Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Influence Of Covid-19 Lockdown Measures On Cognition And Behavior In School Age Children In Arba Minch Health And Demographic Surveillance Site, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Befikadu Tariku Gutema, Eshetu Zerihun Tariku, Zeleke Aschalew Melketsedik, Bruno Levecke, Stefaan De Henauw, Amina Abubakar, Souheila Abbeddou

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Ethiopian schools were closed for nearly 40 weeks as a measure to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictive measures on cognition and behavioral difficulties of schoolchildren in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site. Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in November 2019 (pre-COVID-19-lockdown) and November 2020 (post-COVID-19 lockdown). Data were collected both at the school and homes of the children. Cognitive development of the children was assessed using digit span, Raven’s coloured progressive matrices (RCPM) and Visual search using cancellation task. Behavioral difficulties score of the children was …

Developing And Piloting An Online Course On Osteoporosis Using A Multidisciplinary Multi-Institute Approach- A Cross-Sectional Qualitative Study, Lena Jafri, Hafsa Majid, Arsala Jameel Farooqui, Sibtain Ahmed, Muhammad Umer Naeem Effendi, Maseeh Uz Zaman, Qamar` Riaz, Noreen Nasir, Syeda Sadia Fatima, Sarah Nadeem, Rizwan Haroon Rashid, Aysha Habib

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction: Postgraduate medical trainees (PGs) in developing nations face various educational hurdles due to limited access to quality resources and training facilities. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of e-learning, particularly Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), within postgraduate medical education. It involved the development of a customized online course focused on osteoporosis for PGs and an examination of their perspectives and preferences concerning online learning methods like Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) platforms.
Methods: The study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. A multi-institutional, multidisciplinary team was assembled to design an osteoporosis course on the VLE platform. PGs …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Frailty Among Older Adults Living With Hiv Compared To Their Uninfected Peers From The Kenyan Coast, Patrick Nzivo Mwangala, Carophine Nasambu, Ryan G. Wagner, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Objectives: a) To document the prevalence and correlates of frailty among older adults living with HIV (OALWH) and their uninfected peers, and b) Investigate HIV status as an independent predictor of frailty.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2020 and 2021 at the Kenyan coast among 440 older adults aged ≥50 years (257 OALWH). Frailty was assessed using the Reported Edmonton Frail Scale. Logistic regression was used to examine the correlates of frailty.

Results: The prevalence of frailty was significantly higher among OALWH (24%) than their uninfected peers (13%). HIV seropositivity was not independently associated with frailty. Sleeping difficulties, …

Editorial: Care During Pregnancy And Early Childhood For Growth And Development In Low- And Middle- Income Countries, Ranadip Chowdhury, Ravi Prakash Upadhyay, Bireshwar Sinha, Nita Bhandari, Sunita Taneja, Jai K. Das

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

No abstract provided.

From Static Web To Metaverse: Reinventing Medical Education In The Post-Pandemic Era, Kadriye O. Lewis, Vitaliy Popov, Syeda Sadia Fatima

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The World Wide Web and the advancement of computer technology in the 1960s and 1990s respectively set the ground for a substantial and simultaneous change in many facets of our life, including medicine, health care, and medical education. The traditional didactic approach has shifted towards more dynamic and interactive methods, leveraging technologies such as simulation tools, virtual reality, and online platforms. At the forefront is the remarkable evolution that has revolutionized how medical knowledge is accessed, disseminated, and integrated into pedagogical practices. The COVID-19 pandemic also led to rapid and large-scale adoption of e-learning and digital resources in medical education …

Infant Growth And Body Composition From Birth To 24 Months: Are Infants Developing The Same?, Shane A. Norris, Lukhanyo H. Nyati, Alexia Murphy Alford, Nishani Lucas, Ina S. Santos, Caroline S. Costa, Rebecca Kuriyan, V Pujitha Wickranasinghe, Shabina Ariff, Andrew P. Hills

