Socioeconomic Status and Stroke: A Review of the Latest Evidence on Inequalities and Their Drivers.

The latest research on socioeconomic status (SES) and stroke continues to demonstrate that individuals with low SES are at a higher risk of stroke, receive lower-quality care, and experience poorer outcomes. Despite growing evidence on the impact of SES on stroke, gaps remain in understanding the underlying mechanisms and the influence of SES in different contexts, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This narrative review builds upon our previous reviews from 2006 to 2015, focusing on studies published since 2015 to update on the influence of SES on stroke.

A scoping review of stroke registers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Stroke registers are recommended as a key priority by the Lancet Neurology World Stroke Organization Commission for Stroke, 2023, and the African Stroke Leaders' Summit, 2022.

Aims: This scoping review aims to map where stroke registers have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The article then compares and critiques the methods and definitions used and summarizes key results from the registers.

Quality of life and quality-adjusted life years after stroke in Sierra Leone.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL after stroke is understudied in Africa and there are no reports of quality-adjusted life years after stroke (QALYs) in African countries. We determined the impact of stroke on HRQoL after stroke in Sierra Leone.

The feasibility, repeatability, validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-3L in Krio for patients with stroke in Sierra Leone.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility, repeatability, validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-3L in Krio for patients with stroke in Sierra Leone, the first psychometric assessment of the EQ-5D-3L to be conducted in patients with stroke in Sub Saharan Africa.

Methods: A prospective stroke register at two tertiary government hospitals recruited all patients with the WHO definition of stroke and followed patients up at seven days, 90 days and one year post stroke. The newly translated EQ-5D-3L, Barthel Index (BI), modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), a measure of stroke severity, were collected by trained researchers, face to face during admission and via phone at follow up.

A qualitative study examining the health system's response to COVID-19 in Sierra Leone.

The paper examines the health system's response to COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. It aims to explore how the pandemic affected service delivery, health workers, patient access to services, leadership, and governance. It also examines to what extent the legacy of the 2013-16 Ebola outbreak influenced the COVID-19 response and public perception.