Healthcare in Lowresource Settings最新文献

{"title":"Projected shortfall of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030: implications for low- and middle-income countries and the way forward","authors":"B. Gulumbe, N. Usman","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11359","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11359","url":null,"abstract":"NA \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45597930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical manifestation and microbial profiling of recurrent MDR microorganisms associated with head and neck infection- a retrospective study","authors":"S. Lenka, Debasmita Dubey, Shakti Rath, Somadatta Das, S. Swain","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11527","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11527","url":null,"abstract":"Head and neck infection (HNI) can lead to life-threatening complications, including death. The purpose of this study is to look at the entire clinico-demographic profile of patients with HNI as well as the microbiologic profile of recurring bacterial infection cases with a variety of symptoms. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 1080 HNI patients in a tertiary care hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, from January 2018 to December 2022. Of the 1080 cases, 771 (71.39%) were males, 309 (28.61%) were females, and 603 (55.83%) were from rural areas reporting to a tertiary care hospital. 62% of the cases were between the ages of 31 and 60. Neck abscesses account for 570 (52.78%) of all cases, with parotid abscesses accounting for 233 (21.57%), peritonsillar abscesses accounting for 170 (15.74%), otitis media 32 (2.96%), and oral cavity infection accounting for 26 (2.41%). In 854 (79.07%) cases, the etiology was odontogenic, followed by sinus in 188 (17.41%) and otogenic in 38 (3.52%). The most common presenting features were neck swelling in 537 (49.72%) cases and face swelling in 238 (22.04%) cases, followed by jaw pain in 26 (2.41%) cases and others. Patients were hospitalized for an average of 11.824.38 days. Treatment and recurrence had a strong significant relationship (p 0.001). Microbiologic investigation of recurrent patients revealed 12 microorganisms, including bacteria and fungus, mainly multidrug-resistant in given ascending order Staphylococcus aureus (26.74%), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans (4.65%), Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. krusei. Apart from colistin, almost all antibiotics were highly resistant to gram-negative bacteria, whereas against S. aureus, benzylpenicillin, and oxacillin showed 100% resistance, followed by erythromycin (91.3%), levofloxacin (86.96%), and ciprofloxacin (82.61%). This exploratory study would aid in determining the HNI burden and epidemiology, as well as their treatment status.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42941624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring healthcare system adaptive techniques and challenges in caring for people living with HIV and AIDS during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Harare, Zimbabwe","authors":"Tendai Makwara, Rumbidzai Chireshe, M. Nyashanu","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11424","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems worldwide, affecting the provision of ongoing care for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). This study aimed to explore the adaptive techniques employed by healthcare systems in providing care for PLWHA during the pandemic and the challenges encountered. An exploratory qualitative study (EQS) methodology was employed, underpinned by the resourcefulness framework. The Silences Framework Analysis Phases were used during data analysis. Fifteen participants were interviewed, and the data were thematically analyzed. The healthcare system employed several adaptive techniques to cater to PLWHA during the pandemic, including developing new standard service protocols, implementing preventative measures to limit COVID- 19 infections during hospital visits, and improving communication. The study identified two significant challenges: a lack of health insurance and a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPEs). The findings highlight the need for adapting to changing circumstances and provide ongoing care for PLWHA during the pandemic. The results show that developing new protocols and preventative measures can effectively ensure the continuity of care in pandemic situations. Moreover, the provision of PPEs and health insurance for healthcare staff should be prioritized to create a safe working environment. In conclusion, this study underlined the importance of resourcefulness in developing healthcare resilience to sustain care and support for PLWHA during the COVID-19 pandemic.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44262855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evidence from systematic reviews on policy approaches to improving access to medicines","authors":"Celestino Kuchena, A. Qutieshat","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11143","url":null,"abstract":"The prevailing frameworks on access to medicines advise global procurement as a solution by assuming the presence of medicines on the global market. Yet access to medicines remains challenging, especially in developing countries. This is a global worry because the UN considers limited access to essential medicines as one of the five indicators of securing the right to health. To fill a research gap in health system studies and inform policymaking, we synthesized evidence from systematic reviews of how government policies affect low- and middle-income country (LMIC) medicine access. We chose a rapid review approach to reduce timelines and avoid missing policy “windows of opportunity.” To include only studies published after the start of COVID-19, we chose systematic reviews published between 2019 and November 2nd, 2022. This was also in line with recommendations in the literature to look at recent systematic reviews. The themes were grouped using a thematic and textual narrative approach. This review included 32 studies that examined access to medicine from various perspectives. Both supply- and demand-side policies are needed to improve medical access. LMICs cannot afford medicines, and supply never meets demand. LMICs will continue to struggle with pharmaceutical pricing due to their limited bargaining power. The urban bias in health facilities and policy changes reduce medicine availability and use. Leaders must make policy decisions to sustain domestic funds. Policymakers should consider that organizations may act against policy goals. Instead of copying developed nations, LMIC governments must develop multipronged strategies to address their unique challenges.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49503390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Compliant strategies to contain coronaviruses amidst the inconveniency of social distancing","authors":"T. T. Desta, Tewodros Mulugeta","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11204","url":null,"abstract":"Social distance is the most promising technique for containing respiratory disorders such as coronaviruses. However, social separation is impractical in some situations where physical proximity is unavoidable. This research proposes alternative and complementary preventive and suppressive social distancing measures. This study explored the literature, produced critical ideas, and synthesized personal insights to develop realistic respiratory syndrome containment measures. Client-initiated congestion is common in enterprises and institutions that supply critical goods and services, according to experience. When overcrowding is unavoidable, containment methods such as using face masks, practicing proper cleanliness, improving the health of living and working environments, expanding access to critical supplies and services, and boosting social wellness must be implemented. Additionally, using (locally available) antiseptics, avoiding risky behaviors such as aggression, loneliness, smoking, drug abuse, and excessive alcohol consumption, eating greens, getting enough rest, receiving psychological treatment, and forming social ties could all help to reduce the negative effects of respiratory syndromes. Snipping hot liquids, preferably with honey, providing special attention to the elderly and individuals with comorbid diseases, seeing on-time healthcare workers and following their advise, and decreasing stress-inducing lifestyle factors all help to regulate respiratory syndromes. To control the transmission of contagions that cause respiratory syndromes, cost-effective and simple-to-implement measures should be used. Ignoring impoverished and marginalized communities in pandemic cases allows contagions to flourish unchecked, increasing the recurrence and circulation of pathologically important respiratory disorders.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43241489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of C-reactive protein testing on treatment-seeking behavior and patients' attitudes toward their care in Myanmar and Thailand.","authors":"Rachel C Greer, Thomas Althaus, Sabine Dittrich, Christopher C Butler, Phaik Yeong Cheah, Tri Wangrangsimakul, Frank M Smithuis, Nicolas P J Day, Yoel Lubell","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11278","DOIUrl":"10.4081/hls.2023.11278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing can reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care patients with febrile and respiratory illness, yet little is known about its effects on treatment-seeking behavior. If patients go on to source antibiotics elsewhere, the impact of CRP testing will be limited. A randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of CRP testing on antibiotic prescriptions in Myanmar and Thai primary care patients with a febrile illness. Here we report patients' treatment-seeking behavior before and during the two-week study period. Self-reported antibiotic use is compared against urine antibacterial activity. Patients' opinions towards CRP testing were evaluated. Antibiotic use before study enrolment was reported by 5.4% while antimicrobial activity was detected in 20.8% of samples tested. During the study period, 14.8% of the patients sought additional healthcare, and 4.3% sourced their own antibiotics. Neither were affected by CRP testing. Overall, patients' satisfaction with their care and CRP testing was high. CRP testing did not affect patients' treatment-seeking behavior during the study period whilst modestly reducing antibiotic prescriptions. CRP testing appears to be acceptable to patients and their caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.2,"publicationDate":"2023-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7615608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47044473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the static and dynamic balance in single and dual tasks among active smokers and non-smokers","authors":"Yuvraj Rana, H. Vaish","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11159","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic smoking may lead to postural imbalance and there is the risk of injuries due to instability. Balance is needed to maintain posture. Literature is scarce regarding static and dynamic balance in smokers. Hence, the study aimed to evaluate the static and dynamic balance in single and dual tasks among active smokers and age-matched non-smokers.100 smokers and 100 non-smokers aged 20-50 years were selected by purposive sampling. Static balance was assessed by a single-leg stance (SLS) test. Dynamic balance was assessed by performing the time up and go (TUG) test, and 10m walk test. All the tests were performed in single and dual tasks in both smokers and age-matched non-smokers. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for assessing normality. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups. pvalue ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. There was a significant difference in the SLS test, 10M walk test, and TUG test in single as well as dual tasks. The static and dynamic balance is impaired in chronic smokers in comparison to age-matched non-smokers and seeks further exploration in larger samples.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47209767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pityriasis Versicolor: host susceptibility in relation to IL-10 and IFN γ cytokine gene polymorphism","authors":"Charu Jain, Shukla Das, V. Ramachandran, R. Saha, Sambit Nath Bhattacharyak, S. Dar, Nikita Birhman, N. Singh","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11302","url":null,"abstract":"Pityriasis Versicolor is a skin condition caused by the commensal yeast Malassezia. Little is known about the pathogenesis of why a commensal only causes symptoms in a subset of infected individuals. Understanding the susceptibility of the host to these commensal-associated diseases may be facilitated by knowledge of genetic polymorphism. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the IL10 and IFN genes of the host and susceptibility to Malassezia infection. There were 38 cases of Pityriasis Versicolor (PV) and 38 healthy controls in the sample. Blood samples were extracted for genomic DNA from all study participants. Amplification refractory mutations system- polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) with sequence-specific primers was used to genotype cytokines. In all patients and healthy controls, three SNPs (IL10-1082A/G; IL10-819/592C/T; IFN- +874A/T) in two cytokine loci were analyzed. In the PV group, we observed significant differences in allele or genotype distribution for the IL10-819/592C/T and IFN- +874A/T gene polymorphisms. In the present investigation, cytokine gene polymorphism revealed that the host was susceptible to Malassezia infection.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48117425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Helicobacter Pylori infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Is there a relationship?","authors":"Neveen Rashad Mostafa, Abeer A. M. Ali, M. Alkaphoury, R. Marzo","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11379","url":null,"abstract":"The most prevalent infection that causes chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer is Helicobacter pylori infection. Recent research has implicated H. pylori in the pathogenesis of non-gastrointestinal diseases such as cardiovascular, autoimmune, and metabolic disorders. In addition, since H. pylori is believed to be implicated in insulin resistance, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between H. pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), but the results have been contested. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between H. Pylori infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. One hundred patients were examined via urea breath test for the presence of H. pylori infection and vibration-controlled transient elastography for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. After adjusting for other variables, age, body mass index (BMI), and H. pylori infection were associated with elastography 248dB/m. Infection with H. pylori contributes to the development of NAFLD, and its eradication may influence prognosis.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47986415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The antiviral properties of edible medicinal plants: potential remedies against coronaviruses","authors":"T. T. Desta, Kero Jemal, Rediet Sitotaw, D. Lemessa, Melesse Maryo, Alemtshay Teka, Tewodros Mulugeta","doi":"10.4081/hls.2023.11205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11205","url":null,"abstract":"SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is an unparalleled challenge for the international community. Subsequently, an extraordinary effort has been made to contain SARS-CoV-2. However, this has been largely limited to behavioral changes and vaccination. To make the containment strategies effective, behavioral changes and vaccination need to be complemented with alternative prevention methods and curative treatments. This work reports the antiviral properties of some of the commonly known edible medicinal plants that can be used as potential remedies to suppress coronaviruses. A growing body of evidence substantiates that edible medicinal plants with antiviral properties that have been proven effective against sibling coronaviruses likely contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and they may also suppress the fatality of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The secondary metabolites found in herbal medicines do not cause pathogens to develop drug resistance, which is a common problem in conventional medicines. The use of edible medicinal plants is much safer and causes less panic, thereby avoiding the fear associated with the use of herbal medicines. Right dosages and mixtures of edible medicinal plants need to be rigorously investigated to circumvent unanticipated side effects and chronic health risks.","PeriodicalId":30412,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare in Lowresource Settings","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46034991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}