Student's Journal of Health Research Africa
Not a member yet
1618 research outputs found
Sort by
Postpartum Obesity Awakening in LMICs
No full textMaternal obesity, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and post-partum weight retention (PPWR) constitute new public health challenges due to its association with negative short- and long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, attention appears to be concentrated on developed countries with little/none to developing countries as most developing countries are still scarred by the after-mark of undernutrition and believe obesity is for the affluent. The burden of PPWR on developing countries is unrealistic due to absence of statistical data. There is a popular understanding that pregnancy is a period of rapid weight gain and change in body composition as maternal metabolism adapt to meet the demands of the developing fetus. But how much weight gain is recommended is still arguable among majority of the midwives and among women of childbearing age. PPWR can induce a vicious cycle of gestational obesity through out the reproductive life of a woman predisposing her to all sorts of obstetric complications. As a modifiable risk factor, body weight during the prepregnancy, intranatal, and postpartum periods may present critical windows to apply interventions to prevent weight retention and the development of overweight and obesity in women of childbearing age
STENTLESS AND STENTED URETEROSCOPIC LITHOTRIPSY IN MANAGEMENT OF URETERIC CALCULUS–A CROSS-SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.
Get PDFBackground
Ureterolithiasis is a common urological condition managed with ureteroscopic lithotripsy. While stents prevent strictures, they cause discomfort. This study compares postoperative pain and urinary symptoms in stented versus stentless patients to determine the optimal management approach.
Materials and Methods
This prospective observational study, approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (MGMCRI/Res/01/2020/124/IHEC/190), included patients with ureteral calculi ≤10 mm. Exclusions were prior procedures, contraindications, or sepsis. Patients were divided into stented and stentless groups, assessing post-operative loin pain, frequency, urgency, and dysuria.
Results
The sociodemographic analysis revealed no significant differences between the stented and stentless groups in terms of age, gender distribution, or renal parameters (p>0.05). The mean age was 38.28±12.36 years in the stented group and 42.75±9.84 years in the stentless group, with a male predominance in the stented group (71.9%). On univariate analysis, there was no difference in age, renal parameters, size, and site of calculus in the stented and stentless groups. The study found that post-operative loin pain was significantly higher in the stented group (p=0.001), with greater symptoms of frequency (p=0.03), urgency (p=0.05), and dysuria (p=0.02). These findings suggest that stentless ureteroscopy may be preferable for reducing post-operative discomfort.
Conclusion
Stentless ureteroscopic lithotripsy reduces post-operative loin pain and urinary symptoms, improving patient quality of life. Stented patients experienced significantly more pain and symptoms from day 1 to day 14 post-surgery.
Recommendation
Stentless ureteroscopic lithotripsy is recommended for uncomplicated cases to minimize post-operative pain and urinary symptoms, improving patient recovery and quality of life
Barriers to entrepreneurial development in TVET colleges: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study of student perspectives.
Get PDFBackgroundEntrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a pathway to youth empowerment and economic development in South Africa. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges play a pivotal role in equipping students with practical skills for self-employment. However, despite national policy support, entrepreneurial development within TVET colleges remains constrained. This study investigates the barriers hindering entrepreneurial growth from the perspective of enrolled students, with a focus on identifying institutional, structural, and contextual challenges.
MethodsA cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted across four public TVET colleges in KwaZulu-Natal. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 120 final-year students enrolled in business and engineering programs. Qualitative insights were gathered through focus group discussions (n = 4) and semi-structured interviews with 12 student representatives and academic staff. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses.
Results Key barriers identified include inadequate entrepreneurial training (reported by 72% of students), limited access to startup funding (68%), lack of mentorship and incubation programs (61%), and insufficient exposure to real-world business environments. Institutional constraints such as outdated curricula and poorly resourced entrepreneurship units further compound the challenge. Qualitative data revealed a strong desire among students for experiential learning and community-based enterprise development models.
ConclusionThe study highlights significant structural and pedagogical gaps within TVET institutions that hinder students' entrepreneurial readiness. While students demonstrate interest and potential for entrepreneurship, systemic limitations restrict the translation of skills into practice.
