Evolving Landscape of Sickle Cell Anemia Management in Africa: A Critical Review.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent inherited blood disorder, particularly affecting populations in Africa. This review examined the disease's burden, its diverse clinical presentations, and the challenges associated with its management in African settings. Africa bears a significant burden of SCD, with prevalence varying across countries and age groups.

Evidence-Based Guidance for One Health Preparedness, Prevention, and Response Strategies to Marburg Virus Disease Outbreaks.

Objectives: Marburg virus disease (MVD) is on the WHO list for pandemic-prone pathogens. The current outbreak in Rwanda provides an opportunity to map outbreaks and generate information to inform policymaking, resource mobilization, and guide the implementation of cost-effective response strategies.

Methods: We synthesized available information about MVD to build holistic, up-to-date evidence to inform policymakers, public health leaders, and healthcare and public health services providers in their development and implementation of cost-effective preparedness, prevention, and control measures.

Teenage mothers' perspectives, knowledge, and attitudes toward pregnancy and the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.

Background: Adolescents worldwide engage in sexual activity, with the proportion rising gradually from the middle to late stages of adolescence. The incidence of early sexual initiation among female youth in sub-Saharan Africa is reported to be 46%. The increasing number of teenage pregnancies in Rwanda indicates that adolescents do not correctly use sexual and reproductive health services.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Providing First Aid by Commercial Motorcyclists: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The mortality and morbidity due to road traffic crashes (RTCs) are increasing drastically world-wide. Poor prehospital care management contributes to dismal patient outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and self-reported practice (KAP) of providing first aid for RTC victims by commercial motorcyclists.

Undetected circulation of major arboviruses in West Sudan: urging for institutionalizing multisectoral one health strategy for the preparedness, prevention, and control of zoonotic arboviral diseases.

Objectives: Arboviruses pose a significant global health challenge. This study investigated the seroprevalence of major human arboviral infections, including yellow fever (YFV), dengue (DENV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Rift Valley fever (RVF), West Nile virus (WNV), and chikungunya (CHIK), in Darfur region from September to December 2018. ELISA-IgM was used to detect antibodies.

Access to specialist plastic surgery in rural vs. Urban areas of Africa.

Introduction: Plastic surgery is an essential yet underdeveloped field in many African nations, especially in rural areas. The demand for plastic surgery is increasing, but differences in access to respective services between rural and urban domiciles remain ever existent, despite the exponentiation of trauma, burns, and congenital disorders. According to this review, urban areas have access to better facilities and specialized surgeons, while rural areas frequently lack infrastructure, educated healthcare personnel, and medical resources.

Volition as a modulator of the intergroup empathy bias.

Neural reactions to others' pain are usually lower when the individual is of a different ethnicity than when they are of the same ethnicity. This suggests that empathy is not only an automatic phenomenon but also a motivated one. In the present study, we tested whether one's willingness to increase or decrease empathy would correspondingly increase or decrease the neural empathic response, as measured with electroencephalography (EEG), irrespective of ethnicity.

Whole exome-seq and RNA-seq data reveal unique neoantigen profiles in Kenyan breast cancer patients.

Background: The immune response against tumors relies on distinguishing between self and non-self, the basis of cancer immunotherapy. Neoantigens from somatic mutations are central to many immunotherapeutic strategies and understanding their landscape in breast cancer is crucial for targeted interventions. We aimed to profile neoantigens in Kenyan breast cancer patients using genomic DNA and total RNA from paired tumor and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples of 23 patients.

"I Haven't Told Other People. I Want to Keep My Dignity": HIV Related Stigma Among the Elderly in Uganda.

Purpose: Numerous studies focus on stigma, HIV disclosure's impact on treatment compliance, especially in younger groups. Limited research exists about older individuals. We therefore explored issues related to disclosure of HIV status and HIV-related stigma in the elderly.

Rift Valley Fever outbreaks in the East African Community: insights from ProMed data (2010-2024).

Background: Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that poses a serious threat to both humans and livestock across various regions, particularly in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of the Indian Ocean Islands. This study seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution and trends of RVF outbreaks within the East African Community (EAC) countries, offering insights into the patterns and progression of these outbreaks in the region.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMed), a digital, event-based disease surveillance system, to identify reports of outbreak events in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and South Sudan from 2010 to 2024.

The impact of traumatic brain injury on visual processing: a neuro-ophthalmological perspective.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a critical global health issue characterized by perturbance in cerebral function attributed to mechanical force. TBI often precipitates significant visual impairment that negatively impacts the patients' quality of life. This review examines the effects of TBI on visual function from a neuro-ophthalmological perspective, focusing on the assessment, diagnostics, and management of associated sequelae.

