Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Endocarditis Caused By Candida (Candidozyma) Auris, Farah Ebrahim, Mzee Ngunga, Abdulaziz Abeid, Hilda Nasibwa, Newnex Mongare, Rodney Adam

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Candida (Candidozyma) auris has emerged as a hospital-acquired pathogen and was first reported in East Asia in 2009. Infective endocarditis due to C. auris has been rarely reported, while other Candida species account for < 2% of infective endocarditis (IE) cases. Herein we report three cases of endocarditis caused by C. auris , including a native aortic valve, a native tricuspid valve, and a prosthetic valve. Each of these cases had been in healthcare settings months to years earlier that were the likely sources of their infec- tions. These cases suggest the possibility for indolent but life-threatening infections from C. auris . ©2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Strategies To Improve Outcomes Of Obstetric Emergencies In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review, Serah Wachira, Ruth Wagathu, Beth Waweru, Rose Maina, Abednego Ongeso, Constance Sibongile Shumba, Benard Mutwiri, Diana Mbattude, Cliff Aliga, Lucy Kisaka, Peter Gatiti

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Obstetric emergencies remain a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite increased access to facility-based deliveries and emergency obstetric care. Improving outcomes requires not only life-saving clinical interventions but also effective health system strategies. This review mapped published evidence on strategies used to improve outcomes of obstetric emergencies in SSA.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify strategies reported in the literature to improve outcomes of obstetric emergencies in SSA.

Methods: The review was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. A comprehensive electronic search of PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and CORE identified studies published between January …

A Worldwide Cross-Sectional Survey Seeks The Current Global Practice Patterns On Perioperative Management In Elective Shoulder Replacement Surgery, Maciej Simon, Farhad Moola, Jennifer Coghlan, Osvandre Lech, Carlos Ramos, Njalalle Baraza, Hadrian Platzer, Simone Gantz, Andreas Seekamp, Babak Moradi

General Surgery, East Africa

Background Perioperative management in elective shoulder arthroplasty varies widely, with no universal consensus on best practices. This study aimed to characterize current global standards of perioperative care, including pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative management, among orthopedic surgeons performing elective shoulder replacement surgery, with the aim of contributing to a global standard of care.

Methods A comprehensive online questionnaire was designed and anonymously distributed to orthopedic societies on each continent. Participants were cross-sectionally surveyed with the goal of identifying current global pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative practices in patient care and discharge management.

Results Eighteen societies from 5 continents participated in the survey. …

A Longitudinal Multi‑Proxy Geospatial Classification Of Peri‑Urban Transitions Across Community Health Units In Coastal Kenya, Prissy Makena, Felix Oluoch, Rosebella Iseme, Fredrick Gudda, Alfred Keter, Jai Das, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Anthony Ngugi

Population Health, East Africa

Background Urbanization is spatially heterogeneous in many sub-Saharan African settings. This complicates community health planning when rural and peri-urban labels are applied informally or updated inconsistently. We assessed whether multiple publicly available geospatial proxies could characterize settlement dynamics and support Community Health Unit (CHU) level classification within the Kaloleni Rabai Health and Demographic Surveillance System (KRHDSS) in coastal Kenya.

Methods We conducted a longitudinal ecological analysis across 10 CHUs in Kilifi County with annual observations from 2017 to 2024. Five geospatial proxy indicators of settlement intensity were summarized within CHU boundaries: Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) nighttime lights radiance, …

Transfusion Intensity In The Icu: Reasons And Triggers, Merijn Reuland, Senta Raasveld, Jimmy Schenk, Claudia Oord, Sanne Bruin, Caroline Schaap, Andrew Flint, Jan Bakker, Maurizio Cecconi, Marcus Lance

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background The reasons and physiological triggers for blood transfusion in critically ill patients are not well characterized. Beyond hemoglobin levels, hemodynamic instability is frequently cited, but its role across clinical contexts remains unclear.

Aims (1) To determine whether reasons and triggers for RBC transfusion differ across intensive care unit (ICU) days with varying transfusion intensity. (2) To describe reasons for non-RBC transfusions across these intensity groups.

