2,175 results match your criteria: "University of Rwanda[Affiliation]"

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

Int J Infect Dis

December 2024

Department of General Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. Electronic address:

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.

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Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global public health problem. While research exists on GBV and associated help-seeking behaviors among university students, few studies have assessed the prevalence of GBV, including experiences and barriers to help-seeking, within sub-Saharan African university settings.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of GBV victimization among university students in six sub-Saharan African countries and describe experiences of formal and informal help-seeking among students who self-identified as victims of GBV since attending university.

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Introduction: We designed the Informed Health Choices (IHC) secondary school intervention and evaluated whether it improves students' ability to assess the trustworthiness of claims about treatment effects in Uganda. We conducted a process evaluation alongside a randomized trial to identify factors that may affect the implementation, fidelity, and scaling up of the intervention in Uganda. We also explored the potential adverse and beneficial effects of the intervention.

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Introduction: We evaluated the Informed Health Choices secondary school intervention to help students in Kenya think critically about health choices. We conducted this process evaluation to explore if the intervention was implemented as planned, identify factors that facilitated or hindered implementation, potential benefits of the intervention, and how to scale up the intervention beyond the trial.

Methods: This was a mixed methods process evaluation nested in a cluster-randomized trial of the Informed Health Choices intervention.

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Introduction: We evaluated the Informed Health Choices secondary school intervention in a cluster randomized trial in Rwanda. The intervention was effective in helping students to think critically about health. In parallel to the trial, we conducted a process evaluation to assess factors affecting the implementation, impacts, and scale-up of the intervention.

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Background: Adaptation to disability (AD) is linked to positive feelings (PF) and positive emotional well-being (PEWB), while emotional suppression can improve adaptation and provide temporary PEWB but will not lead to sustainable positive mental health. This study examined whether and to what extent PF might mediate the link between AD and PEWB in a sample of students with congenital physical disabilities (CPD) in Rwanda.

Methods: A sample of 46 students with CPD (21 females, i.

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Background: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) has been implemented in Rwanda in districts with high malaria transmission, including Ngoma District. The first IRS campaign (IRS-1) was conducted in March 2019, ahead of the peak malaria season, followed by a second campaign (IRS-2) in August 2020, targeting 89,331 structures. This study assessed factors influencing IRS uptake and evaluated the impact of IRS interventions on malaria morbidity in Ngoma District, Eastern Province, Rwanda.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the biological differences linked to PTSD by examining DNA methylation changes in blood, suggesting they could indicate susceptibility or effects of trauma.
  • Conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the research included nearly 5,100 participants to identify specific genetic markers associated with PTSD.
  • Results showed 11 significant CpG sites related to PTSD, with some also showing correlations between blood and brain tissue methylation, highlighting their potential role in understanding PTSD biology.
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Enhancing iron and zinc bioavailability in maize () through phytate reduction: the impact of fermentation alone and in combination with soaking and germination.

Front Nutr

December 2024

Division of Food and Pharma, Department of Process and Life Science Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Introduction: Phytates are nutrient-binding compounds found mainly in cereals and legumes, which may significantly contribute to micronutrient malnutrition in regions where phytate-rich cereals, such as maize, are staple food.

Objectives: This study investigated how maize fermentation, both alone and in combination with soaking and germination, can reduce phytate levels and enhance the estimated bioavailability of iron and zinc.

Methods: We evaluated various fermentation methods, including spontaneous fermentation; fermentation with starter cultures, either 299v (Lp299) or yogurt containing viable ; and fermentation with Lp299 of soaked and germinated maize.

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The departure of pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria - a major source of antimicrobial drug supply in West Africa - increases the risk of an elevated burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria and the West Africa subregion. Urgent actions must be taken by relevant actors to address the increased risk of AMR.

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Genomic and transmission dynamics of the 2024 Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda.

Nat Med

December 2024

Rwanda Joint Task Force for Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak, Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Kigali, Rwanda.

The ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Rwanda marks the third largest historically, though it has exhibited the lowest fatality rate. Genomic analysis of samples from 18 cases identified a lineage with limited internal diversity, closely related to a 2014 Ugandan case. Our findings suggest that the Rwandan lineage diverged decades ago from a common ancestor shared with diversity sampled from bats in Uganda.

