Basic ENT training for enhanced healthcare worker knowledge, attitudes and practices in a resource-limited setting: a pre-post and post-post cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Diagnostic errors in ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases are prevalent among healthcare workers (HCWs) in resource-limited settings, yet comprehensive data that describe HCW knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding ENT disease management remains scarce. Further, the impact of basic ENT training on HCW KAP in such settings is largely undetermined.

Objective: We assessed HCW KAP before and after basic training in ENT disease management.

Incidence and risk factors for colorectal cancer in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There is a significant burden of mortality from colorectal cancer in Africa. Due to the heterogeneity of dietary and lifestyle practices throughout Africa, our work sought to define risk factors for the development of CRC in the African continent.

Disability, comorbidities and risk determinants at end of TB treatment in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Background: We examined the feasibility of assessing and referring adults successfully completing TB treatment for comorbidities, risk determinants and disability in health facilities in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study within national TB programmes.

Results: Health workers assessed 1,063 patients (78% of eligible) in a median of 22 min [IQR 16-35] and found it useful and feasible to accomplish in addition to other responsibilities.

Ten years of ear, nose and throat (ENT) services in Southern Africa: a scoping review.

Background: While ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diseases are a substantial threat to global health, comprehensive reviews of ENT services in Southern Africa remain scarce.

Objective: This scoping review provides a decade-long overview of ENT services in Southern Africa and identifies gaps in healthcare provision. From the current literature, we hope to provide evidence-based recommendations to mitigate the challenges faced by the resource-limited ENT service.

Understanding the language barriers to translating informed consent documents for maternal health trials in Zambia: a qualitative study.

Objective: Providing comprehensible information is essential to the process of valid informed consent. Recruitment materials designed by sponsoring institutions in English-speaking, high-income countries are commonly translated for use in global health studies in other countries; however, key concepts are often missed, misunderstood or 'lost in translation'. The aim of this study was to explore the language barriers to informed consent, focusing on the challenges of translating recruitment materials for maternal health studies into Zambian languages.

A Heart for the Care: Affect, Kin, and Care Work in a Zambian Hospital.

At the only standalone pediatric hospital in Zambia, patient wellbeing often rests in the hands of bedsiders. Bedsiders are caregivers, often family, who sit at the patient's bedside, feeding, cleaning them, and running medical errands. Bedsiders are critical human infrastructure for the hospital and its staff.

Malaria is the leading cause of acute kidney injury among a Zambian paediatric renal service cohort retrospectively evaluated for aetiologies, predictors of the need for dialysis, and outcomes.

Background: Whilst malaria is a prominent aetiology associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in many parts of Africa, a shift in the traditional AKI aetiologies has been witnessed in sections of the continent. Additionally, limited access to dialysis worsens patient outcomes in these low-resource settings. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associated aetiologies, predictors of need for dialysis and malaria-associated AKI (MAKI), and outcomes of AKI and dialysis among children evaluated by the renal service in Lusaka, Zambia.

Access to Nephrology Care for Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Perspective.

Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major public health problem with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Women with pregnancy-related AKI require immediate access to nephrology care to prevent deleterious kidney and health outcomes. Patients with pregnancy-related AKI in low-income and lower-middle-income countries experience disparities in access to comprehensive nephrology care for many reasons.

The UTH-UMB Global Health Education Collaboration: Building a Bidirectional Exchange Based on Equity and Reciprocity.

The global health exchange program between the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) of Lusaka, Zambia and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has been operating since 2015. As trainees and facilitators of this exchange program, we describe our experiences working in Lusaka and Baltimore, and strengths and challenges of the partnership. Since 2015, we have facilitated rotations for 71 UMB trainees, who spent four weeks on the Infectious Disease (ID) team at UTH.

Risk factors associated with zoonotic tuberculosis at the animal-human interface in a tuberculosis-endemic sub-Saharan country.

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.

Planned delivery or expectant management for late preterm pre-eclampsia in low-income and middle-income countries (CRADLE-4): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. Evidence regarding interventions in a low-income or middle-income setting is scarce. We aimed to evaluate whether planned delivery between 34 and 36 weeks' gestation can reduce maternal mortality and morbidity without increasing perinatal complications in India and Zambia.

Leveraging health infrastructure to optimize HPV vaccination for adolescents in Zambia: Protocol for an implementation study.