Methods This sub-study of the prospective International Point Prevalence Study of Intensive Care Unit Transfusion Practices (InPUT) classified ICU days by transfusion intensity: nonmajor (1 RBC unit), major (≥2 units), and massive (≥6 units …

Lessons Learned From The Validation Of A Machine Learning-Based Colorectal Carcinoma Screening Pipeline In Sub-Saharan Africa, Alfred Githuka, Ulysses Balis, Ye Chan Kim, Eileen Weinheimer-Haus, Christopher Williams, Jerome Cheng, Kelou Yao, John Blau, Shahin Sayed, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Background Artificial intelligence for digital pathology may improve cancer detection and workflow efficiency in low- and middle-income countries, but most models are trained and validated in high-income settings, creating uncertainty about generalizability and real-world deployability under differing pre-analytic and infrastructure conditions.

Objective To validate a locally optimized colorectal carcinoma screening pipeline, retrained on data from a local Kenyan cohort, and to assess its feasibility as a sensitivity-forward assistive pre-screening workflow.

Methods Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides from 136 biopsy-proven colonic adenocarcinoma cases and 20 normal controls from 2 Kenyan institutions were digitized at 40× using a Grundium Ocus scanner. …

"I Can See Where This Is Taking Me": Medical Students' Perceptions Of Humanities Courses At Aga Khan University, Kenya, Catherine Gathu, Marthaclaire Zammit, Urvi Saboo, Robert Opoka

Family Medicine, East Africa

Background Humanities courses in medical training are increasingly recognized as essential for developing empathetic, reflective and socially responsive physicians. Although well-established globally, their integration into medical education in African contexts remains limited. In Kenya, humanities are often peripheral within curricula dominated by biomedical sciences and clinical medicine. Aga Khan University (AKU), Nairobi, has introduced a novel medical curriculum that embeds seven core humanities courses as central components of the initial phase of its MBChB program. This study explored students’ perceptions and lived experiences of these humanities courses.

Methods A retrospective descriptive study using an embedded mixed-methods design was conducted among …

A Misplaced Pocket Of Air: Intramural Gastric Air Most Consistent With Gastric Emphysema, Priyanka Panwar, Lavender Otom, Subo Marsa, Gerald Odong, Steven Idet, Irene Muchiri, Hussein Abdulsamad, John Odhiambo, Christopher Opio, Amos Mwasamwaja, Saleem Abdulkarim

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Gastric emphysema (GE), or gastric pneumatosis, is a rare, noninfectious cause of intramural gastric air that must be distinguished from emphysematous gastritis (EG), a highly lethal infectious entity. Despite similar radiographic appearances, these conditions differ substantially in etiology, clinical course, management, and prognosis.

Cases We report three hemodynamically stable patients with CT-confirmed intramural gastric air most consistent with GE. Two had associated portal venous gas. The cases occurred in distinct clinical contexts: infectious gastroenteritis with retching, transient midgut volvulus with obstructive gastric overdistension, and alcohol-related upper gastrointestinal bleeding with forceful vomiting and a Mallory–Weiss tear. Although early EG could …

Co-Creation Of Global Public Health Interventions Within The Context Of Limited Resources: A Conceptual Qualitative Framework For Modest Co-Creation, Kahabi Isangula, Constance Constance Shumba

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Co-creation is increasingly promoted in global public health as a participatory methodology that centres lived experiences, the preferences, and structural realities of those most affected by health interventions. Within human-centred design (HCD), co-creation is typically operationalised through intensive cycles of qualitative inquiry, in-person workshops, facilitation, and iterative prototyping. While these approaches are methodologically robust, they are often resource-intensive and difficult to implement in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other low resource settings, precisely where context-sensitive and equitable intervention design is most needed. Despite this tension, existing literature offers limited guidance on how co-creation can be meaningfully adapted to such …

Maternal, Perinatal, Neonatal, And Postpartum Outcomes Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-2 Infection In Pregnancy: A World Health Organization Multi-Country Prospective Cohort Study, Edna Kara, Sami Gottlieb, Nathalie Broutet, Anna Thorson, Marie Delnord, Ibukun-Oluwa Abejirinde, Ronaldo Silva, Marleen Temmerman, Rodney Adam, Ingrid Gichere

Pathology, East Africa

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has raised global concerns regarding its impact on pregnant women and their infants, particularly across evolving variants. This study aimed to determine if infection during pregnancy increased the risk of adverse maternal, perinatal, neonatal, or postpartum outcomes during pre-Omicron and Omicron periods.

Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in 10 primarily low- and middle-income countries, comprising public and private maternity hospitals in rural and urban areas. Maternal age and comorbidity adjusted mixed-effects models with country-specific random intercepts were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) comparing participants with and without infection …

Demographic And Clinical Characteristics Of Participants In The Neuropsychiatric Genetics Of African Populations-Psychosis (Neurogap-Psychosis) Study: A Descriptive Analysis, Rocky Stroud, Kimberly Hook, Melkam Alemayehu, Lukoye Atwoli, Mark Baker, Lori Chibnik, Bizu Gelaye, Stella Gichuru, Symon Kariuki, Rehema Mwema

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Approximately 1.3 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as millions of others worldwide, live with psychotic disorders. However, there is limited mental health research based on these populations and even less of a focus on neuropsychiatric genetics research within these settings.

Methods To address this gap, the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis (NeuroGAP-Psychosis), a case-control study, collected data identifying genetic and environmental risk factors associated with psychotic disorders in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. This paper describes baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the 42,953 participants recruited between 2018–2023 and compares these characteristics by country and case …

Advancing Health Equity In Global Oncology: A Collaborative Academic-Cancer Society-Industry Program To Address Health Disparities In Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenneth Merrell, Ben Kamdem-Talom, Hannah Anie, Christine Wekesa, Nomsa Tsikai, Miriam Mutebi, Rakiya Saidu, Nwamaka Lasebikan, Adamu Bojude, Randiak Alaro

General Surgery, East Africa

Purpose Cancer care capacity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is constrained by late diagnosis and limited treatment access. Few funding mechanisms support innovative, locally led programs to address these challenges. A collaborative initiative was developed to strengthen oncology care through quality improvement (QI) projects.

Materials and Methods The program was developed by Global Bridges Oncology (GBO) at Mayo Clinic, Pfizer Global Medical Grants, and the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer. A committee composed primarily of African oncology experts guided the process. An RFP was disseminated across SSA in English, French, and Portuguese, inviting applications to improve diagnostic and …

Expanding Cleft Surgical Workforce Capacity In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Through Competency-Based Training, Daniel Bradley, Jonathan Diaz, Emily Jones, Kealani Unkel, Atenas Bustamante, Zenebe Gebremariyam, Daniel Abate, Mamy Andriamanarivo, Mekonen Abebe, Armando Siu

General Surgery, East Africa

Objective To evaluate a competency-based cleft surgery training pathway designed to expand local surgical capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design Prospective observational study of cleft surgery training outcomes between July 2022 and September 2024.

Setting Operation Smile cleft surgery programs and partner hospitals in LMICs, with integrated virtual education.

Patients/Participants Twenty trainee cleft surgeons from 11 countries.

Interventions A competency-based training pathway combining virtual education and mentored operative experience, with assessment using a validated surgical competency tool.

Main Outcome Measures Changes in self-reported surgical confidence and educator-rated surgical competency

Results Trainee cleft surgeons participated in 1168 cleft lip …

Hiding In Plain Sight: A Case Of Intestinal Tuberculosis Masquerading As Benign Lower Gi Bleeding, Lavender Otom, Priyanka Panwar, Gerald Odong, Fatma Kassim, Patricia Okiro, Christopher Opio, Saleem Abdulkarim

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) represents the most common form of abdominal TB, often affecting the ileocaecal region. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is an uncommon presentation and may create significant diagnostic uncertainty, particularly in immunocompromised patients and in settings where inflammatory bowel disease is also encountered.

