Perspectives on factors influencing transmission of COVID-19 in Zambia: a qualitative study of health workers and community members.

Objective: To explore the health professionals' and community members' perspectives on the factors influencing transmission of the novel COVID-19 in Zambia.

Design: An exploratory qualitative study using in-depth interviews as data collection technique.

Setting: Four primary healthcare facilities and local communities of Lusaka city and Chirundu international border town under Lusaka province, Zambia.

Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance and Associated Factors among Layer Poultry Farmers in Zambia: Implications for Surveillance and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health problem affecting animal and human medicine. Poultry production is among the primary sources of income for many Zambians. However, the increased demand for poultry products has led to a subsequent increase in antimicrobial use.

Role of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in reducing subgingival oral yeasts colonization in patients with peri-implant mucositis.

Objective: The aim was to assess the role of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in reducing subgingival oral yeasts colonization (OYC) in patients with peri-implant mucositis (PIM).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with PIM were included. Patient demographics were recorded and implant placement and prosthetic rehabilitation protocols were retrieved from patients' records.

Intended versus actual delivery location and factors associated with change in delivery location among pregnant women in Southern Province, Zambia: a prespecified secondary observational analysis of the ZamCAT.

Objectives: This prespecified, secondary analysis of the Zambia Chlorhexidine Application Trial (ZamCAT) aimed to determine the proportion of women who did not deliver where they intended, to understand the underlying reasons for the discordance between planned and actual delivery locations; and to assess sociodemographic characteristics associated with concordance of intention and practice.

Design: Prespecified, secondary analysis from randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Recruitment occurred in 90 primary health facilities (HFs) with follow-up in the community in Southern Province, Zambia.

Real-life Evaluation of an Interactive Versus Noninteractive e-Learning Module on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease for Medical Licentiate Students in Zambia: Web-Based, Mixed Methods Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: e-Learning for health professionals in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is still in its infancy, but with the advent of COVID-19, a significant expansion of digital learning has occurred. Asynchronous e-learning can be grouped into interactive (user-influenceable content) and noninteractive (static material) e-learning. Studies conducted in high-income countries suggest that interactive e-learning is more effective than noninteractive e-learning in increasing learner satisfaction and knowledge; however, there is a gap in our understanding of whether this also holds true in LMICs.

Postoperative anti-inflammatory efficacy of 2% saline rinses and a herbal- mouthwash after non-surgical periodontal therapy for the management of periodontal inflammation in young adults with chlorhexidine allergy: A randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The present randomized controlled trial assessed the postoperative anti-inflammatory efficacy of 2% saline rinses (SR) and a herbal- mouthwash (HMW) after non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) for the management of periodontal inflammation in patients with chlorhexidine (CHX) allergy.

Materials And Methods: Patients with periodontal inflammation with and without self-reported CHX allergy were included. All patients underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT).

Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in reducing oral yeasts carriage among individuals using electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Objective: The aim was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in reducing oral yeasts carriage among individuals using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

Methods: Self-reported ENDS users and non-users (individuals that reported to have never used any nicotinic product) were included. Demographic data was collected using a questionnaire.

The impact of COSECSA in developing the surgical workforce in East Central and Southern Africa.

Background: The Association of Surgeons of East Africa (ASEA) was formed in 1952. In 1996 a Steering Committee was formed to transform ASEA into a surgical college. The College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa was officially launched in December 1999 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Impact of night travel ban on road traffic crashes and fatalities in Zambia: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: The burden of road traffic crashes (RTCs) and road traffic fatalities (RTFs) has been increasing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most RTCs and RTFs happen at night. Although few countries, including Zambia, have implemented night travel bans, there is no evidence on the extent to which such policies may reduce crashes and fatalities.

Role of Chitosan in Remineralization of Enamel and Dentin: A Systematic Review.

Aim And Objective: The purpose of this research was to analyze the role of chitosan in the remineralization of enamel and dentin.

Materials And Methods: An electronic search was done for articles published from January 2009 to January 2020. A manual search was done from bibliographies of selected articles for relevant articles that were unexplored.

Health systems strengthening, dissemination, and implementation science in Africa: ?

Implementing health-system strengthening policies remains a challenge in Africa. Past successes, predictable but unanticipated flaws, underutilization of health services, traditional medicine, global inequity and poor practice by local stakeholders are some of the reasons many African countries have made little progress towards attaining global health goals. As a result, Africa has the highest disease burden despite multiple efforts from the global health community.

Effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to mechanical instrumentation in reducing counts of Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans from C-shaped root canals.

Background/purpose: The aim was to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an adjunct to mechanical instrumentation (MI) in reducing Enterococcus faecalis (E faecalis) and Candida albicans (C albicans) counts from C-shaped root-canals.

