Status of malaria and its implications for elimination in an endemic province of South Africa: retrospective analysis.

South Africa set a target to eliminate malaria by 2018. Kwa-Zulu-Natal (KZN) province was earmarked to reach the elimination goal first. However, recent evidence suggests that the province has not yet achieved the elimination goal.

Prevalence of cervical abnormalities among rural women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Introduction: despite the availability of screening facilities in South Africa, cervical cancer prevalence and mortality is still high. Most women present to the health facilities at an advanced stage of disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cervical abnormalities using the revised Bethesda System among rural women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Vaccination Coverage Under the Expanded Program on Immunization in South West Cameroon.

Background: Inadequate vaccination coverage with increased risk of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks remain a problem in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the vaccination coverage levels under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in a health area and to identify factors that affect vaccination coverage in view of providing valuable data for disease prevention.

Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in August 2017 in the Mbonge health area, Southwest Cameroon.

Prevalence of onchocerciasis, attitudes and practices and the treatment coverage after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin in the Tombel Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by . It affects 37 million people of which 99% are in Africa. This study assessed the prevalence of onchocerciasis after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin.

Assessment of minor psychiatric morbidity, stressors, and barriers of seeking help among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Introduction: Medical education can be stressful and a source of psychiatric morbidity for medical students with the potential of causing serious professional and personal negative consequences. With the limited studies investigating this issue in Sudan, this study aimed at assessing psychiatric morbidity, determine stressors, evaluate mental health care seeking behavior and barriers to seeking help among medical students in Khartoum, Sudan.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with data collection for a period of one month, during the survey.

Factors associated with the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in the Bamenda health districts, Cameroon.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in malaria endemic areas with moderate to high transmission rates, pregnant women presenting for antenatal clinic (ANC) should receive at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) for malaria between the 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy at intervals of 4 weeks between doses. Several challenges remain in effective implementation of IPTp policy making the targeted coverage (80%) of the third doses of IPTp far from being achieved. The main objective of this study was to assess factors associated with the uptake of IPTp among pregnant women attending ANCs in the Bamenda Health District.

A Four-Year Hospital-Based Retrospective Study of the Predictors of Tuberculosis in People Living with HIV and Receiving Care at Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infections place immense burdens on healthcare systems with particularly diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. TB is high among opportunistic diseases and the most leading cause of death among patients with HIV/AIDS. HIV infection is the most-known risk factor for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and progression to active disease, which increases the risk of latent TB reactivation by 20-fold.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension among adults in a rural setting: the case of Ombe, Cameroon.

Introduction: High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disorder affecting approximately one billion people globally and remains a major contributor to the global burden of non-communicable diseases and mortality. Hypertension, once rare in traditional African societies, is now a major public health problem probably because of a rise in its risk factors. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 74.

Exploring cultural beliefs and practices associated with weaning of children aged 0-12 months by mothers attending services at Maternal Child Health Clinic Kalisizo Hospital, Uganda.

Introduction: Despite the fact that mothers know the exact age to wean their infants, majority of the mothers do not practice exclusive breastfeeding due to cultural beliefs and practices. The purpose of the study was to explore cultural beliefs and practices associated with weaning children at the Maternal Child Health Clinic Kalisizo Hospital.

Methods: This was a simple qualitative study.

The level of knowledge and associated socio-demographic factors on cervical cancer among women: a cross-sectional study at Kenyase Bosore community, Ghana.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a major cause of death amongst women around the world. In Ghana, it accounts for over 2,119 female deaths and about 3,151 new diagnoses of the disease. It is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat.

The effect of subsidized malaria treatment among under-five children in the Buea Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: Access to free diagnoses and treatments has been shown to be a major determinant in malaria control. The Cameroon government launched in 2011 and 2014 the exemption of the under-fives' simple and severe malaria treatment policy to increase access to health care and reduce inequality, so as to reduce the mortality related to malaria among the under-fives. This study assessed the effect of providing free malaria treatment in the Buea health district.

Assessment of the knowledge of the modes of transmission and prevention of malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Nkwen Health Center Bamenda, Cameroon.

Introduction: Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bites of infected female anopheles' mosquitoes. According to the latest WHO data published in 2017, malaria deaths in Cameroon reached 9.161 deaths accounting for 4.

