Walter Sisulu University
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Stocking Practices of Anti-Tuberculosis Medications among Community Pharmacists and Patent Proprietary Medicine Vendors in Two States in Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: Evidence has shown that non-fixed-dose combination (non-FDC) anti-TB drugs could promote the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). We aimed to determine anti-TB medication stocking and dispensing practices among patent medicine vendors (PMVs) and community pharmacists (CPs) and their determinants. Method: This was a cross-sectional study using a structured, self-administered questionnaire among 405 retail outlets (322 PMVs and 83 CPs) across 16 Lagos and Kebbi local government areas (LGAs) between June 2020 and December 2020. Data were analyzed with Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 17 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to assess the determinants of anti-TB medication stocking practices at a p-value of 0.05 or less for statistical significance. Results: Overall, 91%, 71%, 49%, 43% and 35% of the respondents reported stocking loose rifampicin, streptomycin, pyrazinamide, isoniazid and ethambutol tablets, respectively..
Socioeconomic and geographic variations in antenatal care coverage in Angola: further analysis of the 2015 demographic and health survey
Get PDFIn African countries, including Angola, antenatal care (ANC) coverage is suboptimal and maternal mortality is still high due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. There is evidence of disparities in the uptake of ANC services, however, little is known about both the socio-economic and geographic-based disparity in the use of ANC services in Angola. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of socio-economic, urban-rural and subnational inequality in ANC coverage in Angola. We analyzed data from the 2015 Angola Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) using the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software. The analysis consisted of disaggregated ANC coverage rates using four equity stratifiers (economic status, education, residence, and region) and four summary measures (Difference, Population Attributable Risk, Ratio and Population Attributable Fraction). To measure statistical significance, an uncertainty interval (UI) of 95% was constructed around point estimates. The study showed both absolute and relative inequalities in coverage of ANC services in Angola. More specifically, inequality favored women who were rich (D = 54.2, 95% UI; 49.59, 58.70, PAF = 43.5, 95% UI; 40.12, 46.92), educated (PAR = 19.9, 95% UI; 18.14, 21.64, R = 2.14, 95% UI; 1.96, 2.32), living in regions such as Luanda (D = 51.7, 95% UI; 43.56, 59.85, R = 2.64, 95% UI; 2.01, 3.26) and residing in urban dwellings (PAF = 20, 95% UI; 17.70, 22.38, PAR = 12.3, 95% UI; 10.88, 13.75). The uptake of ANC services were lower among poor, uneducated, and rural residents as well as women from the Cuanza Sul region. Government policy makers must consider vulnerable subpopulations when designing needed interventions to improve ANC coverage in Angola to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global maternal mortality ratio to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births
Neuropsychiatric Manifestation of Nuerocystircosis: A Comprehensive Review
No full textCysticercosis (Ct) is a preventable and eradicable zoonotic parasitic disease secondary to an infection caused by the larva form of pig tapeworm Taenia solium (Ts), usually seen in people living in devel-oping countries. However, the number of carriers in developed countries increases gradually due to globalization and uncontrolled migration. In this study, we look for information related with the pathogenesis of neu-ropsychiatric manifestation in patients with neurocysticercosis (NPNCC)..
Financial Literacy and Inclusion for Rural Agrarian Change and Sustainable Livelihood in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Get PDFFinance and growth underpin the debate on the implications of financial literacy and financial inclusion for development among scholars. While financial inclusion and financial literacy are positioned as enablers of sustainable development, literature has failed to link the two with sustainable development, especially for rural agrarian dwellers in dire need of financial development attributes. Therefore, this study applied variance-based structural equation modelling to examine the implications of financial literacy and financial inclusion for the sustainable livelihood of rural agrarian settlers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Global scales were adapted and validated before administering them to 283 farmers and subsistence businesses in the region. The results revealed that financial literacy positively and significantly influences financial inclusion (β =0.452) and the attainment of sustainable livelihood (β =0.444). Financial inclusion partially mediates the influence of financial literacy on sustainable livelihood (β =0.253), as it directly explains the province’s sustainable livelihood (β =0.114). The study’s implication informs structured interventions for improving financial literacy to assist the target group with access to the requisite funding, which could support their economic activities for a decent living
Fixed Point Results via Real-Valued Function Satisfying Intergral Type Rational Contraction
Get PDFIn this article, we mainly discuss the existence and uniqueness offixed point satisfying integral type contractions in completemetric spaces via rational expression using real-valued functions. We improve and unify many widely known results from theliterature. Among these, the work of Rakotch (1962), Branciari (2002), and Liu et al. (2013) is extended. Finally, we concludewith an example presented graphically in favour of our work
Some Fixed-Point Theorems of Convex Orbital(α,β)-Contractions Mappings in Geodesic
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to broaden the applicability of convex orbital(α,β)-contraction mappings to geodesic spaces. This class of mappings is a naturalextension of iterated contraction mappings. The paper derives fixed-point theoremsboth with and without assuming continuity. Furthermore, the paper investigatesmonotone convex orbital (α,β)-contraction mappings and establishes a fixed-pointtheorem for this class of mappings
