Africa Journal Research Articles

Postpartum Women's Experiences of Postnatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Postnatal care (PNC) is a critical service for the health and well-being of new mothers and newborns. However, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), most efforts to improve maternal and child health have been directed toward enhancing skilled birth attendance and urgent obstetric and neonatal care. This is despite the fact that more than half of maternal deaths globally occur in the postnatal period, with 65% of these occurring in the first week following birth. One of the health system factors influencing PNC utilization is the women's previous PNC experience at healthcare facilities. The aim of this review was to gain a better understanding of women's experiences of PNC in SSA. This study followed a qualitative evidence synthesis design. The phenomenon of interest was postpartum women's experiences of PNC in SSA. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Science Direct, Africa Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023. To assess the quality of the included studies, we used an appraisal tool developed by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre. Two authors independently extracted relevant data from the included studies. Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis framework was used to synthesize the data. Eight articles were used in this review. Seven articles reported on qualitative studies, and one reported on a mixed-method study. All the included studies fully or partially met the 12 quality assessment criteria. Synthesis of the data resulted in the development of five analytical themes. The five themes were the adequacy of physical examination and communication of the findings, adequacy of PNC information, the quality of interactions with healthcare workers (HCWs), the availability of resources and adequacy of HCWs, and denial of care. The overall confidence in the review's findings was either moderate or high. Based on our findings, we recommend that countries in the region address staff shortages, implement task shifting, electronic medicine stock management systems, optimal supply chain policies, and train HCWs on PNC and interpersonal communication skills.

Book Review: In the Shadow of the Global North: Journalism in Postcolonial Africa by james Siguru Wahutu

Book Review: <i>In the Shadow of the Global North: Journalism in Postcolonial Africa</i> by james Siguru Wahutu

Impact of Self-Care Practices on the Prognosis of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Developing Countries: A Narrative Review

Introduction: Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a type of diabetes with increasing prevalence in lower- and middle-income countries. Diabetes self-care practices (SCPs) are non-pharmacological treatments essential in maintaining health and well-being and improving the quality of life among DM patients. Objective: To highlight the diabetes SCPs and their impact on diabetes prognosis in developing countries. Methods: A comprehensive literature search on Africa Journals Online, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library, from year 2000 to 2023, using relevant keywords. Results: The review highlighted the self-care practices for adequate DM care, including physical activity, diet (healthy eating), self-monitoring of blood glucose, medication adherence, foot care, general body care, and follow-up. The review documented from previous studies that adequate SCPs positively correlated with good glycaemic control, reduction of complications, and improved quality of life among DM patients. Conclusion: Healthcare systems and policy-makers in developing countries must prioritise and support the integration of SCPs into diabetes management strategies. This will improve DM prognosis and overall well-being for individuals living with diabetes.

’Gypsies’, Natural Monogamy, and Violence Full of Love

The paper examines modern knowledge about non-human primates in Czech travel narratives concerning Africa and biological journals from the late nineteenth century to the end of the interwar period. Particular attention is given to the way discourse on primates and anthropological discourse mutually influenced each other. Inspired by the intersection of human – animal studies, critical race theory, and gender studies, the paper emphasizes the anthropomorphizing character of biological discourse and popular travel narratives. At the time, presentations of primates created a specific anthropological resource and, in addition, helped to naturalize the dominant racial and gender ideologies. In the context of the Austrian–Hungarian and Czechoslovakian relative inability to obtain colonial possessions in the way western powers did, the representations of anthropomorphized non-human primates can also be interpreted as a specific field where Czech colonial fantasies about dominance were expressed.

Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes in West Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BackgroundLifestyle interventions are key to the control of diabetes and the prevention of complications, especially when used with pharmacological interventions. This protocol aims to review the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in relation to nutrition and physical activity within the West African region. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to understand which interventions for lifestyle modification are implemented for the control of diabetes in West Africa at the individual and community level, what evidence is available on their effectiveness in improving glycaemic control and why these interventions were effective.MethodsWe will review randomised control trials and quasi-experimental designs on interventions relating to physical activity and nutrition in West Africa. Language will be restricted to English and French as these are the most widely spoken languages in the region. No other filters will be applied. Searching will involve four electronic databases — PubMed, Scopus, Africa Journals Online and Cairn.info using natural-language phrases plus reference/citation checking.Two reviewers will independently screen results according to titles and abstracts against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify eligible studies. Upon full-text review, all selected studies will be assessed using Cochrane’s Collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias of a study and the ROBINS-I tool before data extraction. Evidence will be synthesised narratively and statistically where appropriate. We will conduct a meta-analysis when the interventions and contexts are similar enough for pooling and compare the treatment effects of the interventions in rural to urban settings and short term to long term wherever possible.DiscussionWe anticipate finding a number of studies missed by previous reviews and providing evidence of the effectiveness of different nutrition and physical activity interventions within the context of West Africa. This knowledge will support practitioners and policymakers in the design of interventions that are fit for context and purpose within the West African region.Systematic review registrationThis systematic review has been registered in the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews — PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42023435116. All amendments to this protocol during the process of the review will be explained accordingly.

Filicide in Africa: a systematic review

BackgroundFilicide, the act of a parent or parental figure killing their child, has been reported in various African countries. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the prevalence and associated factors of filicide across the African continent, which is characterized by diverse cultural beliefs and practices. This review aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of filicide in Africa.MethodsThis review included studies on filicide in Africa, identified through searches in various databases (PubMed, Scopus, Africa Journal Online, and Google Scholar) using relevant keywords. The Mendeley reference manager was used to organize all identified articles and remove duplicate entries. A two-round screening process was conducted by two independent reviewers, with the final set of articles selected through mutual agreement. The quality of the studies was then assessed.ResultsOut of the 107 retrieved articles, only 15 were included in the review. These studies revealed diverse prevalence rates: 3.7% of total homicides, 1.38% of deaths from family violence, and 13.02% for autopsied children. Various potential risk factors for filicide were identified, including unwanted pregnancies, marital conflicts, family disputes and violence, low socio-economic status, mental health issues in perpetrators, and mental, physical, or neurological vulnerabilities in victims. Cultural beliefs were also recognized as contributing factors to filicide.ConclusionFilicide is a complex and multi-dimensional issue influenced by various individual, familial, and societal factors. The review highlighted a high prevalence of filicide in Africa, shaped by these diverse factors.

Bibliometric Coloniality in South Africa: Critical Review of the Indexes of Accredited Journals

Bibliometric coloniality refers to the system of domination of global academic publishing by bibliometric indexes based in the Global North, which serve as gatekeepers of academic relevance, credibility, and quality. These indexes are dominated by journals from Europe and North America. Due to bibliometric coloniality, scholarly platforms and academic research from the African continent and much of the Global South are largely invisible on the global stage. In this article, we analyse the geographic coverage of five international indexes that are part of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) lists of accredited journals in South Africa, and unpack systemic and structural factors behind the DHET’s choices. Our analysis shows that the DHET’s lists of accredited journals propagate and value academic journals based in the Global North as credible platforms for dissemination of knowledge, while erasing the African continent and Global South. This way, the DHET is directly reinforcing global bibliometric coloniality and contributing to the maintenance of Euro-American epistemic hegemony. We argue that South Africa, as Africa’s top producer of scholarly output, should lead the process of dismantling bibliometric coloniality and promoting African knowledge platforms. Working closely with other African countries and the African Union on the creation of an African scholarly index would be the first step in this process. However, neoliberalisation of higher education and the lack of political will to tackle coloniality of knowledge are preventing this from happening.

Mapping evidence on the distribution of uterine fibroids in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review protocol.

Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic benign tumours found in reproductive-aged women and may affect up to 70% of all women by menopause. Uterine fibroids place a heavy burden on women and society resulting in poor quality of life, impaired self-image, and impaired social, sexual, emotional, and physical well-being of affected individuals. This study aims to map the evidence on the burden of uterine fibroids in Sub-Saharan Africa; uterine fibroids' burden by age, uterine fibroids' geographic burden, uterine fibroids' cost estimation and reported experiences among women diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Articles will be selected from countries within Sub-Saharan Africa. This scoping review will be guided by the Arksey & O'Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al (2010). The following electronic databases will be searched; PubMed, EBSCOhost (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Health Source), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa Journal Online, and Google Scholar. The Population Concept and Context (PCC) framework will be used and the PRISMA flow diagram will also be used to show the literature search and selection of studies. Descriptive data analysis will be used; results will be presented in themes, narrative summaries, tables, and charts. The study anticipates finding relevant literature on the distribution of uterine fibroids, the burden of uterine fibroids in terms of geographic distribution, age distribution, and cost approximation related to the disease. This will assist in identifying research gaps to guide future research contribute to the body of scientific knowledge and develop preventative strategies for the disease.

Citizen journalism in Africa: A systematic literature review

Over the past few years, there has been a significant change in how news is reported and shared due to technological advancements and the popularity of social media platforms. This shift has enabled citizen journalism, which has strongly influenced media systems and public discourses. The purpose of this study is to discover the main themes, research paradigms and trends regarding citizen journalism in Africa. Data was drawn from Taylor &amp; Francis, Google Scholar, Sage Publication and Emerald Insight databases. The researchers applied a systematic literature review method to the dataset, and after applying the protocol and the analysis model, a corpus of 27 articles was obtained in June 2023, covering a decade from 2013. The findings indicate that ethics in journalism, bureaucracy in journalistic reporting, objectivity in news reporting, professionalism in citizen journalism and social media are the main themes in citizen journalism discussed in the selected articles over the research period. The predominant research paradigm of the reviewed articles is qualitative. The review exposes various unexplored areas of citizen journalism in Africa and recommends further studies in the field.

Recovery Rate and Predictors for Cure of Admitted COVID-19 Patients in Ethiopia; A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND. Despite the global efforts to curb COVID-19 infection using vaccines and drugs, the burden of illness, hospitalization, and death are continued as a deadly pandemic. Previous study finding estimated recovery time of 2 weeks for mild and 3 to 6 weeks for hospitalized cases. However, in low and middle-income countries like Ethiopia, recovery rate and viral negative conversion time are lowballed and underestimated due to the new variant incidence, limited resources and lacked skilled healthcare providers for admitted COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to estimate pooled recovery rate, and predictors for cure among admitted COVID-19 patients in Ethiopia. METHODS. Five electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, HINARY, Africa Journals Online, and Google Scholar) were searched. A total of 529 articles were extracted from cohort studies published in English spanning from December 30, 2019, to December 30, 2023. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to articles screening and extracted using Microsoft Excel. The quality of eligible articles was evaluated using the JBI checklist. The pooled effect size and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were determined using the random-effect meta-regression using STATA version 17. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochran's Q-test, and the variation was estimated by I2, and presented in a forest plot. Subgroup analysis was also used to identify sources of heterogeneity among studies. RESULT. A total of 12 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. During the recovery screening of 5,152 admitted COVID-19 cases, 4,411 participants were discharged as cured. The pooled recovery rate was estimated at 90.6% (95% CI: 87.1-94.23, I² = 96.11%, P = 0.001). In subgroup analysis, Addis Ababa exhibited the highest recovery rate with 95.1%, followed by Oromia (94.6%), and Southern nation nationalities (SNN) region (91.55%). The recovery rate was higher for individuals aged 15-30 years (AHR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.41-2.86, P = 0.001), males’ gender (AHR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.14-1.88, P=0.002), and cases admitted with ≥37.5°C (AHR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.41-2.86, P = 0.001) compared to their counterparts. This manuscript is ongoing a submitted for registered in Prospero. CONCLUSION. In Ethiopia, nearly nine in every ten (90%) admitted COVID-19 cases recovered. However, the recovery rate exhibits a significant variation across each study region, setting, and pandemic phase. Therefore, healthcare providers prioritize care for critical cases to increase the overall survival rate of admitted patients.

