Publications by authors named "H S Twabi"
Purpose: The study aimed to assess the reliability of tele-education in training a Malawian ophthalmology resident to interpret optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of patients with macular conditions.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 1000 macula-centered OCT image series from 1000 eyes of 1000 consecutive patients from Malawi, which involved initial interpretation by a German retina specialist (observer 1) (T). Observer 1 then trained a Malawian resident (observer 2) via email, and observer 2 independently interpreted images at T, followed by face-to-face training in Malawi and reinterpretation at T and T (3-month intervals).
Background: Despite strong evidence-based strategies for prevention and management, global efforts to reduce deaths from postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) have failed, and it remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. We conducted a detailed review of all maternal deaths from 33 facilities in Malawi to identify health system weaknesses leading to deaths from PPH.
Methods: Data were collected regarding every maternal death occurring across all district and central hospitals in Malawi.
Article Synopsis
- Caesarean sections (CS) are the most common major surgery worldwide, but they pose significant risks for maternal mortality, especially in low-resource settings like Malawi, where a study reviewed maternal deaths from 2020 to 2022.
- The study found that over half of maternal deaths (51.8%) occurred after CS, with women undergoing CS being five times more likely to die compared to those who delivered vaginally, due to causes like postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and infection.
- Health system issues contributed to these deaths, including delayed treatment and inadequate monitoring, indicating a pressing need to enhance the safety and management of CS in healthcare practices.
Article Synopsis
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health issue, and the standard treatment regimen, particularly the dose of rifampicin, has not significantly changed in fifty years, leading researchers to investigate higher doses.* -
- A systematic review analyzed data from 19 studies involving 6,332 patients to assess the efficacy and safety of rifampicin doses over 8-35 mg/kg, but found no improved efficacy with higher doses and potential liver injury risks at doses above 20 mg/kg.* -
- The findings indicate that while higher doses of rifampicin might not enhance treatment effectiveness for TB, the risk of liver damage is a concern, suggesting a need for larger clinical trials to better understand the implications.*
Article Synopsis
- * The MPHIA survey, conducted between January 2020 and April 2021, involved over 13,000 women to estimate cervical cancer screening prevalence and its association with demographic factors.
- * Results show a 16.5% overall prevalence of self-reported cervical cancer screening, with higher rates among women living with HIV (37.8%) and the Southwest zone reporting the highest screening rates (24.1%).