Hospital In sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

A time-stratified, case-crossover study of heat exposure and perinatal mortality from 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Growing evidence suggests that extreme heat events affect both pregnant women and their infants, but few studies are available from sub-Saharan Africa. Using data from 138,015 singleton births in 16 hospitals in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda, we investigated the association between extreme heat and early perinatal deaths, including antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths, and deaths within 24 h after birth using a time-stratified case-crossover design. We observed an association between an increase from the 75th to the 99th percentile in mean temperature 1 week (lag 0-6 d) before childbirth and perinatal mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.78)). The estimates for stillbirths were similarly positive, but CIs included unity: OR = 1.29 (95% CI 0.95-1.77) for all stillbirths, OR = 1.18 (95% CI 0.71-1.95) for antepartum stillbirths and OR = 1.64 (95% CI 0.74-3.63) for intrapartum stillbirths. The cumulative exposure-response curve suggested that the steepest slopes for heat for intrapartum stillbirths and associations were stronger during the hottest seasons. We conclude that short-term heat exposure may increase mortality risks, particularly for intrapartum stillbirths, raising the importance of improved intrapartum care.

The challenges of installing Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in a low- or poor-income resource nation: Our experience in a teaching hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa

The practice of radiology as a subspecialty of medicine has undergone remarkable advancement as a result of picture archiving and communication Systems(PACS) technology. This technology allows for storage and retrieval of radiographic images and reports at any time, and possible transfer to other locations for secondary viewing and opinions. PACS enables healthcare professionals to access and review medical images quickly, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. However, there are challenges involved in its installation and operations in our health facility, a teaching hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa. These challenges range from lack of huge financial resources required to acquire PACS equipment and accessories to lack of steady and regular electric power supply. Other challenges include inadequate dedicated space for its installation, inadequate functional cooling systems for its sensitive components, inadequate internet services for end users and paucity of qualified and trained personnel. There is, therefore, need for increased government and private sector funding in order to surmount these challenges, thereby enhancing health promotion in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Assessment of Breast Pathology Reporting Needs and Development of Tumor Synoptic Templates in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Breast pathology reports include many important details to guide clinical management. Reports with missing critical data elements are commonly seen in non-subspecialized pathology practices. The use of synoptic templates has been shown to improve pathology reports. Although synoptic templates are readily available by professional societies, many are not tailored to low-resource settings. To perform an assessment of current breast pathology reporting at 3 referral hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa and design a locally adapted breast cancer synoptic template. We conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in breast cancer care including pathologists, radiologists, oncologists, and surgeons from Nigeria, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Moreover, each stakeholder reviewed a preliminary synoptic template that was compiled by using templates from the College of American Pathologists, Royal College of Pathologists, and International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting, and was asked to score each data element as essential, optional, or exclude. A locally adapted synoptic template was then designed from the needs assessment. Using the adapted templates, a retrospective review of breast cancer pathology reports from 2020 to 2022 was conducted to determine the completeness of reports at the 3 institutions. A total of 17 physicians were interviewed. Review of pathology reports revealed that none of the reports across all 3 sites contained all data elements considered essential by local physicians. There is an urgent need to improve breast pathology reporting in sub-Saharan Africa. Development and implementation of synoptic templates in collaboration with key stakeholders has the potential to improve pathology reporting practices in low-resource settings.

Derivation and Internal Validation of a Novel Risk Assessment Tool to Identify Infants and Young Children at Risk for Post-Discharge Mortality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Monrovia, Liberia

To derive and validate internally a novel risk assessment tool to identify young children at risk for all-cause mortality ≤60 days of discharge from hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. We performed a prospective observational cohort study of children aged 1-59 months discharged from Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia (2019 to 2022). Caregivers received telephone calls up to 60 days after discharge to ascertain participant vital status. We collected socioeconomic, demographic, clinical, and anthropometric data during hospitalization. Candidate variables with P<0.20 in bivariate analyses were included in a multivariable logistic regression model with best subset selection to identify risk factors for the outcome. We internally validated our tool using bootstrapping with 500 repetitions. There were 1,933 young children enrolled in the study. The median (interquartile range) age was 11 (4, 23) months and 58.7% were male. In total, 67 (3.5%) died during follow-up. Ten variables contributed to our tool (total possible score 82). Cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 10.6, 95% CI 2.58, 34.6), pedal edema (aOR 6.94, 95% CI 1.69, 22.6), and leaving against medical advice (aOR 6.46, 95% CI 2.46, 15.3) were most predictive of post-discharge mortality. Our risk assessment tool demonstrated good discriminatory value (optimism corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.77), high precision, and sufficient calibration. After validation, this tool may be used to identify young children at risk for post-discharge mortality to direct resources for follow-up of high-risk children.