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Background: The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, is responsible for the zoonotic disease known as MPX. Primarily found in western and central Africa, emerging studies indicate a shift in transmission dynamics. Ongoing MPX outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have escalated into significant public health concerns.

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The role of between-group signaling in the evolution of primate ornamentation.

Evol Lett

December 2024

Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Gregarious mammals interact to varying degrees and in a variety of ways with neighboring groups. Since navigating this wider social environment via conventional means (social knowledge) may be challenging, we hypothesize that between-group socio-spatial dynamics have exerted strong selection on phenotypic markers of individual identity, quality, and competitive ability. Ornaments are sexually selected decorative traits with far-reaching signaling potential.

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Children younger than 5 years and women, especially pregnant women, are at high risk of malaria and death because of their weak immunity and exposure to mosquitoes. Several studies have considered only the age-structured model and other factors but have not considered sex. The objective of this work is to develop and analyze the malaria transmission model including this structure, to contribute to existing measures and mechanisms to eradicate malaria in Rwanda.

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In Bangladesh, Midwife Led Birthing Centres (MLBCs) have been established to provide midwifery care and sexual and reproductive health services for the displaced Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar. The aim of this study was to explore MLBCs in this humanitarian context from the perspectives of women, midwives, and other key stakeholders. A mixed-method case study was conducted at one of the MLBCs within the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

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Aflatoxins (AF), fungal metabolites, can contaminate feed in favorable environments, posing health risks to humans and animals. Dairy cows exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) excrete its metabolite, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), in milk, compromising its safety. The current study examined the use of an AF binder in dairy feed concentrates on farms in Rwanda to mitigate AFM1 in milk.

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Food Security Resilience and Humanitarian Aid in Mali: A Case Study of Bandiagara Cercle.

Int J Food Sci

December 2024

Laboratory of Economics and Rural Development, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium.

Mali's food security strategies focus on improving agriculture, water management, and diversifying livelihoods. While initiatives like climate-smart agriculture show promise, challenges like limited resources, market access, and political instability persist. Gender inequalities and reliance on external aid further hinder progress, making it difficult for Mali to build sustainable, self-reliant food systems and ensure long-term resilience.

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Article Synopsis
  • Brain tumors pose a major global health issue, particularly in Africa, where limited access to diagnostics and treatment amplifies the crisis and lack of standardized cancer protocols.
  • The Brain Tumor Consortium for Africa (BTCA) was created in 2023 to enhance CNS tumor diagnosis and care in Sub-Saharan Africa, identifying gaps in neuro-oncology capacity through a survey.
  • The consortium aims to improve brain tumor management by expanding molecular diagnostics, standardizing biobanking, enhancing data collection, and advocating for better care in healthcare policies.
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Background: Schistosomiasis is an important snail-borne parasitic disease whose transmission is exacerbated by water resource management activities. In Rwanda, meeting the growing population's demand for food has led to wetlands reclamation for cultivation and increased agrochemical enrichment for crop production. However, the ecological consequences of agrochemical enrichment on schistosomiasis transmission remain unexplored.

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There are few data regarding clinical outcomes from COVD-19 from low-income countries (LICs) including Rwanda. Accordingly, we aimed to determine 1) outcomes of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in Rwanda, and 2) the ability of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score to predict mortality in patients with COVID-19 compared to sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and quick (qSOFA) scores. We conducted a retrospective study of patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rwanda, April 2021-January 2022.

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Background: Menstruation is a universal and normal phenomenon during the reproductive age of females; adolescence is an essential period where females are preparing and adjusting themselves to manage their menstrual bleeding safely and cleanly. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention among visually impaired adolescent girls (VIAGs).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of MHM and associated factors among VIAGs of selected institutions in Rwanda.

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Background: Acute diarrhea (AD), which is defined as frequent passing of liquid stools compared to normal, is a serious and worrying problem and remains a concern for healthcare systems because of its high mortality cause in children under 5 years old. The authors' study aimed to present the prevalence and to describe the clinical manifestation of AD among under-5 children.

Methods: From June 2022 to May 2023, the authors conducted a retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study including all patients aged 0-5 years hospitalized for AD.

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