Putting Forward Sustainability as a Model for Journalism Education and Training

ABSTRACT African journalism practice presents unique opportunities and challenges that require journalists to be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to engage in sustainable journalism. Training institutions play a critical role in ensuring that journalists are not only professionally-ready to execute their mandate but also that they can safeguard and promote ethical values in their everyday work. Some of these values include “truth telling, independence, objectivity, fairness, inclusivity and social justice” (Gade, Nduka, and Dastger 2017, 10). Africa, like other regions of the Global South, has several journalism training institutions that provide an opportunity to challenge “hegemonic epistemologies and ontologies of Western-centric journalism studies” (Mutsvairo et al. 2021, 993). In the context of this submission, the present study investigates the current state of sustainable journalism in Africa. We examined data based on a syllabi analysis of journalism programs in Kenya, South Africa and Ghana to appraise what role sustainable journalism education and training could play in Africa. Findings show that efforts are already in place across select learning and training institutions but also point to profound gaps in the curriculum, pedagogy and resources needed to prepare journalists for sustainable journalism.

10 years of the Africa Journal of Management: A bibliometric analysis

ABSTRACT The Africa Journal of Management (AJOM) is devoted to the advancement of management theory, scholarship, practice, service, and education in or about Africa and for the benefit of Africa. The journal was launched at the 2014 Africa Academy of Management (AFAM) Conference in Gaborone, Botswana. Since its launch, AJOM has published 219 documents, including 146 research articles, 26 dialogues/insights/essays, 13 managers’ stories, 13 editorials, and nine papers related to the AFAM. We employed a bibliometric analysis to provide a retrospective overview of the work published in the AJOM throughout these past years. We recognize the most cited papers, conduct a co-citation analysis, present author affiliations, keyword analysis, and a general discussion of the most recurrent topics published in the journal. We end with a synopsis of the future of AJOM and support for its continuous growth.

Prevalence, Clinical Features, and Predictors of Adrenal Insufficiency in Adults With Tuberculosis or HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Despite the high frequency of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in patients with tuberculosis or HIV, its diagnosis is often missed or delayed resulting in increased mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to document the prevalence, significant clinical features, and predictors of AI in adult patients with tuberculosis or HIV. We systematically searched databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Africa Journal Online) for published studies on AI in adult patients with tuberculosis or HIV. The pooled prevalence of AI was determined by a random-effect model meta-analysis. A narrative review was used to describe the significant clinical features and predictors of AI in adult patients with tuberculosis or HIV. A total of 46 studies involving 4044 adults were included: 1599 with tuberculosis and 2445 with HIV. The pooled prevalence of AI was 33% (95% CI, 22%-45%; I2 = 97.7%, P < .001) in participants with tuberculosis and 28% (95% CI, 18%-38%; I2 = 98.9%, P < .001) in those with HIV. Presentation with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, abdominal pain, salt craving, myalgia, increased severity and duration of tuberculosis disease, and the absence of nausea predicted AI in participants with tuberculosis in 4 studies. Cytomegalovirus antigenemia positivity, rifampicin therapy, and eosinophilia >3% predicted AI in participants with HIV in 2 studies. AI is relatively common in adults with tuberculosis or HIV. Its timely screening, diagnosis, and management in patients with these 2 conditions should be encouraged to avert mortality.

