The renal angina index accurately predicts low risk of developing severe acute kidney injury among children admitted to a low-resource pediatric intensive care unit.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases the risk of adverse outcomes. The renal angina index (RAI) has previously been used to predict patients at risk of developing severe AKI (sAKI).

Method: This single-centre prospective observational study aimed to assess the prevalence of sAKI in PICU as the primary outcome and the duration of mechanical ventilation and PICU stay, RRT need, and mortality as secondary outcomes.

Assessing knowledge and skills of laypersons bringing victims of road traffic collisions to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.

In Malawi, pre-hospital care assistance is mainly provided by laypersons who witnessed the event. The aim of our study was to determine the knowledge and skills of such persons who bring victims of road traffic crashes to hospital. The study was conducted at Adult Emergency and Trauma Centre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.

Characteristics of interpersonal violence in adult victims at the Adult Emergency Trauma Centre (AETC) of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

Introduction: Globally, the burden of interpersonal violence and its significant impact on mortality, morbidity and disability makes it a major public health problem which necessitates intervention. This article examines characteristics of victims of interpersonal violence and violent events in Malawi. The focus is on a population that has been traditionally neglected in literature.

The feasibility of a training course for clubfoot treatment in Africa: A mixed methods study.

Background: There is no available training programme with standard elements for health workers treating clubfoot in Africa. Standardised training with continued mentorship has the potential to improve management of clubfoot. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of such a training programme among clubfoot providers in Africa, and assess implications for training effectiveness and scale up.

The development of a training course for clubfoot treatment in Africa: learning points for course development.

Background: Clubfoot is a common congenital musculoskeletal disorder that causes mobility impairment. There is a lack of trained mid-level personnel to provide clubfoot treatment in Africa and there is no standard training course. This prospective study describes the collaborative and participatory approach to the development of a training course for the treatment of clubfoot in children in resource constrained settings.

Cost-effectiveness of club-foot treatment in low-income and middle-income countries by the Ponseti method.

Background: Club foot is a common congenital deformity affecting 150 000-200 000 children every year. Untreated patients end up walking on the side or back of the affected foot, with severe social and economic consequences. Club foot is highly treatable by the Ponseti method, a non-invasive technique that has been described as highly suitable for use in resource-limited settings.

Improving hospital-based trauma care for road traffic injuries in Malawi.

Background: The mortality rate from road traffic injuries has increased in sub-Saharan Africa as the number of motor vehicles increase. This study examined the capacity of hospitals along Malawi's main north-south highway to provide emergency trauma care.

Methods: Structured interviews and checklists were used to evaluate the infrastructure, personnel, supplies, and equipment at all four of Malawi's central hospitals, ten district hospitals, and one mission hospital in 2014.

Assessing quality of existing data sources on road traffic injuries (RTIs) and their utility in informing injury prevention in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Objectives: This study assessed whether the quality of the available road traffic injury (RTI) data was sufficient for determining the burden of RTIs in the Western Cape Province and for implementing and monitoring road safety interventions.

Methodology: Underreporting was assessed by comparing data reported by the South African Police Services (SAPS) in 2008 with data from 18 provincial mortuaries. Completeness of the driver death subset of all RTIs was assessed using the capture-recapture method.

Drivers' risk profile indicates the need for a graduated driving licence in South Africa.

Background: Current driver mortality estimates do not consider the great differences in exposure across the population, giving a false impression that driver deaths are lowest in the youngest age group. Interventions to reduce risk among the younger age group include graduated driver licensing (GDL) - a three-phase licensing system for novice drivers consisting of a learner's permit, a provisional license, and a full license.

Objectives: We calculated driver fatality rates per 10 000 registered drivers in each age group and assessed the need for stricter licensing conditions for novice and younger drivers.

The role of the periosteum in healing a large structural defect following sequestrectomy.

An eight-year-old boy had a sequestrum involving the entire femoral diaphysis removed before significant involucrum had formed. This procedure resulted in a large structural defect. Ten weeks later, the periosteum had completely repaired the effect, and no infection remained.

Joint replacement in Malawi: establishment of a National Joint Registry.

In Africa the amount of joint replacement surgery is increasing, but the indications for operation and the age of the patients are considerably different from those in the developed world. New centres with variable standards of care and training of the surgeons are performing these procedures and it is important that a proper audit of this work is undertaken. In Malawi, we have pioneered a Registry which includes all joint replacements that have been carried out in the country.