Rift Valley Fever Epizootic, Rwanda, 2022.

A Rift Valley fever epizootic affected livestock in Rwanda during March-October 2022. We confirmed 3,112 infections with the virus, including 1,342 cases, 1,254 abortions, and 516 deaths among cattle, goats, and sheep. We recommend a One Health strategy for investigations and response to protect animal and human health.

Closing gaps in the oxygen supply chain in nations with limited resources.

Oxygen is an essential medication used across all levels of healthcare for conditions such as surgery, trauma, heart failure, asthma, pneumonia, and maternal and child care. Despite its critical importance and inclusion on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant challenges in providing adequate oxygen supplies. These challenges are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drastically increased global oxygen demand.

Improving pain management for trauma patients at two Rwandan emergency departments.

Background: Little is known regarding the effectiveness of pain protocols and guideline use in Emergency Departments (ED) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, to shed light on this research gap, this study had the following objectives: 1) to evaluate if the implementation of the Essential Pain Management (EPM) course combined with mentorship to use the World Health Organization (WHO) pain ladder-based protocol improves the quality of pain management among trauma patients at the ED of two teaching hospitals in Rwanda; and 2) to determine barriers to implementing the WHO pain ladder-based protocol among trauma patients in the same settings.

Methods: This was a pre- and post-intervention study.

Living With a New Normal: Self-Identities of Women With Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer for women in Nigeria, representing 25% of all cancers in women. How do women self-identify with the new realities of living with breast cancer before, during and after treatment?

Aims: This study aims to examine the self-identities of 22 women with breast cancer in Nigeria.

Methods: The paper relies on grounded theory research method to collect data, analyse and capture the processes of self-identity formation.

Using context-specific evidence to inform resource-stratified cancer guidelines: A call for a new approach.

Clinical practice guidelines are widely used in oncology to guide clinical decision making and inform health policy and planning. In recent years, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, as well as other international groups, have developed resource-stratified guidelines to guide clinicians and policymakers on cancer diagnosis and management in settings with various levels of resource constraints. Current methods for developing resource-stratified guidelines rely heavily on supporting evidence originating from high-income countries.

Utilizing Indigenous Flora in East Africa for Breast Cancer Treatment: An Overview.

Background: Breast cancer is a significant global health challenge, contributing substantially to cancer- related deaths. Conventional treatment methods, including hormone therapy, chemotherapy, surgical interventions, and radiation, have long been utilized. However, these traditional treatments are often associated with serious side effects and drug resistance, limiting their efficacy.

Lived experience of burnout and fatigue in perioperative healthcare professionals in Rwanda: a qualitative study.

Background: There is a lack of qualitative data on the negative effects of workplace stressors on the well-being of healthcare professionals in hospitals in Africa. It is unclear how well research methods developed for high-income country contexts apply to different cultural, social, and economic contexts in the global south.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative interview-based study including 64 perioperative healthcare professionals across all provinces of Rwanda.

Insect frass fertilizer as a regenerative input for improved biological nitrogen fixation and sustainable bush bean production.

Bush bean ( L.) production is undermined by soil degradation and low biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) capacity. This study evaluated the effect of black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) on bush bean growth, yield, nutrient uptake, BNF, and profitability, in comparison with commercial organic fertilizer (Phymyx, Phytomedia International Ltd.

Impact of a monitoring and evaluation training in 3 PEPFAR-supported countries.

Background: The second phase of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) transitioned from scaling up HIV prevention and treatment to promoting sustainability and capacity building for programs monitoring performance and evaluating key program indicators.

The Development of an Electronic Medical Record System to Improve Quality of Care for Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes in Rwanda: Qualitative Study.

Background: Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have the potential to improve the quality of care and clinical outcomes for individuals with chronic and complex diseases. However, studies on the development and use of EMR systems for type 1 (T1) diabetes management in sub-Saharan Africa are few.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the need for improvements in the care processes that can be facilitated by an EMR system and to develop an EMR system for increasing quality of care and clinical outcomes for individuals with T1 diabetes in Rwanda.

Why becoming a positive deviant for malaria prevention and control: a sequential explanatory mixed methods study in Bugesera district, Rwanda.

Background: Malaria continues to be a significant global health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan African regions. Effective prevention and control strategies are crucial in mitigating its impact. Therefore, assessing the use of malaria preventive measures, treatment-seeking behaviours, and understanding the motivating factors behind positive behaviours/practices and barriers to using malaria preventive and control measures is essential for designing successful intervention programs.