The level of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among orphan children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Many children and adolescents living with HIV have ended up as orphans. Due to HIV taking away their parents leaves them deprived of their most important social network and support, which predisposes them to poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Various studies have shown poor adherence to ART among orphaned children and adolescents. This systematic review and meta-analysis, therefore, aims to determine the level of ART adherence among orphaned children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. This PROSPERO registered review (CRD42022352867) included studies from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa Journal Online, and selected HIV/AIDS journals from data inception to June 01, 2022. We included articles published in all languages that report the prevalence of adherence to ART among children and adolescent orphans (single parent orphans and/or double orphans) living with HIV/AIDS. We excluded qualitative studies, case studies, opinion papers, and letters to editors. We used the random-effect model to calculate the pooled prevalence of ART adherence based on the highest prevalence provided by the various methods in a particular study. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Appraisal tool for the prevalence study to evaluate for risk of bias in the included studies. The Egger's test was used to assess small study effects. Out of 1087 publications identified from the various databases, six met the selection criteria. The included six studies had a total 2013 orphans living with HIV/AIDS. The pooled prevalence of ART adherence was 78∙0% (95% Confidence Interval: 67.4-87.7; I2 = 82.92%, p<0∙001) and ranged between 7∙6% and >95%, using one of the following methods: pill count, caregiver's self-report, clinical attendance, and nevirapine plasma levels (above three μg/mL). The factors associated with adherence were pill burden, caregiver involvement, stunting, and caregiver relationship. There was a high level of heterogeneity in the finding. Approximately four fifth of orphan children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS adhere to ART. Strategies to improve adherence among this group should be prioritized, especially among the double orphaned children and adolescents.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Ghana: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden threatens the global population as the major cause of disability and premature death. Data are scarce on the magnitude of CVD among the population in West Africa, particularly in Ghana. This study examined the available scientific evidence to determine the pooled prevalence (PP) of CVD and risk factors in Ghana. We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, Science Direct and Africa Journal Online databases to identify literature published from the start of the indexing of the database to 10th February 2023. All articles published in the English language that assessed the prevalence of CVD or reported on CVD in Ghana were included. Two authors independently performed the study selection, assessed the risk of bias, extracted the data and checked by the third author. The effect sizes and pooled odds ratio (POR) were determined using the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird (DL) model. Sixteen studies with 58912 participants from 1954 to 2022 were included in the meta-analysis. Six studies out of 16 reported more than one prevalence of CVD, giving a total of 59 estimates for PP. The PP of CVD in the general population in Ghana was 10.34% (95% Cl: [8.48, 12.20]; l2 99.54%, p < 0.001). Based on the subgroup analysis, the prevalence of CVD was higher in hospital-based settings at 10.74% (95%, confidence interval [Cl]: 8.69, 12.79) than in community-based settings at 5.04% (95% Cl: 2.54, 7.53). The risk factors were male gender (pooled odds ratio [POR]: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.70), old age (POR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.45), unemployment (POR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.33, 5.16), diabetes (POR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.62, 4.81) and hypertension (POR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.75, 6.66). The prevalence of CVD was high in Ghana. Urgent interventions are needed for the prevention and management of the high burden of CVD and its risk factors.

30-day in-hospital stroke case fatality and significant risk factors in sub-Saharan-Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Existing studies investigating 30-day in-hospital stroke case fatality rates in sub-Saharan Africa have produced varying results, underscoring the significance of obtaining precise and reliable estimations for this indicator. Consequently, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and update of the current scientific evidence regarding 30-day in-hospital stroke case fatality and associated risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa. Medline/PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), APA PsycNet (encompassing PsycINFO and PsychArticle), Google Scholar, and Africa Journal Online (AJOL) were systematically searched to identify potentially relevant articles. Two independent assessors extracted the data from the eligible studies using a pre-tested and standardized excel spreadsheet. Outcomes were 30-day in-hospital stroke case fatality and associated risk factors. Data was pooled using random effects model. Ninety-three (93) studies involving 42,057 participants were included. The overall stroke case fatality rate was 27% [25%-29%]. Subgroup analysis revealed 24% [21%-28%], 25% [21%-28%], 29% [25%-32%] and 31% [20%-43%] stroke case fatality rates in East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa respectively. Stroke severity, stroke type, untyped stroke, and post-stroke complications were identified as risk factors. The most prevalent risk factors were low (<8) Glasgow Coma Scale score, high (≥10) National Institute Health Stroke Scale score, aspiration pneumonia, hemorrhagic stroke, brain edema/intra-cranial pressure, hyperglycemia, untyped stroke (stroke diagnosis not confirmed by neuroimaging), recurrent stroke and fever. The findings indicate that one in every four in-hospital people with stroke in sub-Saharan Africa dies within 30 days of admission. Importantly, the identified risk factors are mostly modifiable and preventable, highlighting the need for context-driven health policies, clinical guidelines, and treatments targeting these factors.

