Publications by authors named "M A Mapatano"

Background: Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals due to its impact on gender equality as well as women's health and survival. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are many civil society organizations (CSOs) that are involved in raising awareness of SRHR issues and providing SRHR services to young people. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the challenges and enabling factors CSOs experience regarding the delivery of SRHR services to young people.

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Introduction: Evolving human-wildlife interactions have contributed to emerging zoonoses outbreaks, and pandemic prevention policy for wildlife management and conservation requires enhanced consideration from this perspective. However, the risk of unintended consequences is high. In this study, we aimed to assess how unrecognised complexity and system adaptation can lead to policy failure, and how these dynamics may impact zoonotic spillover risk and food system outcomes.

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Background: Malnourished children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often exhibit reduced vaccine efficacy, particularly for oral vaccines like polio and rotavirus, due to impaired immune responses. Nutritional deficiencies, such as in vitamin A and zinc, along with environmental factors like poor sanitation, exacerbate this issue. Existing research has explored the individual impacts of malnutrition on vaccine outcomes, but a comprehensive framework that integrates nutritional, immune, and environmental factors has been lacking.

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Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant morbidity and mortality in Africa, in addition to other socio-economic consequences. Across the continent, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) played several roles in supporting national, regional, and global response to the pandemic. Following a published and grey literature search, this paper reviews and analyses the contribution of SPHs in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on the barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare facilities during an Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, highlighting how insecurity and misinformation impacted non-Ebola patients' care.
  • - Qualitative interviews with families of deceased patients and healthcare workers revealed that fear, mistrust, and perceptions about the Ebola crisis significantly influenced healthcare decisions, leading many to seek informal care options.
  • - Despite challenges like funding shortages and delays in care, community engagement and introducing a free care policy helped increase healthcare facility visits, emphasizing the importance of trust and support in future health crises.
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