Diseases Commons^™

Ebola Virus- A Public Health Menace, Mariah Valentine, Raegan Alexander, Chidera Osuoha, Hafsa Jamaa, Myrna Rezcallah

Research and Scholarship Symposium Posters

Ebola is a serious disease in West Africa. It has a mortality rate of 70 percent and can be transmitted through close body contact. There is one certified vaccine called the Ervebo vaccine which has been proven to be effective against only certain strains. The virus first infects the dendritic cells, compromising them to show the disease to T cells. A recent report by Sankaran shows the reemergence of Ebola Viral disease in monkeys who have been treated with antibodies from the infection in the past. These findings suggest that the virus can hide and persist in specific body regions, …

Childhood Mortality During And After Acute Illness In Africa And South Asia: A Prospective Cohort Study, Childhood Acute Illness And Nutrition (Chain) Network, Abdoulaye Hama Diallo, Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin Shahid, Ali Fazal Khan, Ali Faisal Saleem, Benson O. Singa, Blaise Siezanga Gnoumou, Caroline Tigoi, Syed Asad Ali, Zaubina Kazi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Mortality among children with acute illness in low-income and middle-income settings remains unacceptably high and the importance of post-discharge mortality is increasingly recognised. We aimed to explore the epidemiology of deaths among young children with acute illness across sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia to inform the development of interventions and improved guidelines.
Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled children aged 2-23 months with acute illness, stratified by nutritional status defined by anthropometry (ie, no wasting, moderate wasting, or severe wasting or kwashiorkor), who were admitted to one of nine hospitals in six countries across sub-Saharan Africa and …

Addressing Production Gaps For Vaccines In African Countries, Anna Mia Ekström, Göran Tomson, Rhoda K. Wanyenze, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Catherine Kyobutungi, Agnes Binagwaho, Ole Petter Ottersen

Institute for Global Health and Development

No abstract provided.

Gender, Age And Staff Preparedness To Adopt Internet Tools For Research Sharing During Covid-19 In African Varsities, Valentine Joseph Owan, Michael Ekpenyong Asuquo Phd., Samuel Okpon Ekaette Ph.D., Sana Aslam, Moses Eteng Obla, Daniel Clement Agurokpon, Mercy Valentine Owan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study assessed the partial as well as the collaborative impact of age and gender on academic staff preparedness to adopt Internet tools for research sharing in African universities during Covid-19. Although evidence abounds in the literature on gender and age as they affect relatively, scholars’ utilisation of digital tools for research communication, such studies did not examine scholars’ preparedness to adopt from a broad perspective of Africa. This study was conducted based on the argument that the preparedness of scholars may affect their future interest to utilize digital tools for research sharing. A quantitative method, based on the descriptive …

Predicting The Environmental Suitability For Onchocerciasis In Africa As An Aid To Elimination Planning, Elizabeth A. Cromwell, Joshua C P. Osborne, Thomas R. Unnasch, Maria-Gloria Basáñez, Katherine M. Gass, Kira A. Barbre, Elex Hill, Kimberly B. Johnson, Katie M. Donkers, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Recent evidence suggests that, in some foci, elimination of onchocerciasis from Africa may be feasible with mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin. To achieve continental elimination of transmission, mapping surveys will need to be conducted across all implementation units (IUs) for which endemicity status is currently unknown. Using boosted regression tree models with optimised hyperparameter selection, we estimated environmental suitability for onchocerciasis at the 5 × 5-km resolution across Africa. In order to classify IUs that include locations that are environmentally suitable, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify an optimal threshold for suitability concordant with locations where …

A Review Of Toolkits And Case Definitions For Detecting Enteric Fever Outbreaks In Asian And African Countries From 1965-2019, Asif Khaliq, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Salman Haq, Rahima Yaseen, Sonia Qureshi, Fahad Rind, Zahra A. Padhani, Ayub Khan, Abdul Momin Kazi, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: This review assessed the case definitions, diagnostic criteria, antimicrobial resistance, and methods used for enteric fever outbreaks and utilization of any unified outbreak score or checklist for early identification and response in Asia and Africa from 1965-2019.
Methods: We searched enteric fever outbreaks using PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane library. Studies describing a single outbreak event of enteric fever in Asia and Africa from 1965-2019 were reviewed. We excluded case reports, letter to editors, studies reporting typhoid in conjunction with other diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) trip reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) bulletins …

