Implementation of external quality assessment of microscopy for improved parasite detection and confirmatory diagnosis of malaria in Tanzanian Military health facilities.

Objective: Good quality microscopy is critical for accurate detection and confirmation of malaria parasite infections. Microscopy relies on the skills of technicians to prepare and read slides, high quality reagents, and a good program of internal and external quality control (EQA), which are lacking in most malaria endemic settings. This study was undertaken between January 2016 and December 2018 to pilot an EQA of microscopy for improved diagnosis of malaria and patient care in Tanzanian Military health facilities.

Prevalence and Pattern of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Populations in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Background: Many elderly persons in Nigeria are having mental health challenges and there is a lack of commensurate increase in services to attend to such.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, pattern and correlates of psychiatric morbidity among community dwelling elderly persons (≥ 60 years) in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Methods: 532 respondents were selected using a multistage, stratified cluster sampling method from the elderly population in Abeokuta.

Psychoactive substance use among outpatients with severe mental illness: A comparative study.

Background: Despite several studies on the prevalence and pattern of substance use in Nigeria, there is little information on substance use in patients diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (BD).

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the pattern of psychoactive substance use among outpatients with BD and schizophrenia.

Setting: The study was conducted in a neuropsychiatric hospital in Nigeria.

The use of Fionet technology for external quality control of malaria rapid diagnostic tests and monitoring health workers' performance in rural military health facilities in Tanzania.

Introduction: Internal and external quality control (QC) of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is important to increase reliability of RDTs currently used to diagnose malaria. However, cross-checking of used RDTs as part of quality assurance can rarely be done by off-site personnel because there is no guarantee of retaining visible test lines after manufacturers' recommended reading time. Therefore, this study examined the potential of using Fionet™ technology for remote RDT quality monitoring at seven clinics, identifying reasons for making RDT processing and interpretation errors, and taking corrective actions for improvement of diagnosis and consequently improved management of febrile patients.

Comparison of visual and automated Deki Reader interpretation of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in rural Tanzanian military health facilities.

Background: Although microscopy is a standard diagnostic tool for malaria and the gold standard, it is infrequently used because of unavailability of laboratory facilities and the absence of skilled readers in poor resource settings. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are currently used instead of or as an adjunct to microscopy. However, at very low parasitaemia (usually < 100 asexual parasites/µl), the test line on malaria rapid diagnostic tests can be faint and consequently hard to visualize and this may potentially affect the interpretation of the test results.

Profile of clinically-diagnosed dementias in a neuropsychiatric practice in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria.

Objective: Many subjects with dementia present primarily to neuropsychiatric practices because of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD). This study reviewed the profile of clinically-diagnosed dementias and BPSD seen in a pioneer neuropsychiatric practice in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria over a ten year period (January1998 - December 2007).

Methods: A review of hospital records of all patients with diagnoses of dementia or dementing illness using the ICD-10 criteria as well as specific diagnostic criteria for different dementia phenotypes.

Aggressive behaviour and mental illness: a study of in-patients at Aro Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Abeokuta.

Objectives: To determine the magnitude and pattern of aggressive behaviour among psychiatric in-patients and identity associated socio-demographic and clinical factors.

Method: The study was cross-sectional in design. Among patients admitted to the Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Aro (and its Lantoro annex), Abeokuta between January 1 to December 31, 2005, those who manifested aggressive behaviour were identified.

Financial cost of treating Nigerian in-patients with schizophrenia.

Fifty seven each ofhospitalised schizophrenic patients (fulfilled diagnostic criteria for research version of I.C.D.