Hospital readmission following acute illness among children 2–23 months old in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: a secondary analysis of CHAIN cohort

Children in low and middle-income countries remain vulnerable following hospital-discharge. We estimated the incidence and correlates of hospital readmission among young children admitted to nine hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This was a secondary analysis of the CHAIN Network prospective cohort enrolled between 20th November 2016 and 31st January 2019. Children aged 2-23 months were eligible for enrolment, if admitted for an acute illness to one of the study hospitals. Exclusions were requiring immediate resuscitation, inability to tolerate oral feeds in their normal state of health, had suspected terminal illness, suspected chromosomal abnormality, trauma, admission for surgery, or their parent/caregiver was unwilling to participate and attend follow-up visits. Data from children discharged alive from the index admission were analysed for hospital readmission within 180-days from discharge. We examined ratios of readmission to post-discharge mortality rates. Using models with death as the competing event, we evaluated demographic, nutritional, clinical, and socioeconomic associations with readmission. Of 2874 children (1239 (43%) girls, median (IQR) age 10.8 (6.8-15.6) months), 655 readmission episodes occurred among 506 (18%) children (198 (39%) girls): 391 (14%) with one, and 115 (4%) with multiple readmissions, with a rate of: 41.0 (95% CI 38.0-44.3) readmissions/1000 child-months. Median time to readmission was 42 (IQR 15-93) days. 460/655 (70%) and 195/655 (30%) readmissions occurred at index study hospital and non-study hospitals respectively. One-third (N=213/655, 33%) of readmissions occurred within 30 days of index discharge. Sites with fewest readmissions had the highest post-discharge mortality. Most readmissions to study hospitals (371/450, 81%) were for the same illness as the index admission. Age, prior hospitalisation, chronic conditions, illness severity, and maternal mental health score, but not sex, nutritional status, or physical access to healthcare, were associated with readmission. Readmissions may be appropriate and necessary to reduce post-discharge mortality in high mortality settings. Social and financial support, training on recognition of serious illness for caregivers, and improving discharge procedures, continuity of care and facilitation of readmission need to be tested in intervention studies. We propose the ratio of readmission to post-discharge mortality rates as a marker of overall post-discharge access and care. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1131320).

Point prevalence of evidence-based antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Excessive and improper use of antibiotics causes antimicrobial resistance which is a major threat to global health security. Hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest prevalence of antibiotic use. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled point prevalence (PPP) of evidence-based antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients in SSA. Literature was retrieved from CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA version 17. Forest plots using the random-effect model were used to present the findings. The heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I2 statistics and Egger’s test. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO with code CRD42023404075. The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 26, 272 study participants reported by twenty-eight studies published from 10 countries in SSA were included. The pooled point prevalence of antimicrobial use in SSA were 64%. The pooled estimate of hospital wards with the highest antibiotic use were intensive care unit (89%). The pooled prevalence of the most common clinical indication for antibiotic use were community acquired infection (41%). The pooled point prevalence of antimicrobial use among hospitalized patients were higher in SSA. Higher use of antibiotics was recorded in intensive care units. Community acquired infection were most common clinical case among hospitalized patients. Health systems in SSA must design innovative digital health interventions to optimize clinicians adhere to evidence-based prescribing guidelines and improve antimicrobial stewardship.

Stillbirth mortality by Robson ten-group classification system: A cross-sectional registry of 80 663 births from 16 hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.

To assess stillbirth mortality by Robson ten-group classification and the usefulness of this approach for understanding trends. Cross-sectional study. Prospectively collected perinatal e-registry data from 16 hospitals in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. All women aged 13-49 years who gave birth to a live or stillborn baby weighting >1000 g between July 2021 and December 2022. We compared stillbirth risk by Robson ten-group classification, and across countries, and calculated proportional contributions to mortality. Stillbirth mortality, defined as antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths. We included 80 663 babies born to 78 085 women; 3107 were stillborn. Stillbirth mortality by country were: 7.3% (Benin), 1.9% (Malawi), 1.6% (Tanzania) and 4.9% (Uganda). The largest contributor to stillbirths was Robson group 10 (preterm birth, 28.2%) followed by Robson group 3 (multipara with cephalic term singleton in spontaneous labour, 25.0%). The risk of dying was highest in births complicated by malpresentations, such as nullipara breech (11.0%), multipara breech (16.7%) and transverse/oblique lie (17.9%). Our findings indicate that group 10 (preterm birth) and group 3 (multipara with cephalic term singleton in spontaneous labour) each contribute to a quarter of stillbirth mortality. High mortality risk was observed in births complicated by malpresentation, such as transverse lie or breech. The high mortality share of group 3 is unexpected, demanding case-by-case investigation. The high mortality rate observed for Robson groups 6-10 hints for a need to intensify actions to improve labour management, and the categorisation may support the regular review of labour progress.