Case Presentation A woman in her sixties from Africa presented with recurrent diarrhoea and intermittent haematochezia over a 6-month period. Initial endoscopic evaluation was nondiagnostic. Cross-sectional imaging later demonstrated multifocal bowel involvement affecting both the small and large bowel, including ileocaecal and rectoanal disease, with associated abdominopelvic lymphadenopathy. Histopathology from repeat colonoscopy biopsy showed caseating granulomas …

May Measurement Month 2023: Results Of An Opportunistic Blood Pressure Screening Campaign In Kenya, Mzee Ngunga, Thomas Beaney, Gabriele Kerr, Bernard Samia, Lilian Mbau, Neil Poulter, Hellen Nguchu, Jeilan Mohamed, Elijah Ogola

Internal Medicine, East Africa

The May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global screening campaign launched in 2017 to raise awareness of raised blood pressure (BP). Kenya has participated in all previous MMM campaigns. Adults aged ≥18 years were recruited through convenience sampling in nine counties of Kenya. Three seated BP readings were taken on each participant, and a questionnaire collected information on demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90mmHg or being on BP-lowering medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on BP-lowering medication with a BP < 140/90mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate missing BP readings. In total, 4,601 were screened, with a mean age of 41.7 years and 42.7% were female. Of all participants, 1,176 (25.6%) had hypertension, of whom 198 (16.8%) were aware, and 190 (16.2%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 65 (34.2%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 5.5% had controlled BP. The mean systolic and diastolic BPs of those on treatment was significantly higher than those without hypertension. Hypertensive disease in a previous pregnancy was associated with higher BP amongst female participants.

The MMM campaign in Kenya identified a substantial …

Community-Based Tuberculosis Screening With Computer-Aided Detection Technology Alone And In Combination With Point-Of-Care C-Reactive Protein Testing: A Paired Screen-Positive Trial, Klaus Reither, Fiona Vanobberghen, Anna Verjans, Harsh Harkare, Bart Jacobs, Alastair Heerden, Shriya Misra, Fabrizio Tedios, Curdin Brugger, Alfred Keter

Population Health, East Africa

Background Active tuberculosis case-finding in communities is crucial for early disease detection and disruption of transmission; however, it is complex and costly. A thorough analysis of tuberculosis screening strategies is essential, particularly because the health systems affected often have limited resources. We aimed to compare two community screening approaches in terms of tuberculosis case yield and cost.

Methods This pragmatic community trial, with a paired screen-positive design (ie, within-person comparison), was conducted in the Butha-Buthe District in Lesotho and the uMgungundlovu District in South Africa. All household members aged at least 18 years were eligible to participate, except those who …

Effects Of Targeted Interventions On Hiv Testing, Knowledge And Sexual Risk Behaviours Among Long-Distance Truck Drivers: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Cyrus Mutie, Berrick Otieno, Kawira Kithuci, John Gachohi, Grace Mbuthia

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Objectives We aimed to systematically summarise and quantify the empirical evidence on targeted interventions and their effects on various HIV prevention outcomes for long-distance truck drivers (LDTDs) globally.

Design A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources We searched PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest Central, EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, World Health Organisation (Global Index Medicus), Cochrane Library, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCiELO), Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to 15th May 2026.

Eligibility criteria We included original peer-reviewed interventional studies involving LDTDs of either gender …

Evaluating The Accuracy Of Face2gene Phenotyping Tools In South African Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Hendrike Mcdonald, Zandrè Bruwer, Michal Zieff, Emma Eastman, Brigitte Melly, Rizqa Sulaiman-Bardien, Karen Fieggen, Shahida Moosa, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Objectives Computational phenotyping tools, like Face2Gene, are increasingly used to support genetic diagnosis by analysing facial features. These tools perform well in Global North populations but are less accurate in other groups. This study aimed to assess the performance of Face2Gene’s DeepGestalt, FeatureMatcher, and D-Score in South African children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and unaffected controls.

Methods Facial photographs of 301 children from the NeuroDev South Africa study were analysed including 36 children with NDDs with a confirmed molecular diagnosis, 176 with NDDs without a confirmed molecular diagnosis, and 89 controls. Diagnostic accuracy of DeepGestalt and FeatureMatcher was assessed by …

Exploration Of The Vein To Vein Blood Transfusion System In Three Kenyan Counties: A Qualitative Study, Linda Barnes, Jennifer Makin, Jose Paiz, Jana Macleod, Cindy Makanga, Tecla Chelagat, Alejandro Munoz-Valencia, Ejemai Eboreime, Robert Kaburu, Carolyne Njoki

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background Severe shortages of blood for transfusion are a persistent global health crisis, with the burden disproportionately concentrated in low-income countries. Diverse stakeholder perspectives on blood availability might inform improvements. We aimed to use a comprehensive approach to identify the challenges, facilitators, and innovations within the blood transfusion continuum (BTC) in three different Kenyan settings.