Risk Factors For Covid-19 Infection, Disease Severity And Related Deaths In Africa: A Systematic Review, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Digsu Negese Koye, Dagnachew Muluye Fetene, Mulu Woldegiorgis, Yohannes Kinfu, Ayele Bali Geleto, Yohannes Adama Melaku, Hassen Mohammed, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Mamaru Ayenew Awoke, Mulugeta Molla Birhanu, Amanuel Tesfay Gebremedhin, Yalemzewod Assefa Gelaw, Desalegn Markos Shifti, Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh, Teketo Kassaw Tegegne, Solomon Abrha, Atsede Fantahun Aregay, Mohammed Biset Ayalew, Abadi Kahsu Gebre, Kidane Tadesse Gebremariam, Tesfaye Gebremedhin, Lemlem Gebremichael, Cheru Tesema Leshargie, Getiye Dejenu Kibret, Maereg Wagnew Meazaw, Alemayehu Berhane Mekonnen, Dejen Y. Tekle, Azeb G. Tesema, Fisaha H. Tesfay, Wubshet Tesfaye, Befikadu L. Wubishet, Berihun A. Dachew, Akilew A. Adane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evidence on risk factors for transmission, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths in Africa. Design A systematic review has been conducted to synthesise existing evidence on risk factors affecting COVID-19 outcomes across Africa. Data sources Data were systematically searched from MEDLINE, Scopus, MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Eligibility criteria Studies for review were included if they were published in English and reported at least one risk factor and/or one health outcome. We included all relevant literature published up until 11 August 2020. Data extraction and …

Ebola: Africa, James Goodwin

Global Issues in Public Health

In this paper, I talk about the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Ebola is a rare virus that spreads through the immune system and can be fatal. Ebola is a pathogen from Africa, specifically West Africa. There has been almost 32,000 cases since 1976. Symptoms include, Fever, Headache, Muscle pain, Fatigue, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Stomach pain, and Bleeding/Bruising. Transmission happens during close or direct contact. World Health Organization has been making efforts to handle outbreaks such as the outbreak in 2014. World Health Organization mobilized and set up relief efforts. Education is a key idea for my thoughts on how we can intervene …

Comoros: Malaria, Elizabeth Rennolds

Global Public Health

After human settlement and migration took place throughout the world, a disease known as malaria broke out within many countries. Malaria is a disease that comes from a fever where a parasite takes over one’s red blood cells with mosquitoes being the ones that transmit this disease. The symptoms of this disease are as follows: fever (typical cycles of fever, chills, sweating), joint pain, headaches, vomiting, convulsions, and coma. Malaria is a big issue in the Comoros, an island which can be seen in the Indian Ocean between the eastern coast of Africa and Madagascar, because of the many occurrences …

The South Sudan: Tuberculosis, Blake Schwarz

Global Public Health

The South Sudan is a country that recently gained independence from the Sudan after a bloody twenty year civil war. They lost nearly two million lives during the war, and are now ravaged by Tuberculosis, or TB. After gaining their independence in 2011, the South Sudan has an average of 18,000 cases of TB at any time. This would consider TB in the South Sudan an endemic, as it always has a base level of TB cases that does not vary. There is medication for TB that is available to the citizens on the South Sudan, but the prescription is …

Seychelles: Diabetes, Camille Myers

Global Public Health

One of the major health problems in Seychelles, a cluster of islands off the coast of Eastern Africa, is diabetes. There are many different types of diabetes, but the most common type to this region is Type 2 diabetes. At this time Seychelles, and many other countries in Africa, have about half of the adult population diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Along with the diagnosis of diabetes being a problem, people in Seychelles often go undiagnosed for a while because they are ignorant to the risks and the symptoms of the disease. Only about 50% of the population with pre-diabetic …

Malaria: Sub-Saharan Africa, Caroline Morris

Global Issues in Public Health

Sub-Saharan Africa is the large area situated south of the Saharan desert. It is considered one of the poorest regions in the world; the territory faces many challenges in respect to public health. One of the most important issues that sub-Saharan Africa faces is malaria. It is spread through the female Anopheles mosquito. Environmental factors of sub-Saharan Africa heavily influence the rates of incidence in the region due to high populations of mosquitoes. Social determinants of health affect risk in the sub-Saharan populations. Little access to healthcare, built environment, and education all impact incidence of malaria in the region. Children …