A bibliometric review of positive psychology and well-being research in Africa.

Positive Psychology rapidly developed into an influential field of study and intervention, initially situated in Psychology, and later becoming multidisciplinary. Research interest in the study of (psychological) well-being has gained global popularity, with increasing salience in Africa. Although the global trends of these developments are relatively well-known, a bibliometric analysis of positive psychology research in Africa was necessary to shed light on the present hotspots and trends and future trajectories in this region of the world. The data source of the present bibliometric analysis study was Scopus, from which Positive Psychology and well-being research literature from Africa between 1983 and 2023 were searched. Using biblioshiny and VOSviewer, the 622 extracted articles were analysed, from which findings about the current condition, research hotspots, and thematic developmental patterns could be made. Africa experienced an initial slow growth period from 1983 until 2005, after which a rapid growth in research productivity, relevance and impact was experienced. In this regard, the results show that the focal point of scientific productivity is South Africa, with the dominance of South African institutions, particularly the North-West University, from where most positive psychology research is produced and cited. Even with potential access to international journal, African researchers seem to prefer to place their publications in the regional journals such as Journal of Psychology in Africa and South African Journal of Psychology. The research reviewed tends to be characterised by more dominant thematic clusters of positive psychology, psychological well-being, and subjective well-being, with a focus on human individuals. An increasing concern for contextual factors and potential antecedents and dynamics of well-being is also observed. The findings provide a good map from which identification of future research priorities can be deduced. As such, we speculate that future positive psychology research in Africa ought to be concerned with the following: greater distribution and intercountry collaborations across the continent, questions of conceptual clarity of terms, better understanding of contextual factors which influence well-being, and well-being research embracing the complexity of bio-psycho-social-ecological well-being, and science concerned with health-promotion interventions.

Praziquantel-related visual disorders among recipients in mass drug administration campaigns in schistosomiasis endemic settings: Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Hundreds of millions of doses of Praziquantel (PZQ) have been administered to persons with and without schistosomiasis living in schistosomiasis endemic settings, through the mass drug administration (MDA) strategy which started in the early 2000s. A recent publication suggested high risk of PZQ-related visual disorders, raising public health concerns. We aim to systematically synthesize evidence on the magnitude of PZQ-related visual disorders. We will search PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, SCOPUS, CENTRAL and LILACS from 1977 (when the first human clinical trials on PZQ started) to 31st May 2024, with no language restrictions. The key search terms will include "Praziquantel", "PZQ", "visual disorder", "adverse events", "side effects", "blurry vision" and "visual impairment" together with alternative terms and synonyms. All the countries endemic for schistosomiasis will be included as search terms. We will also search HINARI, Africa Journals Online, Thesis Databases and Preprint Repositories. Where necessary, we will contact expert researchers working in the field of schistosomiasis, UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), pharmaceutical industries, country-specific Food and Drug Authorities (FDAs) and the European Medicines Agency databases. We will search Conference Proceedings and reference lists of relevant studies for additional studies. At least two authors will independently select studies, extract data and assess risk of bias in the included studies. Any disagreements or discrepancies will be resolved through discussion between the reviewers. Heterogeneity will be explored graphically, and statistically using the I2-statistic. We will conduct random-effects meta-analysis when heterogeneity is appreciable, and express dichotomous outcomes (visual adverse events including excessive lacrimation, blurry vision and visual impairments) as risk ratio (RR) or Odds Ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). We will perform subgroup analysis to assess the impact of heterogeneity, and sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of the effect estimates. The overall level of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. The present review expects to identify and categorize visual disorders occurring after administration of PZQ, alone or in combination with other drugs. By synthesizing the data from multiple studies, the review aims to present a quantitative assessment of the risk or odds of experiencing a visual disorder in different populations after ingesting PZQ. The review will also generate insights into whether PZQ in combination with other drugs are associated with increased odds of visual disorders and whether the occurrence of visual disorders correlates with dosage or treatment duration. Policymakers, public health experts and stakeholders could rely on the review findings to deliver context-sensitive preventive chemotherapy programs by adjusting drug combinations or dosing schedules to reduce risk of visual adverse effects in populations treated with PZQ. The review aims to identify gaps in the current evidence regarding visual disorders following PZQ administration in schistosomiasis endemic settings which can serve as the basis for future research on important but unanswered questions. The findings of this study will be disseminated through stakeholder forums, conferences, and peer-review publications. The review protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO)- CRD42023417963.

