Publications by authors named "I Mactaggart"
Article Synopsis
- The study aims to assess and improve the accessibility of primary health facilities for people with disabilities in Luuka District, Uganda, recognizing the health disparities faced by this group.
- A tool called the Disability Awareness Checklist (DAC) was adapted and pilot-tested, involving youth researchers with disabilities in the adaptation process, to measure accessibility across various indicators.
- Results showed low median accessibility scores (17.8% overall), with the highest scores in universal design, indicating significant room for improvement in staff training and service linkages.
Prevalence of vision impairment, diabetic retinopathy and disability in adults 50+ in the occupied Palestinian territories.
PLOS Glob Public Health
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness is a survey focused on vision impairment among people aged 50 and over in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), with findings from the first study in 2008 showing a 3.4% prevalence of blindness, predominantly avoidable.
- A follow-up survey conducted from July 2018 to April 2019 included 3,847 participants, revealing that 25.8% had some form of vision impairment, with high rates of avoidable causes contributing to blindness and various degrees of impairment.
- Diabetes prevalence was 33.8%, with about half of those affected also having diabetic retinopathy; the overall high prevalence of diabetes and disability among older adults underscores the need for
The Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) is a population-based cross-sectional survey methodology used to collect data on the prevalence of vision impairment and its causes and eye care service indicators among the population 50 years and older. RAAB has been used for over 20 years with modifications to the protocol over time reflected in changing version numbers; this paper describes the latest version of the methodology-RAAB7. RAAB7 is a collaborative project between the International Centre for Eye Health and Peek Vision with guidance from a steering group of global eye health stakeholders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlood pressure and the hypertension care cascade in The Gambia: Findings from a nationwide survey.
J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)
May 2024
Article Synopsis
- Community treatment of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa faces challenges due to significant gaps in the care continuum, affecting diagnosis and treatment.
- A survey conducted on adults 35 and older revealed that over half of the participants were normotensive, while those with hypertension showed significantly higher blood pressure levels, particularly among untreated individuals.
- The study found that blood pressure levels were generally elevated across all hypertension categories, and highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies to address hypertension at various stages of care.
Article Synopsis
- People with tuberculosis (TB) often experience mental distress, influenced by biological and socio-economic factors like poverty, which can continue even after treatment.
- A study in an urban Zambian community included 3,393 adults, with 120 being TB survivors; they used the SRQ-5 tool to assess mental distress.
- Results showed that about 16.9% of participants had mental distress; notable risk factors included being female, older, and abusing alcohol, while TB history did not significantly correlate with mental distress.