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Given the importance of infancy for establishing growth trajectories, with later-life health consequences, we investigated longitudinal body composition among infants from six economically and ethnically diverse countries.
Methods: We recruited mother-infant dyads using the WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study criteria. We measured fat-free mass (FFM) in 1393 (49% female) infants from birth to 6 months of age (Australia, India, and South Africa; n = 468), 3-24 months of age (Brazil, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka; n = 925), and derived fat mass (FM), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-length …

Concept Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Among People With Heart Failure In Karachi, Pakistan, Anny Ashiq Ali

MEd 2024

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, are a leading cause of global mortality. The mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases is on the rise, with 80 % to 86 % of fatalities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Among NCDs, heart failure (HF) is a condition for which there is no cure, and patients rely on supportive treatments to maintain their quality of life. HF not only affects physical well-being but also has far-reaching consequences on the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of life. In the context of Pakistan, where unique healthcare, sociocultural, and economic factors prevail, the …

Concept Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Among People With Heart Failure In Karachi, Pakistan, Anny Ashiq Ali

PhD-HS 2024

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, are a leading cause of global mortality. The mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases is on the rise, with 80 % to 86 % of fatalities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Among NCDs, heart failure (HF) is a condition for which there is no cure, and patients rely on supportive treatments to maintain their quality of life. HF not only affects physical well-being but also has far-reaching consequences on the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of life. In the context of Pakistan, where unique healthcare, sociocultural, and economic factors prevail, the …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension In East Africa: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Zian Muikamba

Master of Internal Medicine

Introduction; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition characterized by elevated intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure without demonstratable evident causes. The mechanisms leading to a particular predilection for women of childbearing age who are overweight and obese or who have recent rapid weight changes remain imprecisely described. The Modified Dandy criteria is used for diagnosis and includes-clinical symptoms, papilledema, lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressure, and neuroimaging. If undiagnosed, it can progress to disabling irreversible visual loss. Weight loss is useful in addition to medical therapy in treating the condition. Data in Sub-Saharan Africa is scarce.

Methods; This study described …

An Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage Of Far-Flung Counties In Kenya, Henix Obuchunju

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Slums are a reflection of underdeveloped and marginalisation. It is so yet the traditional watchdog genre of journalism and the commercial press are both as old as the slums themselves. Past studies show that community radios are struggling with feedback. As such they are yet to assess their value to the world. This study sought to assess the impact of the Mukuru kwa Ruben-based Ruben FM in addressing the socio- economic needs of its listeners; and whether it is advancing the tenets of Solutions Journalism practice. That is; coverage of solutions rather than the problems. The study relied on a …

The Anthropometric Determinants Of Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Among Children In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Willbroad Kyejo, Nancy Matillya, Neelam Ismail, Gloria Gachocha, Hajaj Salum, Rosebella Iseme, Mariam Noorani

Family Medicine, East Africa

Background: Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is an important tool for assessing lung function, which can be affected by environmental and physical factors such as altitude, nutrition, genetics, age, height, and weight. Conducting a study to assess the correlation between peak expiratory flow rate and anthropometric measurements in Tanzanian schoolchildren is crucial to derive a population-specific prediction formula and further simplify respiratory health assessment.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single center private primary and secondary school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania using data from an asthma screening camp. Variables of interest were height, weight, Body Mass Index …

Annual Report Of The Office Of Allied Health [Oah] 2024, Office Of Allied Health

The Aga Khan University Reports Archives

Annual report summarizing the achievements and initiatives of the Office of Allied Health (OAH) at Aga Khan University. Highlights include the development of a faculty criteria framework, standardization of traineeship programs across 12 departments, expansion of research initiatives, enhancement of virtual learning environments, and launch of the Allied Health Alumni Network. The report reflects OAH’s commitment to advancing Allied Health education, practice, and research through innovation, collaboration, and community engagement.

Association Of Maternal Prenatal Copper Concentration With Gestational Duration And Preterm Birth: A Multicountry Meta-Analysis Author Links Open Overlay Panel., Nagendra Monangi, Huan Xu, Yue-Mei Fan, Rasheeda Khanam, Waqasuddin Khan, Saikat Deb, Jesmin Pervin, Joan Price, Lovejeet Kaur, R. Ochieng

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Copper (Cu), an essential trace mineral regulating multiple actions of inflammation and oxidative stress, has been implicated in risk for preterm birth (PTB).