Longitudinal analysis within one hospital in sub-Saharan Africa over 20 years reveals repeated replacements of dominant clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae and stresses the importance to include temporal patterns for vaccine design considerations

BackgroundInfections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria present a severe threat to global public health. The WHO defines drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae as a priority pathogen for which alternative treatments are needed given the limited treatment options and the rapid acquisition of novel resistance mechanisms by this species. Longitudinal descriptions of genomic epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae can inform management strategies but data from sub-Saharan Africa are lacking.MethodsWe present a longitudinal analysis of all invasive K. pneumoniae isolates from a single hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, southern Africa, from 1998 to 2020, combining clinical data with genome sequence analysis of the isolates.ResultsWe show that after a dramatic increase in the number of infections from 2016 K. pneumoniae becomes hyperendemic, driven by an increase in neonatal infections. Genomic data show repeated waves of clonal expansion of different, often ward-restricted, lineages, suggestive of hospital-associated transmission. We describe temporal trends in resistance and surface antigens, of relevance for vaccine development.ConclusionsOur data highlight a clear need for new interventions to prevent rather than treat K. pneumoniae infections in our setting. Whilst one option may be a vaccine, the majority of cases could be avoided by an increased focus on and investment in infection prevention and control measures, which would reduce all healthcare-associated infections and not just one.

Challenges in Conducting Cerebral Scanning for Stroke in a Hospital in Sub-saharan Africa

Stroke, due to its magnitude and mortality, is a real public health problem. To diagnose them, the Souro Sanou Teaching Hospital is equipped with a computed tomography (CT) scanner, to which access remains limited. So, it seemed important to study epidemiological aspects and conditions for carrying out CT scans in patients with stroke. This is a projective descriptive study. Data were collected over 6 months (1 December 2013 to 30 June 2014). Patients admitted to the Souro Sanou Teaching Hospital with clinical suspicion of stroke were included. We collected 153 cases of stroke. The mean age of the patients was 62 ± 15 years, and the sex ratio was 1.43. The mean consultation time was 2.05 ± 1.36 days with a range of 0 to 45 days. Approximately 68.63% of patients underwent brain scanning. The most common reasons for not having a brain scan were death before the scheduled date of the brain scan (41.67%) and lack of financial resources (39.58%). The mean delay for brain scans was 08 ± 06 days. Mortality rate was 31.37%. In the management of stroke, the performance of brain scans is of great interest. However, several factors, including the high cost of a CT scan, may sometimes limit its accessibility.

The life they now live: role of missionary hospitals in Sub Saharan Africa

Jesusʾ self confessed mandate was to proclaim good news to the poor and validate this message through miracles like healing. He sent out his followers to do likewise. Mission hospitals are the penultimate example of restoring health in the name of a Saviour who loves them. As a group of healthcare missionaries at Mbingo Hospital, Cameroon, we see the role for mission hospitals/systems for the following reasons: compassionate care, competence, an opportunity to reflect our faith, humility, vision, perseverance, social justice, integrity and accountability. We provide examples for each. Missionary hospitals/ systems in sub-Saharan Africa are a training group for the principles all of us need to mature in during our Christ-centered journey of life.

Practice patterns in pediatric infectious encephalopathy in four centers in Africa.

