Lived experience of people living with HIV in Blantyre, Malawi: an exploratory qualitative study.

Background: People living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) encounter a range of complex challenges that impact their physical, psychological, and social well-being. The combined effects of these challenges significantly impact their daily functioning. Despite the relatively high prevalence of HIV in Malawi, there is limited knowledge on how the challenges experienced by people living with HIV correlate with their societal participation and performance of activities.

Perceptions of Physiotherapy students about their teaching environment at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi.

Introduction: The learning environment is defined as an environment where teaching is taking place, as perceived by both students and teachers. A conducive learning environment is critical for successful curriculum implementation, which also affects students' academic performance. There have been initiatives introduced to improve the learning environment at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS).

FIFA football nurse - A task sharing approach in sports and exercise medicine practice in grassroots women's football in low- and middle- income settings. A study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Football (soccer) is a very popular team sport among African women and girls, with player numbers continuing to rise at all levels of the sport. Whereas the participation in football and associated injuries are on the rise, there are not enough sports and exercise medicine (SEM) personnel to attend to these women football players. While Africa may not currently have enough SEM trained medical doctors and/or physiotherapists, it has relatively higher numbers of other healthcare workers; for example, nurses, who lead healthcare services provision from community to tertiary levels.

Status and Trends of Physical Activity Surveillance, Policy, and Research in 164 Countries: Findings From the Global Observatory for Physical Activity-GoPA! 2015 and 2020 Surveys.

Background: Physical activity (PA) surveillance, policy, and research efforts need to be periodically appraised to gain insight into national and global capacities for PA promotion. The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries.

Methods: We used data from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) 2015 and 2020 surveys.

Prevalence of performance enhancing substance use among elite football players in two super league teams in Blantyre, Malawi.

Background: Use of performance enhancing substances (PES) is common among athletes with a worldwide prevalence ranging from 5% to 31%. There has been little knowledge of PES use in African athletes with no available data for Malawian football players. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PESs use among elite football players in two super league teams in Blantyre, Malawi.

Protocol for a single-centre mixed-method pre-post single-arm feasibility trial of a culturally appropriate 6-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme among adults with functionally limiting chronic respiratory diseases in Malawi.

Introduction: Malawi has a substantial burden of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) which cause significant morbidity and loss of economic productivity, affecting patients, families and health systems. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a highly recommended non-pharmacological intervention in the clinical management of people with CRDs. However, Malawi lacks published evidence on the implementation of PR for people with CRDs.

An Improvised Pulmonary Telerehabilitation Program for Postacute COVID-19 Patients Would Be Feasible and Acceptable in a Low-Resource Setting.

Postacute COVID-19 patients are at risk of long-term functional impairment, and the rehabilitation community is calling for action preparing for a "tsunami of rehabilitation needs" in this patient population. In the absence of standard guidelines and local evidence, a 3-wk pulmonary telerehabilitation program was successfully delivered to a postacute severe COVID-19 patient in Malawi. The patient experienced persistent dyspnea and fatigue, with a remarkable impact on his health status.

Effects of maximal strength training on bone mineral density in people living with HIV and receiving anti-retroviral therapy: a pilot study.

Background: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) among people living with HIV (PLWHIV). Although physical activity is recommended for improving bone health in patients with reduced BMD, data on effects of strength exercises on low BMD among PLWHIV is scarce. This study therefore aimed to determine the effects of a 12 weeks maximal strength training (MST) on BMD among PLWHIV in Blantyre, Malawi.

Physical activity levels among Malawian adults living with HIV and receiving anti-retroviral therapy.

Introduction: Despite increasing life expectancy among people living with HIV (PLWHIV), anti-retroviral therapy (ART) side effects, HIV chronic inflammation and co-morbidities may limit functional abilities and reduced participation in exercises and physical activity (PA). PA improves wellbeing and overall quality of life of PLWHIV. In Malawi, there is paucity of information regarding PA levels among Malawians living with HIV and receiving ART.

Reduced bone mineral density among HIV infected patients on anti-retroviral therapy in Blantyre, Malawi: Prevalence and associated factors.

Introduction: Use of tenofovir based anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Low BMD predisposes people living with HIV (PLWHIV) to fractures thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. Since the introduction of tenofovir based ARV regimens in 2011, information on the prevalence of low BMD in PLWHIV and receiving ART is still scarce in Malawi.

Common impairments and functional limitations of HIV sequelae that require physiotherapy rehabilitation in the medical wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi: A cross sectional study.

Introduction: The progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) have resulted in a range of complications, which affect different body systems and result in functional limitations and disabling impairments.

Objective: To investigate HIV-related impairments and functional limitations that require physiotherapy rehabilitation in patients admitted to the medical wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.

Methods: This was a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study involving the participation of 32 female (59.

The challenges and experiences of stroke patients and their spouses in Blantyre, Malawi.

Unlabelled: Stroke is the second major cause of death and disability worldwide. Most stroke survivors experience various challenges due to physical and mental impairments which increase the burden on spouses during care. The broad aim of this study was to explore the challenges and experiences of stroke patients and their spouses during and after rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Centre in Blantyre, Malawi.

Management of Reduced Bone Mineral Density in HIV: Pharmacological Challenges and the Role of Exercise.

Low bone mineral density is becoming more common among people living with HIV following the use of current antiretroviral therapy drugs such as tenofovir. Although pharmacological therapies used to treat low bone mineral density are associated with adverse effects and may increase the pill burden in people living with HIV who are already burdened by antiretroviral therapy drugs, non-pharmacological strategies to prevent and treat reduced bone mineral density resulting from antiretroviral therapy drugs in people living with HIV have not been fully explored. Despite evidence that exercise is effective in increasing bone mineral density, effects of exercise on low bone mineral density resulting from antiretroviral therapy drugs in HIV infected individuals are still unknown.

Advancing Physical Therapy Practice through Curriculum Revision: The Malawi Experience.

Challenged health systems are a motivation for health education reform. Although resources-limited areas cover our planet, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest disease burden, yet the lowest health-care provider and medical school density of any region in the world. Malawi is among the most under-resourced countries in the world.