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association of maternal Cu concentration during pregnancy with PTB risk and gestational duration in a large multicohort study including diverse populations.

Methods: Maternal plasma or serum samples of 10,449 singleton live births were obtained from 18 geographically diverse study cohorts. Maternal Cu concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The associations of maternal Cu with PTB and gestational duration were analyzed using …

Perceptions Of Educational Leaders Towards Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Early Childhood Education In Arua City, In Uganda., Bako Jane

Master of Education

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of educational leaders on inclusion of children with disabilities into early childhood education (ECE) in Arua city, Uganda. The research focused on key elements influencing inclusive early childhood education, including perceptions, challenges, and policies. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), it aligned with global initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education. Using a constructivist paradigm and a qualitative case study design, the study involved twenty-four participants, including headteachers, deputy headteachers, and teachers from three pre and primary schools. The constructivist approach, inspired by Jean …

Exploring The Use Of Experiential Learning Strategies To Develop Science Process Skills In Primary Schools In Arua City – West Nile, Uganda., Wilfred Joe Ken Okwaimung

Master of Education

Teachers in Uganda still make use of the traditional teacher-centred pedagogies that do not factor in the learners’ past experiences, interactions, and engagement in the learning process. This reduces the learners’ abilities to acquire some Science Process Skills which are vital for further acquisition of scientific knowledge and skills for future learning and practice of science. Science teaching and learning require practical pedagogies that make the learning meaningful. Using lesson observation, interviews, focus group discussion, and document analysis, this Action Research, sought to find out whether the current pedagogies that teachers used, integrated Experiential Learning Strategies as an intervention to …

Exploring Women`S Perceptions Of Climate Change Impact On Agriculture, Health & Food Security In Upper Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan, Ambreen, Elina Nizar Ali, Taiba Yar Baig, Fozia Parveen

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, renowned for its towering mountains and major river basins, sustains nearly 1.4 billion people worldwide and is pivotal to global food production. Glacial melt from the HKH region nourishes agriculture, livestock, and horticulture, supporting the livelihoods of mountain communities. However, climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers, and shifts in wet seasons significantly impact food security in these communities. Sectors such as water resources, agricultural land, and human health, particularly women’s health, are significantly affected by these changes. For centuries, agriculture has been the backbone of Gilgit-Baltistan’s economy, with over 70% of livelihoods …

Towards An Engaging And Integrated Climate Change Pedagogy, Noor Ul Ain, Fozia Parveen, Nighat Rabbani, Afsana Shaheen

Books

Note Three years ago, we embarked on a journey to create open and free resources for teachers. We were overwhelmed by the positive response to each of our publications, whether in the form of activity booklets, dictionary, fiction, or early childhood lesson plans.
We were fortunate to receive a grant under the Climate Action Fellowship project from the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar. Initially, the project aimed to create a resource booklet of lessons and activities focused solely on climate change and climate change pedagogy. However, as we progressed, we realized the importance of first meeting with teachers to understand their …

Crop Water Use And A Gravity Model Exploration Of Virtual Water Trade In Ghana's Cereal Agriculture, Alexander Sessi Kosi Tette, Golden Odey, Mirza Junaid Ahmad, Bashir Adelodun, Kyung-Sook Choi

Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre

Agricultural water productivity is crucial for sustainability amidst the escalating demand for food. Cereals are pivotal in providing nutritious food at affordable prices. This study was based on Ghanaian data spanning from 1992 to 2021 to evaluate water usage in the cultivation of major cereals. It also examined the virtual water losses or gains in cereal trade alongside influencing factors. The analysis utilized secondary data encompassing the virtual water content, production quantity, export and import quantities, distance, GDP per capita, population, and land per capita of Ghana and its 75 trade partners. In the last 5 years, crop water use …

Resilience And Associated Factors In Orphaned And Separated Adolescents In Kenya: Understanding The Relationship With Care Environment And Hiv Risks., Sarah Sutherland, Harry Shannon, David Ayuku, David Kleiner, Olli Saarela, Lukoye Atwoli, Joseph Hogan, Paula Braitstein