RecommendationsTo strengthen entrepreneurial development in TVET colleges, curriculum reforms should prioritize experiential learning, partnerships with local businesses, and on-campus incubation centres. Additionally, policy frameworks must support funding access and mentorship networks tailored to student-led enterprises
Healing from the wild: An ethnopharmacological assessment of Aloe ferox in rural KwaZulu-Natal. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study.
Get PDFBackground
Aloe ferox (Cape Aloe or Bitter Aloe) is one of Southern Africa’s most valued medicinal plants, widely used within Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) for treating digestive, dermatological, and immune-related ailments. This study investigates the traditional applications, usage patterns, and local perceptions of A. ferox to support the integration of Indigenous healing knowledge into public health frameworks.
Methods
A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among 140 participants from rural KwaZulu-Natal communities, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants included 80 women (57%) and 60 men (43%), aged 22–78 years (mean = 46.3 years). Most participants (65%) were small-scale farmers or informal traders, while 25% were traditional healers or herbalists. Quantitative data were gathered using structured questionnaires on usage frequency and preparation methods, while qualitative data were collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with healers, elders, and community herbalists. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were applied.
Results
Approximately 79% of respondents used A. ferox for digestive cleansing and constipation, 60% for wound healing, 42% for skin infections, and 38% for immune support. Common preparation methods included boiling the leaf sap (55%) and topical gel application (35%), with 83% reporting symptom relief. Qualitative findings revealed that A. ferox is also perceived as a spiritual cleanser, used in rituals to remove “impurities” and restore balance. Healers emphasized its cultural symbolism and warned against overharvesting for commercial trade. Participants expressed concern over the loss of Indigenous harvesting knowledge among youth and the absence of dosage regulation in home-based use.
Conclusion The study confirms A. ferox as a cornerstone of traditional healthcare and cultural identity in KwaZulu-Natal.
Recommendations
To ensure its sustainability, pharmacological validation, community-based conservation, and policy inclusion of IKS are recommended to safeguard both human health and biodiversity
Ethnopharmacological evaluation of the African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea): A community-based cross-sectional study on its role in promoting good health and well-being in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Get PDFBackground:The African Potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea), a medicinal plant deeply rooted in African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS), has long been used by traditional healers for immune support, chronic illnesses, and infection management. However, limited empirical evidence exists to validate its therapeutic benefits within modern scientific frameworks. This study explores traditional uses, community knowledge, and perceived health outcomes associated with African Potato among residents of KwaZulu-Natal.
Methods:A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed, involving 150 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling in rural and peri-urban communities. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires on usage frequency, health purpose, and perceived outcomes, while qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews with traditional healers, herbalists, and community elders. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to interpret the data.
Results:Participants ranged from 21 to 74 years old, with the majority being female (62%) and unemployed or self-employed in informal trade. Over 80% reported using African Potato as part of household health remedies, primarily for managing symptoms of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, arthritis, and infections. Traditional practitioners emphasized its immune-boosting, spiritual, and cleansing properties. Community knowledge strongly aligned with the plant’s recognized anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Despite widespread reliance and positive perceptions, participants noted inconsistent dosage, lack of standardized preparation, and uncertainty regarding contraindications, highlighting a gap between traditional practice and scientific validation.
Conclusion:African Potato remains a cornerstone of Indigenous healing in KwaZulu-Natal, supported by lived experiences and communal trust. While its ethnomedicinal value is widely acknowledged, further scientific research is needed to validate therapeutic claims and ensure safe integration into primary healthcare systems.
Recommendations:Interdisciplinary research between scientists and traditional healers is essential to document preparation methods, determine safe dosage, and enhance the credibility of Indigenous knowledge for formal health applications
Correlation of Serum Calcium Levels with Severity of Dengue in Children: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.
Get PDFBackground:Dengue fever is a significant pediatric health burden in tropical countries. Predicting severe cases early remains crucial to reducing morbidity and mortality. Hypocalcemia has been implicated in dengue pathogenesis, but its clinical utility as a prognostic marker in children requires further evaluation.
Objectives:
To estimate serum calcium levels in children with dengue and analyze their correlation with disease severity.
