Publications by authors named "P F Mens"
Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. VL is endemic in West Pokot County, Kenya, where effective strategies to interrupt transmission are impeded by the limited understanding of VL risk factors. Therefore, this case-control study aimed to explore environmental, behavioural and household determinants of VL in West Pokot.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevention of Malaria in Pregnant Women and Its Effects on Maternal and Child Health, the Case of Centre Hospitalier de Kingasani II in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Trop Med Infect Dis
April 2024
This study aimed to evaluate scientific evidence of the benefit of the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and Intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) on the birth weight of newborns and the hemoglobin level of the mother when used to prevent malaria during pregnancy. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 467 hospitalized women in the Maternity Ward of Centre Hospitalier de Kingasani II, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was pre-tested during a face-to-face interview.
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- * A survey of 113 participants revealed varying perceptions on the clarity, accuracy, and public availability of evidence needed for malaria diagnostics, highlighting challenges particularly in the approvals and manufacturing stage.
- * The study emphasizes the importance of better collaboration among stakeholders, improved data sharing, and increased funding, proposing solutions like public data repositories and open-access publishing to enhance evidence generation and utilization in malaria diagnostics.
Article Synopsis
- Pregnancy may lead to increased neutrophil levels, which are crucial for fighting infections, particularly in severe neutropenia cases.
- A study in Mali found that nearly half of the pregnant women exhibited neutrophilia, while most cases of neutropenia were among healthy, non-pregnant individuals.
- Neutrophil levels were significantly lower in the first trimester compared to later stages, and this increase was not influenced by malaria infections.
Background: Parasitological investigation of bone marrow, splenic or lymph node aspirations is the gold standard for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). However, this invasive test requires skilled clinical and laboratory staff and adequate facilities, and sensitivity varies depending on the tissue used. The direct agglutination test (DAT) is a serological test that does not need specialised staff, with just minimal training required.
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