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Orphans are at higher risk of HIV infection and several important HIV risk factors than non-orphans; however, this may be due to a combination of related social, psychological, and economic factors, as well as care environment, rather than orphan status alone. Understanding these complex relationships may aid policy makers in supporting evidence-based, cost-effective programming for this vulnerable population. This longitudinal study uses a causal effect model to examine, through decomposition, the relationship between care environment and HIV risk factors in orphaned and separated adolescents and youths (OSAY) in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya; considering resilience, social, peer, or family support, volunteering, …

Institute For Global Health And Development : Annual 2024, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Message From The Director
• Workshops & Conferences
• Climate Change, Agriculture, Human Nutrition & Development in Pakistan
• What Works Climate Solutions Summit, Berlin
• IGNIT3 Consultative Workshop on Nutrition for Health Professionals
• Climate Change and Health Symposium
• Collaborating For Change
• IGHD Hosts Workshop on Research Concepts & Basic Methodology
• SDSN Pakistan Leadership Council Meeting – 2024
• AKDN Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting 2024
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Social Determinants Of Health And Disparities In Hypertension And Cardiovascular Diseases, Abhishek Chaturvedi, Anqi Zhu, Naga Vaishnav Gadela, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Tazeen Jafar

Department of Medicine

High blood pressure causes over 10 million preventable deaths annually globally. Populations in low- and middle-income countries suffer the most, experiencing increased uncontrolled blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths. Despite improvements in high-income countries, disparities persist, notably in the United States, where Black individuals face up to 4× higher CVD mortality than White individuals. Social determinants of health encompass complex, multidimensional factors linked to an individual's birthplace, upbringing, activities, residence, workplaces, socioeconomic and environmental structures, and significantly affect health outcomes, including hypertension and CVD. This review explored how social determinants of health drive disparities in hypertension and related CVD …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Mother-Focused Interventions To That Of Mother-Child Focused Interventions In Improving Maternal Postpartum Depression Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Divya Kumar, Waqas Hameed, Bilal Iqbal Avan

Community Health Sciences

Background: Most empirically researched interventions for postpartum depression (PPD) tend to target mothers' depression alone. Harmful effects of PPD on physical and mental health of both mother and child has led researchers to investigate the impact of interventions on PPD and child outcomes together. So far, the evidence is limited regarding how these interventions compare with those focusing only on mothers' depression. This review compares the effectiveness of PPD-improving interventions focusing only on mothers with those focusing on mother and child together.
Methods: Nine electronic databases were searched. Thirty-seven studies evaluating mother-focused (n = 30) and mother-child focused interventions (n …

Closing The Gaps In Care Of Dyslipidemia: Revolutionizing Management With Digital Health And Innovative Care Models, Samuel J. Apple, Rachel Clark, Jonathan Daich, Macarena Lopez Gonzalez, Robert J. Ostfeld, Peter P. Toth, Vera Bittner, Seth S. Martin, Jamal S. Rana, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Although great progress has been made in the diagnostic and treatment options for dyslipidemias, unawareness, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of these disorders remain a significant global health concern. Growth in digital applications and newer models of care provide novel tools to improve the management of chronic conditions such as dyslipidemia. In this review, we discuss the evolving landscape of lipid management in the 21st century, current treatment gaps and possible solutions through digital health and new models of care. Our discussion begins with the history and development of value-based care and the national establishment of quality metrics for various chronic conditions. …

Feasibility, Enablers And Challenges Of Using Timeliness Metrics For Household Contact Tracing And Tb Preventive Therapy In Pakistan, Bushra Jamil, Divya Nair, Pruthu Thekkur, Neelofar Laeeq, Anum Adil, Mohammed Khogali, Rony Zachariah, Selma Dar Berger, Srinath Satyanarayana, Ajay M V Kumar

Department of Medicine

Introduction: Screening household contacts of TB patients and providing TB preventive therapy (TPT) is a key intervention to end the TB epidemic. Global and timely implementation of TPT in household contacts, however, is dismal. We adapted the 7-1-7 timeliness metric designed to evaluate and respond to infectious disease outbreaks or pandemics, and assessed the feasibility, enablers and challenges of implementing this metric for screening and management of household contacts of index patients with bacteriologically-confirmed pulmonary TB in Karachi city, Pakistan.
Methods: We conducted an explanatory mixed methods study with a quantitative component (cohort design) followed by a qualitative component (descriptive …

