2564 research outputs found
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Research Protocol - Effectiveness of nutritional supplementation (RUTF and multi micronutrient) in preventing malnutrition in children 6-59 months with infection (malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea), a randomized controlled trial in Nigeria
No full textResearch ProtocolOverall objective: To determine the effectiveness of 14 days supplementation with Ready to use therapeutic Food (RUTF) or micronutrients alone concurrently with treatment for diarrhoea, malaria or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in reducing risk of malnutrition and disease.\ud
1. Primary aim: Effectiveness of supplementation with RUTF concurrently with treatment for diarrhoea, malaria or LRTI in reducing incidence of malnutrition\ud
2. Secondary aims:\ud
a. Effectiveness of supplementation with a multi-micronutrient powder (MNP) concurrently with treatment for diarrhoea, malaria or LRTI in reducing incidence of malnutrition\ud
b. Effectiveness of supplementation with RUTF or MNP on reduction of frequency of diarrhoea, malaria or LRTI\ud
c. Explore effectiveness of the supplements in reducing malnutrition and illness for moderate malnourished, young children and breastfed childre
Research Protocol - Understanding how communities interact with the Ebola intervention as it unfolds and the subsequent value of specific control measures for a sustained success in the response in Sierra Leone: a qualitative study
No full textResearch ProtocolThis study aims to provide a better understanding of community interaction with the Ebola response in Sierra Leone in order to inform programme strategies:\ud
• Describe community and local-level perspectives and attitudes toward the measures taken to control the Ebola outbreak, with consideration of how such measures may have been integrated into personal narratives over time; \ud
• Document gaps, barriers and influences that impact control measures;\ud
• Consider the subsequent value of control measures used to inform an effective future outbreak response
Research Protocol - Prevalence of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress related symptoms in the Kashmir Valley – a cross sectional study, 2015
No full textResearch ProtocolPrimary Objective: To estimate prevalence of mental health related problems, specifically depression/anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms in Kashmir and to determine the accessibility to mental health services.\ud
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Study Design: Mixed methods research design incorporating cross-sectional household survey, clinical psychiatric interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. \ud
Inclusion Criteria: Participants will be included if they can meet the following criteria:\ud
• 18 years of age or older.\ud
• Able to provide informed consent.\ud
Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be excluded from the study if they meet the following criteria:\ud
• Unable to provide verbal informed consent.\ud
• Choose to withdraw their consent.\ud
Intervention: The survey will be conducted in the Kashmiri language by interview enumeration. A sub-sample of the survey population will undergo a mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) by a trained interviewer. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions will occur concurrently with the household survey.\ud
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Sample Size: 4800 probability sampled households from 10 districts, 12 households from each village. A sub-sample of 200 individuals who test positive on validated screening tests will be convenience sampled for formal psychiatric interview (MINI). Two focus group discussions will be held in each district and will be comprised of 8-10 convenience sampled participants.\ud
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Primary Outcome Measure: \ud
• Point Prevalence of depression/anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms.\ud
• Qualitative data on access to mental health services and perceived needs
Treatment Outcomes for HIV and MDR-TB Co-infected Adults and Children: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
No full textThe incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is increasing in high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence settings, with high associated mortality. Treatment outcomes in HIV-co-infected adults and children are poorly documented
Research Protocol - Evaluating the effectiveness and burden of diabetes care in a complex humanitarian emergency setting in Mweso, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 2015
No full textResearch ProtocolOverall aim: To evaluate IDC-OPD in Mweso health zone, North Kivu, DRC. \ud
The specific objectives are to examine:\ud
• The reach (coverage) of the diabetes service to the intended target population.\ud
• The effectiveness of IDC-OPD in improving diabetes outcomes (fasting blood glucose and complications)\ud
• Adoption / acceptance of IDC-OPD by staff and patients\ud
• Implementation of IDC-OPD in terms of consistency/fidelity, adaptation and costs \ud
• Maintenance of IDC-OPD in patients and programme over tim
Measles Seroprevalence in Chiradzulu District, Malawi: Implications for Evaluating Vaccine Coverage
No full textSelf-reported measles vaccination coverage is frequently used to inform vaccination strategies in resource-poor settings. However, little is known to what extent this is a reliable indicator of underlying seroprotection, information that could provide guidance ensuring the success of measles control and elimination strategies
Superior Virologic and Treatment Outcomes When Viral Load is Measured at 3 Months Compared to 6 Months on Antiretroviral Therapy
No full textRoutine viral load (VL) monitoring is utilized to assess antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and virologic failure, and it is currently scaled-up in many resource-constrained settings. The first routine VL is recommended as late as six months after ART initiation for early detection of sub-optimal adherence. We aimed to assess the optimal timing of first VL measurement after initiation of ART
Dilution Testing Using Rapid Diagnostic Tests in a HIV Diagnostic Algorithm: a Novel Alternative for Confirmation Testing in Resource Limited Settings
No full textCurrent WHO testing guidelines for resource limited settings diagnose HIV on the basis of screening tests without a confirmation test due to cost constraints. This leads to a potential risk of false positive HIV diagnosis. In this paper, we evaluate the dilution test, a novel method for confirmation testing, which is simple, rapid, and low cost. The principle of the dilution test is to alter the sensitivity of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) by dilution of the sample, in order to screen out the cross reacting antibodies responsible for falsely positive RDT results
Care for victims of sexual violence, an organization pushed to its limits: The case of Médecins Sans Frontières
No full textOver the past ten years, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has provided medical care to almost 118,000 victims of sexual violence. Integrating related care into MSF general assistance to populations affected by crisis and conflicts has presented a considerable institutional struggle and continues to be a challenge. Tensions regarding the role of MSF in providing care to victims of sexual violence and when facing the multiple challenges inherent in dealing with this crime persist. An overview of MSF’s experience and related reflection aims to share with the reader, on the one hand,the complexity of the issue, and on the other, the need to continue fighting for the provision of adequate medical care for victims of sexual violence,which despite the limitations is feasible