Methods:
This cross-sectional observational study was conducted over 24 months at Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabad, involving 100 children aged 1 month to 12 years with serologically confirmed dengue. Demographic data, clinical features, and laboratory findings were recorded. Serum total and ionized calcium levels were measured within 24 hours of admission. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v17.0. ANOVA, chi-square test, and Spearman’s correlation were applied; p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 5.8 ± 3.6 years, with a male predominance (58%). Fever was universal, followed by myalgia (76%), vomiting (44%), and abdominal pain (33%). Severe dengue was identified in 7% of cases. Mean serum calcium and ionized calcium levels were significantly lower in severe dengue (7.2 ± 0.5 mg/dL and 0.96 ± 0.10 mmol/L, respectively) compared with dengue without warning signs (8.5 ± 0.4 mg/dL and 1.18 ± 0.06 mmol/L, p = 0.01). Strong negative correlations were observed between calcium levels and disease severity (Spearman’s rho –0.651 for total calcium; –0.724 for ionized calcium). Mortality was 3%.
Conclusion:
Hypocalcemia, particularly low ionized calcium, correlates strongly with the severity of pediatric dengue and can be a sensitive early biomarker for risk stratification.
Recommendations:
Routine estimation of ionized calcium should be incorporated into the clinical evaluation of dengue in children. Early correction of hypocalcemia may prevent complications. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to validate calcium monitoring as a prognostic and therapeutic tool
Adverse maternal-fetal outcomes among mothers with obstructed labor delivered at a tertiary care hospital in Central Uganda: A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study.
Get PDFBackground:
Obstructed labor is the single most common cause of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including urinary bladder trauma, ruptured uterus, sepsis, post-partum hemorrhage (PPH), birth asphyxia, septicemia, and stillbirth, among others. This study aimed to determine the frequency and types of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes associated with obstructed labor at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, a tertiary care hospital located in Central Uganda.
Methods:
A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda that involved a review of 2,176 hospital records of mothers who delivered from 1st January to 31st December 2023. A pretested data extraction tool was used for data collection from the patient charts. Variables with p-values <0.2 in the bivariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis using a Modified Poisson Regression model to identify determinants of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes of obstructed labor.
Results:
The most commonly reported adverse maternal outcome was puerperal sepsis (21, 55.4%), while birth asphyxia (65, 70.7%) was the commonest adverse fetal outcome. Being referred from a lower health center, non-use of partograph during labor, history of herbal medicine use, and visiting a traditional birth attendant were strongly correlated with the adverse maternal-fetal outcomes (p-value = <0.001).
Conclusions:
This study revealed a high prevalence of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes associated with obstructed labor. Being referred from a lower health facility, non-use of partograph during labor, history of herbal medicine use, and visiting a traditional birth attendant were associated with adverse maternal-fetal outcomes among women with obstructed labor. Sepsis, perineal tears, birth asphyxia, and stillbirth were the commonest adverse outcomes of obstructed labor.
Recommendation:
This calls for improving the referral system from lower health facilities, improving infrastructure to support timely access to critical emergency obstetric care, and emphasizing the need for patrograph use during labor
Downregulation of PAX1 in OSCC enhances stemness and immunosuppression via IFIT1 and PD-L1 pathways. A systematic review.
Get PDFBackground:
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epigenetic alterations, particularly the hypermethylation-mediated downregulation of paired box gene 1 (PAX1), have been implicated in OSCC progression. Recent evidence suggests that PAX1 silencing may enhance stemness and immunosuppression through the interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathways, thereby promoting tumor aggressiveness and immune evasion.
Aim:
To systematically review and synthesize the available evidence on the downregulation of PAX1 in OSCC, with a focus on its role in enhancing stemness and immunosuppression via IFIT1 and PD-L1 pathways.
Materials and Methods:
A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published up to 15 May 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised original research studies on human OSCC samples or relevant experimental models, evaluating PAX1 expression or methylation status in relation to stemness, immunosuppression, IFIT1, or PD-L1 signaling. Exclusion criteria included reviews, editorials, conference abstracts without full data, studies on non-OSCC malignancies (unless OSCC-specific data were provided), and studies lacking direct assessment of PAX1 status.