Determinants Of Poor Perinatal Outcomes Among Babies Born Of Mothers With Preeclampsia At Mama Lucky Kibaki Hospital, Nairobi County, Sarah Wambui Chege

MSc in Advanced Practice Midwifery

Background: Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy illness characterised by the onset of hypertension in a non-hypertensive woman after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Studies have connected preeclampsia to significant adverse effects on the mother and the newborn, a common obstetric emergency in Kenya. Determinants of poor perinatal outcomes in babies born to preeclamptic mothers have not been intensively investigated.

Objective: The study evaluated the determinants of perinatal outcomes among neonates born to mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital between July 2021 and June 2022.

Methodology: A quantitative retrospective cross-sectional inquiry was conducted. Data reviewed comprised …

Factors Influencing The Delivery Of Preconception Care Services Among Nursing And Midwifery Students At Aga Khan University, Kenya, Levy Mukolwe

MSc in Advanced Practice Midwifery

Preconception care (PCC) encompasses a range of biomedical, behavioural, and social interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the effective implementation of PCC services, particularly in developing countries, faces multifaceted challenges. This cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study was conducted among 104 nursing and midwifery students at Aga Khan University and selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using semi-structured self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. 69.9% of the respondents were nurses, while 30.1% were midwives. 28.8% of participants knew the definition of PCC. The importance of various PCC components, such as nutritional deficiency screening, genetic risk assessment, environmental hazard …

Because Breastfeeding Is Never Done Alone, Mehtab Lalwani, Kiran Nawaz Ali

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Utilization And Determinants Of Antenatal Care Services, Worlanso Awungshi Shimray, Adahrii Ashuni, Anamika Toppo, Lal Khawngaihi, Lalram Beiseii, Medo- Vinü, Vikethono Luho

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) offers an opportunity for early detection and prevention of pregnancy-related risk and complications, as well as for delivering effective therapy of both current and potential issues. Numerous studies have indicated that inadequate use of the available ANC services contributes to maternal and child morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the utilization and assess the determinants of antenatal care services in Singrijan, Nagaland, India.
Method: A cross-sectional exploratory community-based study was conducted in Singrijan. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a total of 72 mothers with a history of at least …

Microbiota Dynamics, Metabolic And Immune Interactions In The Cervicovaginal Environment And Their Role In Spontaneous Preterm Birth, Stanely Onyango, Jia Dai Mi, Anjela Koech, Patricia Okiro, Marleen Temmerman, Peter Von Dadelszen, Rachel Marie Tribe, Geoffrey Omuse

Pathology, East Africa

Differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota are associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Although establishing a direct causal link between cervicovaginal microbiota and sPTB remains challenging, recent advancements in sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of microbial markers potentially linked to sPTB. Despite variations in findings, a recurring observation suggests that sPTB is associated with a more diverse and less stable vaginal microbiota across pregnancy trimesters. It is hypothesized that sPTB risk is likely to be modified via an intricate host-microbe interactions rather than due to the presence of a single microbial taxon …

Isolated Small Airways Obstruction Predicts Future Chronic Airflow Obstruction: A Multinational Longitudinal Study, Ben Knox Brown, James Potts, Valentina Quintero Santofimio, Cosetta Minelli, Jaymini Patel, Peter Gj Burney, Andre Fs Amaral, Najlaa Mohammed Abass, Dhiraj Agarwal, Asaad A. Nafees

Community Health Sciences

Background: Chronic airflow obstruction is a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We investigated whether isolated small airways obstruction is associated with chronic airflow obstruction later in life.
Methods: We used longitudinal data from 3957 participants of the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. We defined isolated small airways obstruction using the prebronchodilator mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEF25-75) if a result was less than the lower limit of normal.
Results: Median follow-up time was 8.3 years. Chronic airflow obstruction was more likely to develop in participants with …