Infectious encephalopathy (IE), including meningitis, infectious encephalitis, and cerebral abscess, remains prevalent and carries high mortality and morbidity in children, especially in low and middle income countries (LMIC). This study aims to describe the usual care and outcomes of pediatric IE in four LMIC hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa to support evidence-based care guideline development. This is a secondary analysis of the Prevalence of Acute Critical Neurological disease in children: A Global Epidemiological Assessment-Developing Countries study, a 4-week, prospective, observational study in children (1 week to 17 years) with IE presenting to referral hospitals in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghana. Data collection included diagnostic testing, interventions, and patient outcomes [e.g., mortality, Pediatric Cerebral and Overall Performance Category Scores (PCPC and POPC)]. Seventy-two children with IE were enrolled. Most patients were diagnosed with undifferentiated IE (78%, n = 56). Specific etiologies included cerebral malaria (10%, n = 7), viral encephalitis (4%, n = 3), tuberculosis (4%, n = 3), bacterial meningitis (3%, n = 2), and cerebral abscess (1%, n = 1). Fourteen patients (20%) had a head computed tomography performed. Thirty two (44%) children had a lumbar puncture but only 9 samples (28%) were sent for culture. Median time from diagnosis to antimicrobial therapy was 3 h (IQR 1-12 h). Half (51%, n = 33) of inpatients received intracranial pressure (ICP)-directed treatment but none underwent ICP monitoring. Mortality was 13% (n = 9). The percentage of children with a favorable cognitive score decreased from 95% (n = 62) prior to admission to 80% (n = 52) and 77% (n = 50) at discharge for PCPC and POPC respectively. IE led to considerable morbidity and mortality in this cohort, and evaluation and management varied across the care continuum. Resource limitations and diagnostic constraints may have affected diagnosis-directed therapy and other aspects of management. Further studies are needed to describe the epidemiology and management of IE in LMICs to inform future treatment protocols, the role of technological and human capacity building to support both basic monitoring and interventions, as well as creative new solutions to emergency and critical care in these settings.

Predictors of Fatal Outcome in Hospitalised Adult Patients with Acute Kidney Injury at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa

Predictors of Fatal Outcome in Hospitalised Adult Patients with Acute Kidney Injury at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sonographic appearances of the kidneys and correlation with CD4 count and viral load in adult HIV/AIDS patients in a rural-based infectious disease hospital in sub-saharan Africa

Background: The management of HIV infection is often challenging as it can affect every organ in the body including the kidneys. Determination of the Resistivity Indices (RI) of the intra-renal arteries is an emerging non-invasive tool that could predict renal disease. Aims &amp; objectives: To determine the renal volume, parenchymal pattern, as well as the RI of the intra-renal arteries by Doppler ultrasonography in adult HIV/AIDS patients and correlate findings with CD4 count, viral load and serum creatinine. Materials &amp; methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional descriptive study that involved sonographic assessment of the renal dimensions, parenchymal echogenicity, and Doppler velocimetry of the segmental intra-renal arteries in 100 apparently healthy confirmed HIV-seronegative control subjects and an equal number of confirmed HIV-seropositive adult patients at Retroviral (RV) clinic of our hospital. A Doppler ultrasound machine with a 3.5MHz Curvilinear probe was used. Data analysis: Data obtained was analyzed and presented as means which were compared using Student’s t - test, and p values &lt; 0.05 at 95% intervals were considered significant. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess correlation. Results: The renal volumes were larger in the HIV/AIDS subjects (right: 125.94 ± 34.02 cm3 and left: 138.99 ± 33.29cm3) than in controls (p = &lt; 0.01) with the left also larger than the right in both HIV/AIDS and control subjects (p = &lt; 0.01, &lt; 0.01) respectively. There were significantly more individuals with abnormal renal echogenicity in the HIV/AIDS subjects than in the controls. The RI was significantly greater in the HIV/AIDS than in control subjects. Both renal volumes showed a weak negative correlation with CD4, viral load, and serum creatinine which was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant weak negative correlation between renal echogenicity and CD4 but a positive correlation with viral load and serum creatinine. RI showed weak negative correlations with serum creatinine and weak positive correlations with CD4 count. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in renal volume, echogenicity, and RI in HIV/AIDS patients compared to the controls. Renal echogenicity is a better predictor of serum creatinine levels than renal volume and RI. Thus, renal volume and RI do not provide sufficient correlation to be used as a means of monitoring HIV/AIDS patients with renal impairment.

Pediatric neurosurgical-oncology scope and management paradigms in Sub-Saharan Africa: a collaboration among 7 referral hospitals on the subcontinent.

