COVID-19 and the current state of palliative care in the United States.

Palliative care is becoming increasingly pertinent to be strengthened across health systems around the world, and the United States is not an exception. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted provision and access to palliative care among patients with serious and complex illnesses, critically ill persons, and their families in the United States. Prior to the emergence of the pandemic, the United States faced a number of challenges ranging from racial discrimination, a stressed medical workforce, a lack of passable reimbursement for palliative care, and legal barriers, among others.

Factors influencing severity of recurrent malaria in a conflict-affected state of South Sudan: an unmatched case-control study.

Background: The burden of malaria remains the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Sudan is not an exception. The country has borne the brunt of years of chronic warfare and remains endemic of malaria, with increasing mortality and morbidity. Limited data still exists on factors influencing the recurrence of severe malaria, especially in emergency contexts such as South Sudan, affected by various conflicts and humanitarian situations.

Psychosocial factors of stigma and relationship to healthcare services among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Kano state, Nigeria.

Background: Stigma associated with HIV shapes all aspect of prevention and treatment, yet there are limited data on how HIV-infected adolescents are affected by stigma. Stigma increases risk of psychological problems among HIV-infected individuals which can affect access to treatment and social support services. This study aimed at identifying psychosocial factors of stigma and relationship to healthcare services among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano state, Nigeria.

Prevalence and Socio-economic Impacts of Malnutrition Among Children in Uganda.

Malnutrition is one of the common problems that afflict the poor in low- and middle-income countries like Uganda. The rate of decline of malnutrition in the country has been very slow for the last 15 years. This problem is of utmost concern in this era of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in which achieving the goals is imperative.