Risk factors for cardiometabolic health in Ghana: Cardiometabolic Risks Study Protocol-APTI Project.

Introduction: Cardiometabolic diseases are rapidly becoming primary causes of death in developing countries, including Ghana. However, risk factors for these diseases, including obesity phenotype, and availability of cost-effective diagnostic criteria are poorly documented in an African-ancestry populations in their native locations. The extent to which the environment, occupation, geography, stress, and sleep habits contribute to the development of Cardiometabolic disorders should be examined.

The effects of perceived therapist guidance and advice on adherence to home-based exercise programs in mothers of children with cerebral palsy in Rwanda.

Background: The alarming prevalence of non- or poor adherence to Home-based Exercise Programs (34-79.2 %, HEP) in parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy (C-CP) is a global health concern due to its detrimental effect on treatment outcomes.

Objective: To examine whether Perceived Therapist Guidance and Advice (TGA) or social support moderate the effects of PTSD, depression, parenting stress, low self-efficacy, the burden of care, or the effects of perceived family stigma on adherence to HEP.

Burden of ischemic stroke in sub-Saharan African countries based on DALYs index - trend analysis and identification of risk factors.

Background: Stroke burden, measured by DALYs, reveals a growing concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Ischemic stroke, exacerbated by modifiable risk factors like hypertension and household air pollution, poses a significant health challenge. Regional disparities, economic development, and healthcare inefficiencies underscore the need for targeted interventions and further research.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with and Practices of Cattle Farmers in Kirehe District Rwanda with Respect to Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Pathogens.

Rural Rwandan communities face health challenges for humans and animals, and the topography and climate of the Kirehe District of Rwanda put farmers at high risk for mosquito-borne diseases. Individuals from 92 Rwandan farms were surveyed about farm practices, as well as animal and human health histories between December 2017 and February 2018. Human, animal, and environmental factors were investigated to determine whether there is a pattern of risk for abortion incidence and/or history of malarial disease on the farm.

Incidence, Risk Factors, Organism Types, and Outcomes of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background Patients undergoing hemodialysis for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are at risk for Hemodialysis Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs). This study evaluates the incidence, risk factors, organism types, and outcomes of CRBSI in adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda. Methods This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis via central venous hemodialysis catheters at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda.

The impact of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Vectobac WDG) larvicide sprayed with drones on the bio-control of malaria vectors in rice fields of sub-urban Kigali, Rwanda.

Background: The core vector control tools used to reduce malaria prevalence are currently long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), and indoor residual spraying (IRS). These interventions are hindered by insecticide resistance and behavioural adaptation by malaria vectors. Thus, for effective interruption of malaria transmission, there is a need to develop novel vector control interventions and technologies to address the above challenges.

Experts' prediction of item difficulty of multiple-choice questions in the Ethiopian Undergraduate Medicine Licensure Examination.

Background: The ability of an expert's item difficulty ratings to predict test-taker actual performance is an important aspect of licensure examinations. Expert judgment is used as a primary source of information for users to make prior decisions to determine the pass rate of test takers. The nature of raters involved in predicting item difficulty is central to set credible standards.

Common errors in statistics and methods.

As statistical reviewers and editors for BMJ Paediatrics Open (BMJPO), we frequently see methodological and statistical errors in articles submitted to our journal. To make a list of these common errors and propose suitable corrections, and inspired by similar efforts at other leading journals, we surveyed the statistical reviewers and editors at BMJPO to collect their 'pet peeves' and examples of best practices.(1, 2) We have divided these into seven sections: graphics; statistical significance and related issues; presentation, vocabulary, textual and tabular presentation; causality; model building, regression and choice of methods; meta-analysis; and miscellaneous.

User experiences of selfcare interventions for sexual and reproductive health services in community pharmacies in Rwanda: A qualitative study.

Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) empower individuals to autonomously access services, reducing their reliance on traditional healthcare settings. However, there is limited knowledge about community pharmacy-based SRH services in Rwanda. Therefore, this study aims to explore the experiences of community pharmacy-based SRH users and inform strategies to enhance service delivery effectiveness.

Collaborative Initiatives in Neurosurgery Research and Publications Between High-Income and Low/Middle-Income Countries: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Despite the globalization of health information, collaborations between high-income countries (HICs) and low/middle-income countries (LMICs), while present, could still increase. This study builds on previous research highlighting LMIC underrepresentation in neurosurgery literature. We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database to investigate collaborative neurosurgical research between HIC institutions and those in low-income country (LIC)/LMICs.