The Detection of Mutations and Genotyping of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains Isolated from Patients in the Rural Eastern Cape Province
Get PDFDrug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is still a major public health concern in South Africa. Mutations in M. tuberculosis can cause varying levels of phenotypic resistance to anti-TB medications. There have been no prior studies on gene mutations and the genotyping of DR-TB in the rural Eastern Cape Province; hence, we aimed to identify DR-TB mutations, genetic diversity, and allocated lineages among patients in this area. Using Xpert® MTB/RIF, we assessed the rifampin resistance of sputum samples collected from 1157 patients suspected of having tuberculosis. GenoType MTBDR plus VER 2.0 was used for the detection of mutations causing resistance to anti-TB medications. The next step was to spoligotype 441 isolates. The most prevalent rifampin resistance-conferring mutations were in rpoB codon S531L in INH-resistant strains; the katG gene at codon S315TB and the inhA gene at codon C-15TB had the most mutations; 54.5% and 24.7%, respectively. In addition, 24.6% of strains showed mutations in both the rpoB and inhA genes, while 69.9% of strains showed mutations in both the katG and rpoB genes. Heteroresistance was seen in 17.9% of all cases in the study. According to spoligotyping analysis, Beijing families predominated. Investigation of the evolutionary lineages of M. tuberculosis isolates can be carried out using the information provided by the study’s diversity of mutations. In locations wherein these mutations have been discovered, decision-making regarding the standardization of treatment regimens or individualized treatment may be aided by the detection frequency of rpoB, katG, and inhA mutations in various study areas
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cigarette Smoking among South Africa Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol
Get PDFTobacco use, particularly the initiation of smoking during adolescence and young adult hood, represents a significant public health concern in South Africa. The influence of socio-cultural factors, marketing strategies of the tobacco industry, and accessibility of tobacco products have all been implicated in this context. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol aims to scrutinise the body of literature on this issue, providing a comprehensive understanding of the patterns and determinants of tobacco use among South African adolescents and young adults, with an eye towards informing more effective policy interventions. The available literature for studies on tobacco use will be systematically searched and reviewed. Five international scholarly databases, namely PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, and Scopus, will be searched. Peer-reviewed studies will be included if they are conducted in South Africa or South African provinces and if they include the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents and young adults aged between 12 and 24 years. The results of such an analysis can guide future policy designs, enabling them to be more targeted and thus more effective. The findings can also have implications for shaping global tobacco control strate gies, given the transferability of successful interventions across different populations and cultural contexts. This protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO database
Health-Seeking Behavior Regarding Coughs in Urban Slums in Lagos, Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: TB is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with slum residents being disproportionately affected. This study aimed to assess health-seeking behavior among adult residents of slum communities presenting with coughs in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted across six urban slums in Nigeria as part of community outreaches to mark World TB Day. A structured, pretested questionnaire was used to capture relevant sociodemographic details and questions regarding symptoms of coughs and related symptoms as well as care-seeking behavior. Data were explored, analyzed, and presented using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 632 respondents participated in this study..
Tourism and trade opennes, and economic development nexus in selected SADC countries
Get PDFThe interplay between tourism, trade openness, and economic development in selected SADC countries holds significant importance in understanding their complex relationships and identifying strategies for sustainable economic growth. This study aimed to investigate this nexus using extensive datasets and robust panel data estimation techniques, specifically employing the Panel ARDL model to examine short and long-run relationships among the variables. The utilization of the Panel ARDL model was deemed appropriate due to its efficiency in providing reliable and robust estimates. The study revealed a strong positive relationship among tourism, trade openness, and economic development within the SADC region. This demonstrates the crucial role these variables play in shaping the development trajectory of the region, influencing economic growth, creating employment, providing education, and ensuring overall economic development. Based on these findings, several potential policy implications can be drawn. Firstly, SADC countries should prioritize trade liberalization to solidify the benefits derived from trade within the bloc. Additionally, strengthening policies such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) can contribute to enhanced economic development within the SADC region. Lastly, it is recommended that government officials and relevant authorities in the selected SADC countries implement tourism promotion strategies to emphasize the integration of tourism development programs, recognizing the significant impact of sustainable tourism on economic growth. These policy implications aim to provide guidance for policymakers and stakeholders in the SADC region to capitalize on the positive relationship between tourism, trade openness, and economic development, and ultimately foster sustainable economic growth and development in the region.Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences, 202