Publications by authors named "Victor Daka"
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a public health problem exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the inadequate capacity of laboratories to conduct AMR surveillance. This study assessed the capacity of laboratories in seven faith-based hospitals to conduct AMR testing and surveillance in Zambia. This multi-facility, cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from February 2024 to April 2024.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWastewater-based surveillance has emerged as an important method for monitoring the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Zambia. We conducted a longitudinal study in the Copperbelt and Eastern provinces of Zambia from October 2023 to December 2023 during which 155 wastewater samples were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Sepsis, a condition of global public health concern, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with underlying HIV infection. This study aims to determine outcomes, aetiology and antibiotic resistance patterns among children with HIV exposure or infection admitted with a clinical presentation suggestive of sepsis who have confirmed bloodstream infections at Arthur Davison Children's Hospital (ADCH) in Ndola, Zambia.
Methods And Analysis: This will be a prospective longitudinal study of 200 children aged <2 years admitted with sepsis at ADCH with two of the following conditions: temperature of 38.
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by . It has a wide host range and is capable of vertical transmission in pregnant women, which may lead to undesirable pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. This study investigated the seroprevalence of infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Namwala District Hospital in Southern Zambia.
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- Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have led to the emergence of new variants with potential effects like increased spread, severity, and vaccine resistance.
- A cross-sectional study in Zambia analyzed 76 SARS-CoV-2 samples from November 2021 to February 2022, identifying 4,097 mutations, with 1,925 occurring in the spike protein.
- The study found 83 unique amino acid mutations in the spike proteins of various Omicron sublineages, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and pandemic readiness.
Background: The irrational use of antibiotics in humans and livestock has contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study investigated the commonly sold and dispensed antibiotics for prophylaxis in broiler chickens in pharmacy and agro-veterinary shop personnel in the Lusaka District of Zambia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to October 2023 among 200 veterinary medicine dispensers in the Lusaka District of Zambia using a simulated farmer or mystery shopper approach.
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to public health globally. Despite its consequences, there is little information about the knowledge, awareness, and practices towards AMR among healthcare workers (HCWs). Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, awareness and practices regarding antimicrobial use (AMU), AMR and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) among HCWs who are involved in the implementation of AMS activities across eight hospitals in Zambia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials has worsened the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally. This study investigated the AMR profiles of isolated from clinical and environmental samples in Lusaka, Zambia.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from February 2023 to June 2023 using 450 samples.
Article Synopsis
- Zambia has a high adult HIV prevalence of 11%, and it's struggling to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals, with only 86.2% of people achieving viral load suppression.
- The study focused on North-Western Province, where viral load suppression is the lowest at 77.5%, and explored how an integrated sample referral system can enhance HIV testing and diagnosis results.
- Results showed that after implementing this referral system, there was a significant and consistent increase in viral load coverage, a 47.7% improvement in Early Infant Diagnosis turnaround time, and a 25% rise in sample volume, highlighting the need for ongoing support and targeted strategies to optimize testing outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant public health issue, particularly in developing countries like Zambia, due to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing practices.
- A study at St. Francis' Mission Hospital in Zambia reviewed 800 medical records to evaluate antibiotic prescribing patterns using WHO indicators and the AWaRe classification system.
- Findings showed high rates of antibiotic prescriptions (72.3% of encounters), with a majority from the 'access' list, highlighting the need for targeted interventions like antimicrobial stewardship programs to combat AMR.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to gather information on university students' perspectives on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on human health students at the University of Zambia.
- Conducted between October 2022 and April 2023, the research surveyed 737 students, revealing that while over half supported the continuation of blended learning, a significant majority preferred traditional classroom settings for group discussions and overall satisfaction.
- The findings highlight the necessity for educational stakeholders to consider blended learning strategies in the future while ensuring students have access to appropriate resources and tools.
Article Synopsis
- Antifungal resistance (AFR) is a significant global health issue, and a study was conducted in Zambia to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacy students regarding AFR and antifungal stewardship (AFS).
- The study, involving 412 pharmacy students, found that while most had good knowledge (85.9%) and positive attitudes (86.7%), their practices were lacking, with only 65.8% demonstrating good practices—30.2% accessed antifungals without a prescription.
