The government of Kenya plans to largely finance Universal Health Coverage through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). However, most of the Kenyan population do not have health insurance cover. They rely mainly on out-of-pocket payment. The reality today is that uptake of health insurance is still low in general, particularly in rural areas, where the majority of Kenyans live. Studies have identified four main reasons why individuals are not registered for any form of health insur...
ABSTRACT Background: Anastomotic leak following gastrointestinal surgery is the most postoperative complication that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Its burden is high in low and middle income countries likes Tanzania with lack of supportive data on incidence of Anastomotic leak, predictors and outcome. Objective: This study aims to determine the predictors and early outcomes of anastomotic leak among patients who underwent primary bowel resection and anastomosis at Iringa Region...
The vast majority of Kenyans lack any form of health insurance. Thus, they find it difficult to raise money for health expenditure. As a result, studies elsewhere have shown an obvious disadvantage to uninsured individuals in terms of health care accorded to them when compared to patients with insurance. However, there is a scarcity of research in Kenya to evaluate whether lack of insurance affects the kind of health care they receive. The main objective of this study was to examine the prese...
SUMMARY Objective: We recently described early rigid retrograde endoscopic realignment of the disrupted urethra under caudal anaesthesia in the outpatient setting. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate our medium-term results. Patients and methods: A retrospective review of patients who had early rigid retrograde endoscopic realignment of traumatic urethral disruptions in our institution over a 5-year period was done and the relevant data extracted and analyzed. Results: Fourteen...
Abstract Introduction: Nigeria’s University College Hospital’s PMTCT centre provides voluntary counselling and testing as part of routine care which was assessed in this paper. Methods: Structured face-to-face interview was carried out at exit on participants from the counselling session. Data analysis was by frequency distribution. Results: All clients were assured of confidentiality, had their HIV/ AIDS knowledge assessed and consent taken before the test, 95.45% of participants had the...
Table of Contents Declaration Acknowledgements Summary Table of Contents Glossary of molecular Biology Terms Abbreviations List of Figures and Tables Chapter 1: Introduction A. BACKGROUND 1.1 Heart Disease: global and local burden B. DEFINITIONS 1.2 Ischemia 1.2.1 Ischemia and Infarction 1.2.2 Ischemic Damage iI 1 4 8 11 13 17 18 18 20 20 21 1.2.3 Reperfusion Injury 22 1.2.4 IschemiaJReperfusion vs Hypoxia/reoxygenation 23 1.3 Preconditioning Stimuli 1.3.1 Ischemic preconditioning 1.3.2 Pharm...
ABSTRACT It is a recognized fact that most well defined population groups have their own typical pattern of inherited disorders. The genetic conditions most commonly found in Greek persons are the thalassaemias, glucose-6-dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and, to a lesser extent, certain of the haemoglobinopathies. The clinical and socio-economic consequences of these disorders are significant. In the homozygous state, alpha-thalassaemia is incompatible with life, while thalassaemia major (ho...
Abstract Metabolic remodeling is thought to be an important contributor towards the development of various cardiac pathophysiologic conditions. Therefore, studies attempting to delineate undenying mechanisms driving cardiac metabolic remodeling represent an important initiative toward the development of novel therapeutic interventions. To further investigate the role of metabolic substrate switches in the heart, we focused on a pivotal, rate-limiting step of cardiac fatty acid metabolism i.e...
ABSTRACT Background: Antenatal care is an important aspect of preventive medicine directed at detecting and reducing the risk of complications among pregnant women. Clients' satisfaction indicates patients' judgement about the strengths and weaknesses of a health facility. It is a means of quality assessment in many areas of healthcare delivery Aims: This study compared clients' perception, preference and satisfaction with antenatal care services in selected public and private hospitals i...
ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus Foot Syndrome (DMFS) occurs against a background infection, neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Clinical assessment often under diagnoses PAD. However, the use of a hand held Doppler 10 calculate the ankle brachial index (ABI) is an inexpensive, non- invasive and quantitative method of determining the presence of PAD. A retrospective analysis of patients with DMFS who had PAD assessment with a hand held Doppler was done. Data retrieved from the doppler...
ABSTRACT A comprehensive review of the origin of cowpea, (Vigna unquiculata) its place in the diet of the people of West Merion and in particular Nigeria, its nutritive value and the inherent anti-nutritional factors, together with the biological mechanisms affecting protein digestion is given. The search revealed that there are about 39 varieties of cowpea in circulation within West Africa, of which 4 with average protein content of 26.7 per cent) are major in the diet of the people. These a...
Abstract Introduction: Pregnant women living with HIV are at high risk of transmitting HIV to their infants during pregnancy, birth or through breastfeeding and without any interventions, between 20% and 45% of infants may become infected with an estimated risk of 5- 10% during pregnancy, 10-20% during labour and delivery, and 5-20% through breastfeeding. Objective: This study assessed the prevention of mother to child transmission PMTCT programmes in Enugu hospitals. Method: This was a cross...
Abstract Background: iron deficiency is the commonest cause of nutritional anaemia in children worldwide particularly in developing countries. Infants and toddlers are prone to developing iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of IDA and some factors associated with it in this group of children. Study Design: In a study, haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) estimations done in 282 apparently well children aged 6-24 months...
Abstract Hansen´s disease (leprosy) is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). It is an age-old disease that has been around since biblical times yet cases still occur especially in Asia and Africa, despite concerted global efforts to eradicate the disease. Chemotherapeutic agents are available and effective once administered appropriately and adequately. We report an elusive case of Hansen´s disease wherein the only symptom was a nodule on the na...