Methods In this qualitative study, we interrogated the BTC in Siaya, Nakuru, and Turkana counties as part of the Pathways for Innovation in Blood Transfusion Systems in Kenya (PITS Kenya) mixed methods research study. We used purposive sampling, and through interviews and focus group discussions, …

Cross-Ancestry Polygenic Risk Scores Enhance Alzheimer's Disease Risk Prediction In Multiethnic Cohorts, Meri Okorie, Caroline Jonson, Alexis Oddi, Patricia Castruita, Brian Fulton-Howard, Kristine Yaffe, Jennifer Yokoyama, Chinedu Momoh, Shea Andrews

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 80+ genetic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), enabling the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS). However, the predictive accuracy of PRS in diverse populations remains low. Here, we evaluated the predictive accuracy of single-, multi-, and cross-ancestry AD-PRS models across multi-ancestral populations.

METHODS We used AD GWAS summary statistics from European, African, Admixed American, and East Asian populations to construct AD-PRS for each target population. Model performance was assessed by estimating odds ratios, R2, and area under the curve.

RESULTS The cross-ancestry Bayesian PRS model demonstrated the highest predictive performance in non-European …

Two Years Of Ocrelizumab Treatment In Black And Hispanic People With Multiple Sclerosis In Chimes: A Single-Arm Clinical Trial, Lilyana Amezcua, Anthony Reder, Evanthia Bernitsas, Nancy Monson, Timothy Vartanian, Gregory Wu, Mansoor Saleh, Annette Okai, Ahmed Obeidat, Dilraj Sokhi

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab in self-identified black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Methods The Characterization of Ocrelizumab in Minorities with Multiple Sclerosis (CHIMES) trial, a prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase 4 study, intentionally recruited underrepresented populations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Kenya. Black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis aged 18–65 years with Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0–5.5 received ocrelizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with no evidence of disease activity in 3 components at week 48: protocol-defined relapse, 24-week confirmed disability progression, and disease …

Characteristics Of Intensive Care Unit Registries - Findings From The Global Registry Icu Datasets (Grid) Survey, Luigi Pisani, Paola Lecce, Cornelius Sendagire, Vrindha Pari, Carlo Olivieri, Rabiul Uddin, Diptesh Aryal, Priyantha Athapattu, Sean Bagshaw, Wangari Siika

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background: Intensive care unit registries, which aim to improve the quality of intensive care unit care through benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives, are active worldwide, with considerable dishomogeneity. We aimed to map core datasets, additional variables, and research activities of these registries.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was disseminated to registry leads between October 2023 and June 2024. The survey was structured into four main topics: registry characteristics and coverage, core dataset features, additional modules, and registry-enabled research.

Results: Leads of 34/42 national registries responded (response rate 81%), covering 3,337 intensive care units, with a larger representation from …

Spatially Dissecting Drivers Of Inter-And Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity In Kenyan Breast Cancer, Mustapha Abubakar, Shahin Sayed, Hela Koka, Scott Lawrence, Karun Mutreja, Xing Hua, Petra Lenz, Samuel Anyaso-Samuel, Rosemary Kamau, Beryl Ooro

Pathology, East Africa

Despite growing evidence on the impact of intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) in breast cancer (BC), its biological drivers and clinically relevant mitigation strategies remain poorly characterized, particularly in low-resource settings where spatial profiling is rarely applied. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive, multiplatform spatial profiling study of BC in a Kenyan population. Using the NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler, we quantified 44 protein markers across 707 spatially defined, PanCK-segmented Areas of Illumination (AOIs) from 31 tumors. All tumors exhibited measurable ITH, with one-third showing marked heterogeneity. Sixteen patients exhibited two or more intrinsic subtypes within their tumors, three of …

Explosive Weapons Trauma Care Collective (Extracct) Clinical Practice Guideline: Transfer Of Critically Injured Casualties, Emma Butterfield, Gavin Wooldridge, Solomon Asfaw, Mervat Alhilal, Mardi Steere, Benjamin Wachira, Paul Reavley, Roman Shtybel, Marius Rehn

Emergency Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Blast-injured patients often present to healthcare facilities which cannot definitively meet their clinical needs. This clinical practice guideline (CPG) reviews and describes best practice for inter-facility transfer of casualties in resource limited and conflict-afflicted contexts where there may not be a formal referral pathway or specialized inter-facility transfer service.

