2564 research outputs found
Sort by
"My Favourite Day Is Sunday": Community Perceptions of (Drug-Resistant) Tuberculosis and Ambulatory Tuberculosis Care in Kara Suu District, Osh Province, Kyrgyzstan
No full textKyrgyzstan is one of the 27 high multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries listed by the WHO. In 2012, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started a drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) project in Kara Suu District. A qualitative study was undertaken to understand the perception of TB and DR-TB in order to improve the effectiveness and acceptance of the MSF intervention and to support advocacy strategies for an ambulatory model of care
Continuity of Care for Migrant Populations in Southern Africa
No full textProviding assistance to mobile populations has long been a challenge for healthcare providers and humanitarian organisations. The challenge is even greater when these populations need long-term chronic care for diseases such as tuberculosis or HIV, which require adherence to treatment and regular follow-up. This article examines the implications of medical care in contexts of displacement, when human movement is a major obstacle to ensuring compliance with treatment regimes. It argues that patients’ mobility can be integrated into health service provision through cross-border and regional referral systems, and examines how aid agencies can successfully work with other stakeholders, considering the impact of immigration policies, discrimination in health facilities, and xenophobia on the health of migrants in need of chronic care. It asks what the correct balance is to take in dealing with a medical crisis in a highly politicised environment. The experiences of Médecins Sans Frontières in Southern Africa are explained as an illustration of this dilemma
Low-Tech, High Impact: Care for Premature Neonates in a District Hospital in Burundi. A Way Forward to Decrease Neonatal Mortality
No full textDeath among premature neonates contributes significantly to neonatal mortality which in turn represents approximately 40 % of paediatric mortality. Care for premature neonates is usually provided at the tertiary care level, and premature infants in rural areas often remain bereft of care. Here, we describe the characteristics and outcomes of premature neonates admitted to neonatal services in a district hospital in rural Burundi that also provided comprehensive emergency obstetric care. These services included a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) ward, and did not rely on high-tech interventions or specialist medical staff
Prognostic Indicators for Ebola Patient Survival
No full textTo determine whether 2 readily available indicators predicted survival among patients with Ebola virus disease in Sierra Leone, we evaluated information for 216 of the 227 patients in Bo District during a 4-month period. The indicators were time from symptom onset to healthcare facility admission and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR cycle threshold (Ct), a surrogate for viral load, in first Ebola virus-positive blood sample tested. Of these patients, 151 were alive when detected and had reported healthcare facility admission dates and Ct values available. Time from symptom onset to healthcare facility admission was not associated with survival, but viral load in the first Ebola virus-positive blood sample was inversely associated with survival: 52 (87%) of 60 patients with a Ct of >24 survived and 20 (22%) of 91 with a Ct of <24 survived. Ct values may be useful for clinicians making treatment decisions or managing patient or family expectations
Implementation and Operational Research: Feasibility of Using Tuberculin Skin Test Screening for Initiation of 36-Month Isoniazid Preventive Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients in Resource-Constrained Settings
No full textThe tuberculin skin test (TST) can be used to identify HIV-infected people who would benefit the most from long-term isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT). However, in resource-constrained settings, implementation of the TST can be challenging. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of implementing the TST for IPT initiation and to estimate the proportion of TST-positive incidence among HIV-positive patients in 2 high tuberculosis and HIV burden settings
Lessons Learnt from TB Screening in Closed Immigration Centres in Italy
No full textBetween June 2012 and December 2013 Médecins Sans Frontières launched a pilot project with the aim of testing a strategy for improving timely diagnosis of active pulmonary TB among migrants hosted in four centres of identification and expulsion (CIE) in Italy
Dangerous Crossing: Demographic and Clinical Features of Rescued Sea Migrants Seen in 2014 at an Outpatient Clinic at Augusta Harbor, Italy
No full textIn recent years Europe has received an increasing influx of migrants, many of whom risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea. In October 2013, Italy launched a search and rescue operation at sea in response to migrant deaths during the sea crossing. In August 2014, Médecins sans Frontières and the local Ministry of Health established an outpatient clinic at Augusta harbor, in Sicily, which received 26 % of total sea migrants arrived in Italy in 2014, to provide immediate medical assessment and care
Ending Tuberculosis by 2030: Can We Do It?
No full textThe Sustainable Development Goals aim to end tuberculosis (TB) related deaths, transmission and catastrophic costs by 2030. Multisectorial action to accelerate socio-economic development, a new vaccine and novel diagnostics and medicines for treatment are key advances needed to end TB transmission. Achieving 90-90-90 targets for TB (i.e., 90% of vulnerable populations screened, 90% diagnosed and started on treatment, and at least 90% cured) will help accelerate progress towards reductions in mortality; however, passive case detection strategies, multidrug-resistant TB, human immunodeficiency virus coinfection and outdated pathways to care need to be overcome. Ending the catastrophic costs associated with TB will require expansion of health insurance coverage, comprehensive coverage of TB services, and limited indirect costs by vulnerable and poor populations
Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infections in Children in Low Malaria Transmission Setting, Southwestern Uganda
No full textA survey of asymptomatic children in Uganda showed Plasmodium malariae and P. falciparum parasites in 45% and 55% of microscopy-positive samples, respectively. Although 36% of microscopy-positive samples were negative by rapid diagnostic test, 75% showed P. malariae or P. ovale parasites by PCR, indicating that routine diagnostic testing misses many non–P. falciparum malarial infections
Building Global Capacity for Conducting Operational Research Using the SORT IT Model: Where and Who?
No full textResearch capacity is weakest in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where operational research is highly relevant and needed. Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) courses have been developed to train participants to conduct and publish operational research and influence policy and practice. Twenty courses were completed in Asia, Africa, Europe and the South Pacific between 2009 and 2014