Understanding of the epidemiology and biology of pediatric CNS tumors has advanced dramatically over the last decade; however there remains a discrepancy in the understanding of epidemiologic data and clinical capacity between high- and lower-income countries. We collected and analyzed hospital-level burden and capacity-oriented data from pediatric neurosurgical oncology units at 7 referral hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A cross sectional epidemiological survey was conducted using REDCap at the 7 SSA sites, capturing 3-month aggregate data for patients managed over a total of 9 months. Descriptive statistical analyses for the aggregate data were performed. Across the neurosurgical spectrum, 15% of neurosurgery outpatient and 16% of neurosurgery operative volume was represented by pediatric neuro-oncology across the 7 study sites. Eighty-six percent and 87% of patients who received surgery underwent preoperative CT scan and/or MRI respectively. Among 312 patients evaluated with a CNS tumor, 211 (68%) underwent surgery. Mean surgery wait time was 26.6 ± 36.3 days after initial presentation at the clinic. The most common tumor location was posterior fossa (n=94, 30%), followed by sellar/suprasellar region (n=56, 18%). Histopathologic analysis was performed for 189 patients (89%). The most common pathologic diagnosis was low grade glioma (n=43, 23%), followed by medulloblastoma (n=37, 20%), and craniopharyngioma (n=31, 17%). Among patients for whom adjuvant therapy was indicated, only 26% received chemotherapy and 15% received radiotherapy. The histopathologic variety of pediatric brain and spinal tumors managed across 7 SSA referral hospitals was similar to published accounts from other parts of the world. About two-thirds of patients received a tumor-directed surgery with significant inter-institutional variability. Less than a third of patients received adjuvant therapy when indicated. Multi-dimensional capacity building efforts in neuro-oncology are necessary to approach parity in the management of children with brain and spinal tumors in SSA.

Provision and utilization of maternal health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in 16 hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Maintaining provision and utilization of maternal healthcare services is susceptible to external influences. This study describes how maternity care was provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and assesses patterns of service utilization and perinatal health outcomes in 16 referral hospitals (four each) in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. We used an embedded case-study design and two data sources. Responses to open-ended questions in a health-facility assessment survey were analyzed with content analysis. We described categories of adaptations and care provision modalities during the pandemic at the hospital and maternity ward levels. Aggregate monthly service statistics on antenatal care, delivery, caesarean section, maternal deaths, and stillbirths covering 24 months (2019 and 2020; pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19) were examined. Declines in the number of antenatal care consultations were documented in Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda in 2020 compared to 2019. Deliveries declined in 2020 compared to 2019 in Tanzania and Uganda. Caesarean section rates decreased in Benin and increased in Tanzania in 2020 compared to 2019. Increases in maternal mortality ratio and stillbirth rate were noted in some months of 2020 in Benin and Uganda, with variability noted between hospitals. At the hospital level, teams were assigned to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, routine meetings were cancelled, and maternal death reviews and quality improvement initiatives were interrupted. In maternity wards, staff shortages were reported during lockdowns in Uganda. Clinical guidelines and protocols were not updated formally; the number of allowed companions and visitors was reduced. Varying approaches within and between countries demonstrate the importance of a contextualized response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal care utilization and the ability to provide quality care fluctuated with lockdowns and travel bans. Women's and maternal health workers' needs should be prioritized to avoid interruptions in the continuum of care and prevent the deterioration of perinatal health outcomes.

Point of care obstetric ultrasound training for midwives and nurses: implementation and experiences of trainees at a rural based hospital in Sub-saharan Africa: a qualitative study

BackgroundPoint of care ultrasound training has been successfully implemented in some settings. This has been done due to a shortage of radiology human resource gap especially in the rural areas of low-resource settings. The purpose of the study was to implement a point of care obstetric ultrasound training program for midwives and nurses and explore their experiences following the training at a rural based hospital in Uganda.MethodsIt was an exploratory qualitative study with some elements of implementation research design involving midwives and nurses that had undergone obstetric ultrasound training at Kiwoko hospital, a rural-based hospital in Uganda. Purposive sampling was used to select twenty-five midwives and nurses. These participants underwent a 6-weeks training in point of care obstetric ultrasound. Following the training, in-depth interviews were conducted to obtain the experiences of the participants.ResultsThe training was conducted by qualified radiologists and sonographers and it involved both didactic sessions and rigorous practical and clinical demonstrations and eventually real-time scanning of the women. Three key themes emerged from the interviews: (1) Gaining important obstetric ultrasound skills, (2) Improving management of pregnant women and (3) Positive for task-shifting.ConclusionThe point of care obstetric ultrasound training program was successfully implemented at Kiwoko Hospital. The trainees reported positive experiences from the training and while only conducted at one rural health facility, the overwhelmingly positive experience from trainees underscores the importance of point of care obstetric ultrasound in delivering imaging services.