'Making abortion safe': abortion and post-abortion care providers' experiences of stigma in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Background: Social stigma and the marginalisation of abortion care within medical settings can negatively affect abortion providers. While some research has evaluated stigma interventions in legally restrictive settings, little work has explored the experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing abortion and post-abortion care (PAC) outside the USA. This study, part of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' 'Making Abortion Safe' programme, aimed to understand providers' experiences of abortion stigma in four African countries with restrictive legislation.

Evaluating reproduction traits in a crossbreeding program between indigenous and exotic sheep in semi-arid lands.

Reproduction traits are important factors determining the efficiency of any sheep production system. This study evaluates the age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), litter weight at birth (LBWT), litter weight at weaning (LWWT), birth weight of ewe (EBWT) and weaning weight of ewes (EWWT) in a crossbreeding program between the Red Maasai (RRRR) and Dorper sheep and their crosses, 75% Dorper and 50% Dorper (DDRR) breeds. All the traits significantly (P < 0.

Trends and Outcomes of Laparoscopic Surgery in Low-Resource Settings: Lessons From Two African Healthcare Systems-A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery (LS) has been a promising development in surgical practice globally ever since its introduction. LS has exhibited many an advantage, including bettering patient outcomes, lowering the risk of postoperative infection, and displaying economical affluence. However, its implementation in the African continent still faces various challenges.

Expanding HIV Self-Test Kits via Community Pharmacies in Rwanda Has Improved Availability, but Affordability Remains an Issue.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HIV self-testing (HIVST) to complement the existing HIV testing services. Pursuant to this, Rwanda approved the over-the-counter sale of Oral Quick HIV self-tests in community pharmacies, facilitating home testing and addressing accessibility issues. However, the availability and affordability of HIVSTs in these settings remains unexplored.

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.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Livestock and Farmers' Choice of Milk Marketing Channels in Rwamagana District, Rwanda.

Brucellosis remains an endemic disease in livestock populations in Rwanda, but the prevalence of the disease varies by geographic region. The common use of informal milk marketing channels represents a health hazard to humans when milk from Brucella-infected cows from one or more households is mixed with milk from other households for human consumption. In Rwanda, knowledge about the burden of brucellosis in livestock and factors associated with farmers' choice of milk marketing channels is very limited.

Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Preeclampsia is a severe pregnancy complication affecting 2-8% of pregnancies globally, contributing to substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia, yet the efficacy of its supplementation during pregnancy in reducing preeclampsia incidence remains uncertain.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence of preeclampsia and related maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Human genetics and genomics as a unifying factor for harmony and progress in Africa: a report from the 12 African Society of Human Genetics meeting in Bamako, Mali.

Since its inception in 2003, the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) has been central to the promotion of genetics research on the continent, and facilitated the networking of African researchers within Africa and abroad, thereby significantly contributing to the career development of African geneticists. The continuation of these accomplishments was stimulated by the 12 international conference of AfSHG held jointly with the 1 Congress of the Malian Society of Human Genetics (MSHG) in Bamako, Mali from September 18 to 21 2019. The main theme of the conference was "Human Genetics and Genomics as a Unifying Factor for Harmony and Progress in Africa".

Oral human papillomavirus infections in Zambian Rural and Urban residents-a community cross-sectional study.

Background: How common it is with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the healthy and diseased oral cavity is largely unknown for Africans. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the prevalence of oral HPV and the risk factors associated with HPV contraction including sexual practice in the urban and rural Zambian population.

Methods: Urban (N = 188) and rural (N = 211) Zambian adults aged 21 years and older living in Ndola and Mansa, respectively, were interviewed about demographical data, oral and coital sexual history and tobacco and alcohol use.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pediatric cardiac surgery for common lesions in Rwanda.

Background: Only 3 % of children in sub-Saharan Africa with congenital heart disease (CHD) have access to life-saving surgery. There is an urgent need to scale up the volume of cardiac procedures. Cost-utility analysis can assess the health economic impacts of performing congenital heart surgery in this region.

Evolution and determinants of antenatal care services utilization among women of reproductive age in Rwanda: a scoping review.

Background: Maternal and child health remains a global priority, with antenatal care (ANC) recognized as essential for ensuring positive pregnancy outcomes. Despite significant improvements, in low- and middle-income countries, ANC service utilization remains low in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper contributes to the understanding of the evolution and determinants of ANC service utilization among women of reproductive age in Rwanda.

Marburg Virus Reaches Rwanda: How Close Are We to a Vaccine Solution?

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly virulent and often fatal disease caused by the Marburg virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, closely related to the Ebola virus. Historically, outbreaks have been sporadic but lethal across various African countries, with high case fatality rates (CFRs). In 2023, significant outbreaks occurred in Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, with CFRs of 62.