displayed a significant association with the general level of satisfaction with HESN (P < 0.001). Additionally, users who accessed HESN with the Google Chrome browser displayed higher levels of satisfaction when compared to users who relied on other browsers (P = 0.003). Conclusion Presently, the level of user satisfaction with HESN is reasonable. However, to achieve optimal outcomes for HESN usage, improvements should be considered.


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