Genetic etiology of autism spectrum disorder in the African population: a scoping review.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterized by significant impairments in social, communicative, and behavioral abilities. However, only a limited number of studies address the genetic basis of ASD in the African population. This study aims to document the genes associated with ASD in Africa and the techniques used to identify them. Additionally, genes identified elsewhere but not yet in Africa are also noted. Online databases such as Wiley Online Library, PubMed, and Africa Journal Online were used. The review was conducted using the keyword related to genetic and genomic ASD study in the African population. In this scoping review, 40 genetic studies on ASD in Africa were reviewed. The Egyptian and South African populations were the most studied, with 25 and 5 studies, respectively. Countries with fewer studies included Tunisia (4), East African countries (3), Libya (1), Nigeria (1), and Morocco (1). Some 61 genes responsible for ASD were identified in the African population: 26 were identified using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method, 22 were identified using sequencing technologies, and 12 genes and one de novo chromosomal aberration were identified through other techniques. No African study identified any ASD gene with genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Notably, at least 20 ASD risk genes reported in non-African countries were yet to be confirmed in Africa's population. There are insufficient genetic studies on ASD in the African population, with sample size being a major limitation in most genetic association studies, leading to inconclusive results. Thus, there is a need to conduct more studies with large sample sizes to identify other genes associated with ASD in Africa's population using high-throughput sequencing technology.

Job stress among nurses in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAlthough job stress appears in all professions, jobs related to humans are associated with high levels of stress. Nurses are the most frequent medical staff who spend the largest amount of time with patients, cover all areas of the healthcare network, and experience serious job stress. To date, there have been no studies and protocols that estimated the pooled national prevalence of job stress among nurses in Ethiopia. Therefore, the primary purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the pooled national prevalence of job- related stress among Ethiopian nurses. MethodsDifferent database searching engines including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Africa journal Online, World Health Organization Afro library, and Cochrane review were systematically searched by using keywords such as “job-stress, occupational stress, work-related stress, job-related stress” and their combinations. Eight articles were finally selected with both published and unpublished observational studies that report the prevalence of job stress among nurses. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guideline was followed and, it is registered in the Prospero database (ID = CRD42020185450). Heterogeneity across the included studies was evaluated by the inconsistency index (I2). The random-effect model was fitted to estimate the pooled prevalence of job stress among Ethiopian nurses. All statistical analysis was done using R version 3.5.3 and R Studio version 1.2.5033 software for windows. ResultsThe pooled national prevalence of job stress among Ethiopian nurses was 49.6 % (95 % CI: 40.9, 58.3 %). This indicates that one out of two Ethiopian nurses had job stress. Based on subgroup analysis the prevalence of job stress among Amhara’s and Oromia’s region nurses was 44.9 % and 51.2 % respectively. ConclusionThe prevalence of job stress among Ethiopian nurses was high. Thus, our finding suggests that half of the Ethiopian nurses had job-related stress; therefore, managers, federal minister of health, and health policymakers should take effective measures and develop programs to reduce the prevalence of job stress among nurses.