Methods A narrative literature review and synthesis of expert opinion were used to develop this CPG.

Results The guideline describes current standards and best practice in inter-facility transfer in a low resource context—particularly during conflict when referral and transfer pathways may be overwhelmed—and advises on the selection and preparation of …

Climate Change Education For Environmental Sustainability In Health Professions Education: A Modified Delphi, Moses Mutua, Mirriam Kivuva

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Health Systems Interventions For Prevention Of Maternal Peripartum Infection In Low And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Roseline Abwao, Job Mapesa, Wanja Tenambergen, David Odada, Nasra Gathoni, Felix Riunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Globally, there is growing recognition that a functional health system is key to improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality. Maternal peripartum infection remains a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This infection is a multifaceted problem with many players. Adopting a health systems approach could help avert this preventable infection by addressing the gaps across all the components of care.

Objective The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate interventions to prevent maternal peripartum infection in LMICs.

Methods A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE …

Medical, Socioeconomic, And Geographic Disparities In Primary Health Care Access And Utilization: A Population-Based Study Of 8038 Individuals Aged One Year And Older In Rural Uganda, Saadiyah Mayet, Christin Puthur, Betty Nabatte, Benjamin Tinkitina, Christopher Opio, Yin-Cong Zhi, Narcis Kabatereine, Goylette Chami

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background There is limited data on trends in primary health care (PHC) access and utilisation in rural sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular lack of knowledge on disparities beyond geographic barriers.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted within the community-based cohort, SchistoTrack. 2191 households were randomly sampled from 52 rural villages in Pakwach, Buliisa, and Mayuge Districts in Uganda. All household members aged one year and older were surveyed between 2022–2024, resulting in 8038 individuals with baseline health access information. Key outcomes included any care sought within the month preceding the study, type of care sought, and usual source of care. …

Just Opt For Caesarean Section And Pick The Birthdate': A Qualitative Study Exploring Women's Delivery Preferences After Caesarean Section In Urban Tanzania, Daudi Gidion, Columba Mbekenga, Miriam Mgonja, Marleen Temmerman, Muzdalfat Abeid

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objectives To explore perspectives, preferences and decision-making regarding mode of delivery after a previous caesarean section among women in urban Tanzania.

Design A descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Setting A private tertiary hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Participants 11 women with one previous caesarean section who delivered at the study site were interviewed on the third day after delivery. Participants were purposively sampled to include both modes of delivery: five women underwent repeat caesarean section and six attempted a trial of labour after caesarean (TOLAC).

Results Thematic analysis identified four key …

Precise-Dyad: A Prospective Cohort Study Linking Maternal And Infant Health Trajectories In Sub-Saharan Africa, Marie-Laure Volvert, Robin Owino, Angela Koech, Onesmus Wanje, Isaac Mwaniki, Joseph Mutunga, Emily Mwadime, Geoffrey Omuse, Moses Mukhanya, Marvin Ochieng, Grace Mwashigadi, Agnes Mutua, Marleen Temmerman, Melissa Gladstone, Amina Abubakar, Helen Nabwera

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Purpose The PREgnancy Care Integrating Translational Science, Everywhere (PRECISE)-DYAD Study is a prospective observational cohort designed to investigate health outcomes among mother-child pairs (dyads) over the first 3 years of life in two contexts from sub-Saharan Africa. The primary objective of the study was to explore the effects of selected placenta-related complications, such as pregnancy hypertension, fetal growth restriction and preterm birth, on (1) Child health and development, and (2) Women’s health and well-being, including outcomes after stillbirth.

Participants The PRECISE-DYAD Study enrolled women (and their children) originally recruited into the PRECISE pregnancy cohort study in The Gambia and Kenya …

Persistent Gaps In Management And Risk Factor Control Among Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: All Of Us Research Program, Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, Soad Al Osta, Yussif Issaka, Isaac Acquah, Ahmad Alkhatib, Leen Othman, Samuel Mensah, Ato Howard, Christie Ballantyne, Salim S. Virani

Population Health, East Africa

Background

Methods