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Zambia, where HIV prevalence is also high (11.3%). HIV heightens the risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer.

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) disease diagnostic error in low-resource health care: Observations from a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Although the global burden of ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases is high, data relating to ENT disease epidemiology and diagnostic error in resource-limited settings remain scarce. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional review of ENT patients' clinical records at a resource-limited tertiary hospital. We determined the diagnostic accuracy and appropriateness of patient referrals for ENT specialist care using descriptive statistics.

RETRACTED: Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa.

The geographic and evolutionary origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1), which was first detected mid-November 2021 in Southern Africa, remain unknown. We tested 13,097 COVID-19 patients sampled between mid-2021 to early 2022 from 22 African countries for BA.

Retroperitoneal paraganglioma in a young patient presenting with hypertensive crisis and transient loss of sight; a rare case report and literature review.

Introduction: Catecholamine secreting tumors are a rare type of neuroendocrine tumors whose embryological origin is neural crest cells. 80 % to 90 % arise from the chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla while 10 % to 20 % arise from sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia. Paragangliomas can be symptomatic due to excess catecholamine secretion or can be asymptomatic.

Clinical profile and predictors of renal failure in emergency department patients at a tertiary level hospital, a cross sectional study.

Background: Since establishment of the emergency departments (ED) in the country, there is lack of information on clinical profile of patients admitted to the ED and predictors of renal failure in these patients. Renal failure is prevalent in critical patients and a cause of significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical profile and predictors of renal failure in admissions to the ED.

High quality care following orthopaedic injury in Zambia: A qualitative, patient-centred study.

Background: Injuries are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, particular in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While there is a focus on increasing injury care capacity, less attention is given to assessing, improving, and understanding the quality of care provided, especially from a patient perspective. This study therefore aims to understand what patients from a Zambian orthopaedic ward believe good quality care to be, to identify its key components, and contribute to better understanding what patients believe local healthcare priorities could be.

Predictors of mortality in acute hospitalised COVID-19 pneumonia patients: A retrospective cohort study at two tertiary-level hospitals in Zambia.

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased acute hospitalisations, a high demand for intensive care and high in-hospital mortality, placing a huge burden on healthcare systems.

Objectives: To assess in-hospital mortality outcomes and associated factors in acute hospitalised COVID-19 pneumonia patients in Zambia.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort review of patients admitted to two tertiary-level hospitals in Zambia from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021.

Nurses' Priorities for Perioperative Research in Africa.

Background: Mortality rates among surgical patients in Africa are double those of surgical patients in high-income countries. Internationally, there is a call to improve access to and safety of surgical and perioperative care. Perioperative research needs to be coordinated across Africa to positively impact perioperative mortality.

Burnout Syndrome Among Anesthesia Providers Working in Public Hospitals in Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Many studies address anesthesia provider burnout in high-income countries; however, there is a paucity of data on burnout for anesthesia providers in low-income countries (LICs). Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the prevalence of burnout among anesthesia providers in Rwandan hospitals and (2) to determine factors associated with burnout among anesthesia providers in Rwandan hospitals.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to selected Rwandan anesthesia providers working in public hospitals.

Epidemiological Trends of Malaria in Five Years and under Children of Nsanje District in Malawi, 2015-2019.

Background: Malaria continues to be a major public health problem in Malawi and the greatest load of mortality and morbidity occurs in children five years and under. However, there is no information yet regarding trends and predictions of malaria incidence in children five years and under at district hospital level, particularly at Nsanje district hospital.

Aim: Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the trends of malaria morbidity and mortality in order to design appropriate interventions on the best approach to contain the disease in the near future.

Understanding the needs of low-income countries: how urologists can help.

Delivering urological humanitarian aid to countries with greater need has been provided by urologists associated with British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Urolink over the last 30 years. Urolink has realised the need to understand where that need is geographically, what tangible help is required, and how assistance can be delivered in the most ethically appropriate way. The World Bank stratification of countries by per capita gross national income has helped in the identification of low-come countries or lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), the vast majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prevalence and correlates of voluntary medical male circumcision adverse events among adult males in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is a key intervention in HIV/AIDS. Improving VMMC program uptake in Zambia requires careful monitoring of adverse events (AE) to inform program quality and safety. We investigate the prevalence of VMMC AE and their associated factors among adult males in Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.

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.