Is vitiligo associated with wearing plastic shoes in a podoconiosis endemic region of Ethiopia?

Introduction: Endemic non-filarial elephantiasis also known as podoconiosis often affects bare footed farmers and is endemic in Ethiopia. The disease is prevented by wearing shoes. We recently observed several patients presenting to a dermatology clinic with skin depigmentation after wearing plastic shoes ("shoe-contact vitiligo") which may deter shoe-wearing.

Health system reforms in five sub-Saharan African countries that experienced major armed conflicts (wars) during 1990-2015: a literature review.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has had more major armed conflicts (wars) in the past two decades - including 13 wars during 1990-2015 - than any other part of the world, and this has had an adverse effect on health systems in the region.

Objective: To understand the best health system practices in five SSA countries that experienced wars during 1990-2015, and yet managed to achieve a maternal mortality reduction - equal to or greater than 50% during the same period - according to the Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). Maternal mortality is a death of a woman during pregnancy, or within 42 days after childbirth - measured as maternal mortality ratio (MMR) per 100,000 live births.

Stakeholders' perspectives on facilitators of and barriers to the utilisation of and access to maternal health services in Eritrea: a qualitative study.

Background: Wars affect maternal health services by destroying health systems. Eritrea experienced two wars with neighbouring Ethiopia. Despite this, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Eritrea fell by 69% from 1590 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 501 in 2015.

Experience with a low-pressure colonic pouch (Mainz II) urinary diversion for irreparable vesicovaginal fistula and bladder extrophy in East Africa.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We report our experience with a low-pressure colonic pouch for urinary diversion in women with irreparable vesicovaginal fistulas and bladder extrophy.

Methods: This is a case series of 35 women with irreparable vesicovaginal fistula who underwent urinary diversion and two cases performed for bladder extrophy.

Results: Partial or complete loss of the urethra was present in over 90% of fistula cases.