The Plight Of The Lucluc: Examining The Deadly Mystery Of Nodding Syndrome, Ethan K. Mcgann

Senior Honors Theses

Nodding syndrome (NS) is an emerging epidemic neurological disease that is shrouded in mystery. It is currently only found in the post-conflict regions of South Sudan, northern Uganda, and Tanzania. NS occurs in children from the ages of five to fifteen and is characterized by a loss of motor control in the neck muscles. Seizure episodes can range in intensity from atonic to tonic-clonic, and the onset of the first episode generally marks the beginning of a decline in the child’s physical and mental health. NS is a progressive disease that generally results in physical wasting, stunted growth, behavioral difficulties, …

Experiences Of Kenyan Healthcare Workers Providing Services To Men Who Have Sex With Men: Qualitative Findings From A Sensitivity Training Programme, Elise M. Van Der Elst, Evans Gichuru, Anisa Omar, Jennifer Kanungi, Zoe Duby, Miriam Midoun, Sylvia Shangani, Susan M. Graham, Adrian D. Smith, Eduard J. Sanders, Don Operario

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya are at high risk for HIV and may experience prejudiced treatment in health settings due to stigma. An on-line computer-facilitated MSM sensitivity programme was conducted to educate healthcare workers (HCWs) about the health issues and needs of MSM patients.

Methods

Seventy-four HCWs from 49 ART-providing health facilities in the Kenyan Coast were recruited through purposive sampling to undergo a two-day MSM sensitivity training. We conducted eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with programme participants prior to and three months after completing the training programme. Discussions aimed to characterize HCWs’ challenges in …

Living With Uncertainty: Acting In The Best Interests Of Women, Erica Gollub, Zena Stein

HWCOM Faculty Publications

A recent multi-country study on hormonal contraceptives (HC) and HIV acquisition and transmission among African HIV-serodiscordant couples reported a statistically significant doubling of risk for HIV acquisition among women as well as transmission from women to men for injectable contraceptives. Together with a prior cohort study on African women seeking health services, these data are the strongest yet to appear on the HC-HIV risk. This paper will briefly review the Heffron study strengths and relevant biological and epidemiologic evidence; address the futility of further trials; and propose instead an alternative framework for next steps. The weight of the evidence calls …

Social Context Of Disclosing Hiv Test Results In Tanzania, Joe Lugalla, Stanley Yoder, Huruma Sigala, Charles Madihi

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study sought to understand how individuals reveal their HIV test results to others and the ways in which social relations affect the disclosure process. The data were collected through open-ended interviews administered in Swahili to informants who had just been tested for HIV and to those who were living with HIV in Dar es Salaam and Iringa regions. Analysis shows that social relations influence the decisions individuals make about disclosure. Most people preferred to reveal their HIV status to close family members. Most also mentioned the fear of being rejected and discriminated against as major reasons for not disclosing …

Tropical Medicine: A Clinical Text, 8th Edition, Revised And Expanded, Kevin M. Cahill, M.D.

Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs

The history of tropical medicine is as dramatic as the story of humankind. It has its own myths and legends, including tales of epidemics that destroyed whole civilizations. Today, with silent stealth, tropical diseases still claim more lives than all the current wars combined. Having had the privilege of working throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as in the great medical centers of Europe and the United States, the author presents the details essential for understanding pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, therapy, and prevention of the major tropical diseases. The text, now in its eighth edition, has been used for …

The Curse Of A Generation: Evaluating The Effects Of Gender Roles And Marriage On Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa And Developing An Efficient Prevention Plan, Mark B. Krom

Senior Honors Theses

HIV/AIDS research in sub-Saharan Africa shows an important relationship between gender roles, marriage, and HIV prevalence. Research is collected and analyzed, and cultural issues are addressed in order to develop a prevention plan. The African church seems to be an efficient venue through which to reach sub-Saharan Africa, and the most efficient prevention plan to curb HIV/AIDS is abstinence.