Knowledge and practices of health practitioners on treatment of Buruli ulcer in the Mbonge, Ekondo Titi and Muyuka Health Districts, South West Region, Cameroon.

Introduction: After tuberculosis and leprosy, Buruli ulcer (BU) is the third most common mycobacterial infection. Buruli ulcer begins as a localized skin lesion that progresses to extensive ulceration thus leading to functional disability, loss of economic productivity and social stigma. This study is aimed at assessing the knowledge and practices among health practitioners on the treatment of BU in the Mbonge, Ekondo Titi and Muyuka Health Districts of the South West Region of Cameroon.

Contraceptive use and associated factors among sexually active female adolescents in Atwima Kwanwoma District, Ashanti region-Ghana.

Introduction: Unintended pregnancies and adolescent childbearing are on the increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, 14% of adolescents aged 15-19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. Most of these pregnancies are associated with poor outcomes such as miscarriages, stillbirths, unsafe abortions and other complications that might result in infant or mortality.

Acute respiratory infection related to air pollution in Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon.

Introduction: Air pollution is a global health problem. It's responsible for over 4 million deaths each year and constitutes a risk factor for acute respiratory infections (ARI). The aims of this study was to assess knowledge about air pollution, and to determine environmental risk factors associated with ARIs occurence in the city of Bamenda, Cameroon.

Stigma on epileptic patients attending the outpatient clinic of Soba University Hospital and the National Center for Neurological Science (NCNS) Khartoum, Sudan.

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological conditions for people of different age group, race, gender and socio-economic status in various nations, affecting 50 million people around the world; 80% of them living in developing countries. In Sudan, literature has well documented epilepsy stigma and it related elements of labelling, negative typecasting, isolation, devaluing and discrimination that are significantly affecting patients living standards and social life. This study focuses on understanding the prevailing, different types of stigma among people living with epilepsy (PWE) in Sudan and to determine its frequency in connection with demographic factors and patients coping ability of PWE.

Cervical cancer in the Bamenda Regional Hospital, North West Region of Cameroon: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is ranked the 7 most common cancer in the world. Cancer of the cervix is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer after breast cancer and the third leading cause of cancer deaths among females in less developed countries. Incidence rates are highest in countries with low income.

Factors associated with adolescent school girl's pregnancy in Kumbo East Health District North West region Cameroon.

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a social problem in Cameroon in general and in Kumbo East in particular. This results in physical, psychological and socio-economic consequences on the teenage mother, family and the society as a whole. In spite of studies and interventions that have been and are being implemented, the prevalence of unplanned teenage pregnancy in Kumbo East Health District is still high, suggesting that more efforts are required to achieve effective preventive measures.

Knowledge of malaria prevention among pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, South West Nigeria.

Background: Adequate knowledge of malaria prevention and control can help in reducing the growing burden of malaria among vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children aged under 5 years living in malaria endemic settings. Similar studies have been conducted but with less focus on these vulnerable groups. This study assessed knowledge of malaria prevention and control among the pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children aged under 5 years in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria.

Investigating the influence of contextual factors in the coordination of chronic mental illness care in a district health system.

Background: The global shift from institution-based to community-based care for chronic mental illness (CMI) care resulted in the de-institutionalization of clients with CMI. However, health systems which have been originally designed for acute hospital-based care do not seem to be appropriately transformed to manage CMI care at a community level.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how contextual factors influenced care coordination for chronic mental illness care within the eThekwini District.

Barriers to Smoking Cessation Among Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in South Africa.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The long-term health effects of smoking and the risk of adverse TB outcomes, including increased periods of infectiousness, have been reported among DR-TB patients in South Africa.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the barriers to smoking cessation among DR-TB inpatients at a hospital in Durban, South Africa.

The Health Profile of Street Children in Africa: A Literature Review.

The United Nations Children's Fund has labeled street children as , which represent a minority population that has been under-represented for too long in health research. This is a concern because street children are at risk of carrying a greater disease burden. Their homeless lifestyle makes them more vulnerable to health risks and problems than children who live at home; as they roam the streets begging for food and money to obtain basic needs and are found sleeping in half-destroyed houses, abandoned basements, under bridges and in the open air.