- The results indicate a need for improved educational interventions and strategies to promote better practices and reduce inappropriate antifungal use, especially among certain demographics like urban students and advanced-year pharmacy students.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among 326 pharmacy students in Zambia, finding that while 98.8% were aware of the vaccines, only 24.5% were willing to accept vaccination.
- Factors influencing vaccine acceptance included being male, single, and unemployed, with males significantly more likely to accept the vaccine compared to females, and unmarried individuals more likely than those who are married.
- Major barriers to vaccine acceptance reported by students included concerns about side effects (78.5%) and skepticism regarding the vaccine's effectiveness (10.2%).
Article Synopsis
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global threat, and a study at the University of Zambia evaluated non-healthcare students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR.
- The study, conducted with 443 students using a structured questionnaire, found that participants had moderate KAP scores and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics (76.7%).
- Male students generally had poorer knowledge and attitudes towards AMR compared to females, while engineering and mining students showed better understanding than those in social sciences; fourth and fifth-year students had more positive attitudes compared to younger students.
Introduction: schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease and remains a disease of public health concern. Despite its relative importance, paucity of information on schistosomiasis in urban settings such as Ndola remains. Here, we present findings on the prevalence and factors associated with Schistosoma haematobium (S.
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- Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in Zambia's layer poultry sector contributes to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with limited understanding of its drivers in the region.
- A study involving 77 poultry farms analyzed samples to determine AMR levels and found a significant prevalence of multidrug resistance, particularly high among specific bacterial species.
- Results indicated that larger farms and those aware of AMR issues had lower resistance levels, highlighting the need for educational efforts to improve AMR awareness among smaller farmers to address this public health concern.
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluates the knowledge, attitude, and practices of undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in healthcare settings.
- Conducted with 290 students using structured questionnaires, the study revealed that most students had good knowledge (86.9%), positive attitudes (57.6%), and good practices (85.5%) towards IPC, although attitude scores were notably lower.
- The findings highlight the need for improved IPC training in pharmacy curricula to address gaps and enhance students' engagement with these critical health measures.
Adolescents and youths are a key part of the population that needs to be protected against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is because they are more likely to spread the virus to vulnerable individuals. In view of these concerns, this study investigated the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among adolescents and youths attending secondary schools in Zambia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe uptake of COVID-19 vaccines is critical to address the severe consequences of the disease. Previous studies have suggested that many healthcare workers (HCWs) are hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, further enhancing hesitancy rates within countries. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy levels are currently unknown among HCWs in Zambia, which is a concern given the burden of infectious diseases in the country.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Globally, hormonal contraceptives have proved to be effective in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. However, despite evidence of the many benefits associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives, concerns related to their safety and side effects have been reported. We conducted a study to explore the perspectives on the side effects of hormonal contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Kitwe district of Zambia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Assessing the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding Toxoplasma gondii infection, diagnosis, treatment, and control is crucial for developing an effective management strategy.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 healthcare workers at Ndola Teaching Hospital and Namwala District Hospital in Zambia from September 2021 to April 2022.
Results: More than half (57.
We aimed to assess the proportion of tuberculosis in humans and tuberculosis (TB)-associated abattoir condemnations from the animal sector, as well as determine risk factors of zoonotic tuberculosis at the animal-human interface in Zambia. The study involved 255 presumptive TB patients and 156 cattle carcasses and was conducted from April 2020 to December 2021. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed for risk factor analysis for zoonotic TB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a worldwide public health concern for healthcare workers. About 80% of cases appear to be asymptomatic, and about 3% may experience hospitalisation and later die. Less than 20% of studies have looked at the positivity rate of asymptomatic individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld Health Organization AWaRe framework for antibiotic stewardship: Where are we now and where do we need to go? An expert viewpoint.
Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol
April 2023
The AWaRe classification categorizes antibiotics and is a tool for antimicrobial stewardship. To combat antimicrobial resistance, prescribers must adhere to the AWaRe framework, which promotes the rational use of antibiotics. Therefore, increasing political will, dedicating resources, building capacity, and improving awareness and sensitization campaigns may promote adherence to the framework.
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