Methods: Teeth with C-shaped canals as identified on cone beam computed tomographic images were included. Following incubation with E faecalis and C albicans, samples were divided into 4 groups a four follows: Group-1: MI with adjunct aPDT; Group-2: aPDT alone; Group-3: MI alone; and Group-4: no treatment.

Community and health provider perspectives on the quality of family planning and contraceptive services in Kabwe District, Zambia.

Quality family planning and contraceptive (FP/C) services result in positive outcomes such as client satisfaction and sustained use of contraceptives. While most assessments of quality in FP/C services are based on measurable reproductive health outcomes, there is limited consideration of the perspectives and experiences of health providers and community members. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap, by exploring health providers' and community perspectives on the elements of quality FP/C services in Kabwe district, Zambia.

24-h-Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Sub-Saharan Africa: Hypertension Phenotypes and Dipping Patterns in Malawian HIV+ Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: Cardiovascular disease and especially hypertension are a growing problem among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: As robust data on hypertension phenotypes associated with distinct cardiovascular risks among PLHIV are limited, we aimed to assess the frequency of white-coat (WCH), masked (MH) hypertension, and blood pressure dipping-patterns in a group of Malawian PLHIV.

Methods: As part of the prospective Lighthouse-Tenofovir-Cohort-Study, we analyzed clinical, laboratory and 24-h-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data of PLHIV from urban Lilongwe with treated or untreated hypertension or raised office blood pressure (OBP) during routine study-visits.

A global perspective of antibiotic-resistant prevalence in assorted ready to eat foods: A systematic review.

Background And Aim: in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods remains consistently under-reported globally. Nevertheless, several independent studies conducted to investigate have elucidated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of in RTE-associated foods and their antibiotic resistance profiles. Given the rapid increase in consumption of RTE foods of both animal and plant origin, it is imperative to know the prevalence deductive data focusing on how much of is present in RTE foods, which is critical for food safety managers and retailers to assess the possible risk posed to end-users.

Global research priorities for COVID-19 in maternal, reproductive and child health: Results of an international survey.

Background: The World Health Organization's "Coordinated Global Research Roadmap: 2019 Novel Coronavirus" outlined the need for research that focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and children. More than one year after the first reported case significant knowledge gaps remain, highlighting the need for a coordinated approach. To address this need, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Working Group (MNCH WG) of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition conducted an international survey to identify global research priorities for COVID-19 in maternal, reproductive and child health.

Role of community health volunteers in identifying people with elevated blood pressure for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension in Malawi: a qualitative study.

Background: In recent years, there has been greater recognition of the important role of community health volunteers in many countries and their important role informs many health programs. This include health education, provision of services such as screening, monitoring and referral to health facilities. Their roles are better understood in the areas of communicable diseases like HIV infection, Tuberculosis and Malaria however little is known about their role in non-communicable diseases.

Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality-Based Head-Mounted Devices for Medical Education: Systematic Review.

Background: Augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR), realized as head-mounted devices (HMDs), may open up new ways of teaching medical content for low-resource settings. The advantages are that HMDs enable repeated practice without adverse effects on the patient in various medical disciplines; may introduce new ways to learn complex medical content; and may alleviate financial, ethical, and supervisory constraints on the use of traditional medical learning materials, like cadavers and other skills lab equipment.

Objective: We examine the effectiveness of AR, MR, and VR HMDs for medical education, whereby we aim to incorporate a global health perspective comprising low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Prognostic model for nephrotoxicity among HIV-positive Zambian adults receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based antiretroviral therapy.

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) risk suffering TDF-associated nephrotoxicity (TDFAN). TDFAN can result in short- and long-term morbidity, including permanent loss of kidney function, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) requiring dialysis. Currently, there is no model to predict this risk or discern which patients to initiate TDF-based therapy.

Dataset evaluating the treatment timeliness of cervical cancer in Zambia.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed among women globally. Effective screening routines and early detection are vital in reducing its disease burden and mortality. Several factors can influence the timely detection and treatment of cervical cancer, especially in low middle-income countries where the burden of this disease is highest.

Cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment delays in the developing world: Evidence from a hospital-based study in Zambia.

Expedited diagnostic processes for all suspected cervical cancer cases remain essential in the effort to improve clinical outcomes of the disease. However, in some developing countries like Zambia, there is paucity of data that assesses factors influencing diagnostic and treatment turnaround time (TAT) and other metrics vital for quality cancer care. We conducted a retrospective hospital-based study at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) for cervical cancer cases presenting to the facility between January 2014 and December 2018.

Risk factors for antibiotic resistance development in healthcare settings in China: a systematic review.

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) threatens the effectiveness of infectious disease treatments and contributes to increasing global morbidity and mortality. In this study, we systematically reviewed the identified risk factors for ABR among people in the healthcare system of mainland China. Five databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles published in either English and Chinese between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2019.