Results:
Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. PAX1 hypermethylation was consistently associated with transcriptional downregulation in OSCC tissues, correlating with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. Mechanistic studies revealed that PAX1 silencing activated IFIT1-driven signaling and upregulated PD-L1 expression, leading to enhanced cancer stem cell properties and suppression of anti-tumor immunity.
Conclusion:
Downregulation of PAX1 through promoter hypermethylation plays a critical role in OSCC progression by enhancing stemness and immunosuppressive mechanisms via IFIT1 and PD-L1 pathways. These findings highlight PAX1 as a promising biomarker for risk stratification and as a potential therapeutic target to counteract tumor aggressiveness and immune evasion
Fungal isolates and their antifungal susceptibility in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis: A hospital-based observational study.
Get PDFBackground:Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory disorder of the paranasal sinuses, and fungal involvement has gained increasing attention in recent years. Early identification of fungal etiological agents and their antifungal susceptibility patterns is essential for guiding effective therapy and improving outcomes.
Objectives:
To isolate and identify fungal pathogens in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and to determine their antifungal susceptibility patterns along with associated clinical factors.
Methods:
This hospital-based observational study included 100 clinically diagnosed CRS patients. Sinonasal samples were obtained and processed using direct microscopy and fungal culture. Fungal isolates were identified by standard morphological methods. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the CLSI guidelines. Patient demographics, clinical features, and associated comorbidities were recorded and analyzed.
Results:
The majority of patients belonged to the 31–45 year age group (44%), and 58% were males. Nasal obstruction (82%), post-nasal drip (67%), and facial pain (59%) were the common presenting symptoms. Fungal culture positivity was observed in 42% of cases. Among the isolates, Aspergillus species predominated, with Aspergillus flavus (42.9%) being the most frequent, followed by A. fumigatus (21.4%) and A. niger (9.5%). Candida albicans and Mucor species accounted for 14.3% and 11.9% of isolates, respectively. History of allergic rhinitis (47.6%), diabetes mellitus (28.6%), and prior steroid use (33.3%) were more frequent among fungal-positive cases. Voriconazole showed the highest susceptibility for Aspergillus isolates (85%), while Amphotericin-B was consistently effective for Mucor species.
Conclusion:
Fungal involvement in CRS is significant, with Aspergillus species being the dominant pathogens. Antifungal susceptibility testing plays a key role in guiding appropriate therapy to prevent complications.
Recommendations:
Routine fungal culture should be incorporated in CRS evaluation, especially in patients with nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, or diabetes. Judicious use of steroids is advised
A prospective observational study on the efficacy of narrowband UVB phototherapy combined with oral antioxidants in the management of vitiligo.
Get PDFBackground:Vitiligo is a chronic depigmenting disorder, often requiring prolonged therapy due to slow and variable repigmentation. Narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) is an established treatment approach, and interest has grown in combining it with oral antioxidant supplementation to enhance melanocyte recovery and reduce oxidative stress.
Aim:
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of NB-UVB phototherapy combined with oral antioxidants in patients with vitiligo.
Methods:
This prospective observational study included 50 clinically diagnosed vitiligo patients. All participants received NB-UVB phototherapy three times weekly, along with a daily oral antioxidant regimen, for 24 weeks. Demographic and clinical parameters were recorded. Repigmentation was assessed using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Treatment response was categorized as excellent (>75%), moderate (50–75%), mild (25–49%), or minimal (<25%). Adverse events were documented throughout the study period.
Results:
The mean age of participants was 28.6 ± 9.4 years, with females comprising 56% of the cohort. Non-segmental vitiligo accounted for 74% of cases. The mean baseline VASI score was 6.8 ± 2.1, which reduced progressively to 4.3 ± 1.9 at 12 weeks and 2.7 ± 1.6 at 24 weeks. Excellent repigmentation was achieved in 28% of patients, moderate in 36%, and mild in 24%, while 12% showed minimal improvement. Facial and truncal lesions responded better compared to acral sites. Treatment was well tolerated, with only mild transient erythema and pruritus reported.
Conclusion:
NB-UVB combined with oral antioxidants resulted in meaningful repigmentation with good safety and patient acceptance.
Recommendations:
This combination may be considered as a preferred therapeutic strategy in the routine management of non-segmental vitiligo, especially when aiming for gradual yet sustained repigmentation