The burden and management strategies of hypertensive crisis in adult patients presenting to emergency departments of district and regional hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundHypertensive crisis is among the causes of morbidity and mortality in adult patients with hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to determine the burden, risk factors and describe the management strategies of hypertensive crisis among adult patients seen at emergency departments of district and regional hospitals in Tanzania.MethodsThis was a prospective multicenter longitudinal study which included all 162 district and regional hospitals in Tanzania. It was part of the Tanzania Emergency Care Capacity Survey (TECCS), a large assessment of burden of acute illness and emergency care capacity in Tanzania. Adult patients who presented to emergency departments with blood pressure ≥ 180/110mmHg were enrolled. Demographics, clinical presentation, management, and 24-hours outcomes were recorded using a structured case report form. Descriptive statistics were summarized in frequency and median, while logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and presence of hypertensive crisis.ResultsWe screened 2700 patients and enrolled 169 adults, henceforth proportion of adult patients with hypertensive crisis was 63 per 1000. Median age was 62 years (IQR 50–70 years) and predominantly females, 112 (66.3%). Majority 151(89.3%) were self-referred with two-wheel motorcycle being the commonest 46 (27.2%) mode of arrival to the hospital. Hypertensive emergency was found in over half 96 (56.8%) of the patients with hypertensive crisis, with oral medications administered in more than half of them, 71 (74%) as means to control the high blood pressure, and one-third 33 (34.4%) were discharged home. On multivariate analysis increasing age (AOR 4.53, p < 0.001), use of illicit drug (AOR 4.14, p-0.04) and pre-existing hypertension (AOR 8.1, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for hypertensive crisis occurrence.ConclusionHypertensive crisis among adult patients attending district and regional hospitals is common (63 patients per every 1000 patients). Increasing age, use of illicit drug and pre-existing hypertension are independent associated factors for developing hypertensive crisis.

Obstetric referrals, complications and health outcomes in maternity wards of large hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study of six hospitals in Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic affected provision and use of maternal health services. This study describes changes in obstetric complications, referrals, stillbirths and maternal deaths during the first year of the pandemic...

"EM Doc On Call:" A Pilot Study to Improve Interhospital Transfers in Rwanda.

Treatment of seriously ill patients is often complicated by prolonged or complex transfers between hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. Difficulties or inefficiency in these transfers can lead to poor outcomes for patients. "On-call" triage systems have been utilized to facilitate communication between facilities and to avoid poor outcomes associated with patient transfer. This study attempts to examine the effects of a pilot study to implement such a system in Rwanda. Data collection occurred prospectively in two stages, pre-intervention and intervention, in the emergency department (ED) at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK). All patients transferred during the pre-determined timeframe were enrolled. Data were collected by ED research staff via a standardized form. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 15.0. Differences in characteristics were assessed using χ2 or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and independent sample t-tests for normally distributed continuous variables. During the "on call" physician intervention, the indication for transfer was significantly more likely to be for critical care (P <.001), transfer times were faster (P <.001), patients were more likely to be displaying emergency signs (P <.001), and vital signs were more likely to be collected prior to transport (P <.001) when compared to the pre-interventional phase. The "[Emergency Medicine] EM Doc On Call" intervention was associated with improved timely interhospital transfer and clinical documentation in Rwanda. While these data are not definitive due to multiple limitations, it is extremely promising and worthy of further study.

Blood transfusion for children in sub-Saharan Africa: 200 years on

In 1818, James Blundell completed the first successful human blood transfusion. This life-saving medical intervention has revolutionised patient care globally in the past two centuries. Nevertheless, many challenges remain in implementing safe blood transfusion procedures, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa 1 Ala F Allain JP Bates I et al. External financial aid to blood transfusion services in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for reflection. PLoS Med. 2012; 9e1001309 Crossref PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar where demand predominantly centres on acute paediatric severe anaemia and haemorrhagic complications of pregnancy and trauma. Severe anaemia, when the haemoglobin concentration drops below 6 g/dL, is very common in children admitted to hospital in sub-Saharan Africa. Infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and sickle cell anaemia are the major underlying causes of anaemia. Outcomes remain unsatisfactory, with high mortality and high hospital readmission rates within 6 months of initial admission. 2 Phiri KS Calis JC Faragher B et al. Long term outcome of severe anaemia in Malawian children. PLoS One. 2008; 3e2903 Crossref PubMed Scopus (75) Google Scholar World Blood Donor Day on June 14, 2023, calls for donors to “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often”. Not only is this a day to celebrate the charitable contributions of blood donors, it is an important opportunity to raise awareness that every pint of blood donated results in critically important life-sustaining therapy, especially for children in sub-Saharan Africa.