Khartoum State Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude and practice of foot care and their effect in preventing foot disease among Sudanese people with diabetes in Khartoum State, 2021

Knowledge, attitude and practice of foot care and their effect in preventing foot disease among Sudanese people with diabetes in Khartoum State, 2021

The effect of sleep deprivation and extended duration work on intern doctors performance at Khartoum State, 2022

The effect of sleep deprivation and extended duration work on intern doctors performance at Khartoum State, 2022

Health Impact of Household Waste Burning in Khartoum State, Sudan [Response to Letter

Health Impact of Household Waste Burning in Khartoum State, Sudan [Response to Letter

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors towards epilepsy in main hospitals in Khartoum State, 2020

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors towards epilepsy in main hospitals in Khartoum State, 2020

Prevalence of depression among epileptic patients attending Daoud Charity Clinic, Khartoum State, Sudan between November to December 2022

Prevalence of depression among epileptic patients attending Daoud Charity Clinic, Khartoum State, Sudan between November to December 2022

Seizure-related injury SRI: Prevalence and predictors in Khartoum State, Sudan 2020–2021

Seizure-related injury SRI: Prevalence and predictors in Khartoum State, Sudan 2020–2021

Quality of life in idiopathic intracranial hypertension among adult sudanese patients in Khartoum State, 2022

Quality of life in idiopathic intracranial hypertension among adult sudanese patients in Khartoum State, 2022

Estimating and Projecting Demand for Azithromycin Antibiotic in Khartoum State, Sudan

Estimating and Projecting Demand for Azithromycin Antibiotic in Khartoum State, Sudan

Etiological associations of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) among Sudanese patients in Khartoum state neurological centers, Sudan, 2020

Etiological associations of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) among Sudanese patients in Khartoum state neurological centers, Sudan, 2020

Psychological effects of the covid-19 pandemic: Perceived stress, anxiety, work-family imbalance, and coping strategies among healthcare professionals in Khartoum state hospitals, Sudan, 2021

Psychological effects of the covid-19 pandemic: Perceived stress, anxiety, work-family imbalance, and coping strategies among healthcare professionals in Khartoum state hospitals, Sudan, 2021

Educational and Socio-cultural Factors Influencing the Growth of Entrepreneurial Activities in Khartoum State, Sudan

The goal of this article is to explore the educational and socio-cultural factors which influence the growth of entrepreneurial activities in Khartoum locality, Khartoum State, Sudan. The research was conducted on a sample of 400 national potential entrepreneurs, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire and personal interviews. Respondents are asked 43 questions to assess their perception of the main factors influencing the growth of entrepreneurial activities. The study adopted an analytical descriptive methodology whereby the data were processed by the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Percentages, frequencies, and hypothesis tests were used to analyze data. The study revealed that it’s important for entrepreneurs to have the necessary knowledge, entrepreneurial potential, skills, and creative ideas in turn to contribute to the development of entrepreneurial activities. Also, entrepreneurs must have administrative practical, and technical capabilities in their field. Entrepreneurship culture should be included in the academic curricula of universities. Entrepreneurial activities must be consistent with the values and beliefs of the community members because the spread of entrepreneurial culture among community members contributes to the development of entrepreneurial activities. The study recommends that there must be educational institutions that provide the necessary information the entrepreneurs need and that entrepreneurship should be included in universities’ curricula. Spreading the culture of entrepreneurship among community members through training workshops, training courses and the media in general will enhance entrepreneurial activities. When considering entrepreneurship training it is important to put into account the influence of religious beliefs and tribal differences between society components which may affect entrepreneurial activities.

Potential Effects of Electrotherapy on Acquiring of Malaria Infection in Khartoum State

OBJECTIVE Electrotherapy is the electrical stimulation of tissues for therapeutic purposes which uses a specific wavelength and frequency from the electromagnetic spectrum to produce the desired physiological and chemical changes in the body. Insusceptibility to get malaria infection among patients treated with electrotherapy was locally observed, therefore the study was aimed to detect the potential effect of electrotherapy on acquiring of malaria infection to assess the management of the disease endemic in Khartoum state. METHODS This is descriptive cross-sectional study, all patients (101) attending and submitting to electrotherapy unit in the hospitals were enrolled, and their clinical reports were collected. Among these patients 55 were male and 46 were female and were divided into three categories according to the number of sessions, age and gender. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS The study involved both sexes (55 males and 46 females), and the percentage of males not infected with malaria after electrotherapy sessions (84%) was higher than that of females (67%) out of the total number. Interestingly one of the patients undergoing electrotherapy sessions had been diagnosed with severe malaria with mental disturbance, the symptoms of the severe malaria decreased from him, and his condition improved after submitting to electrotherapy sessions. The exposing percentage of patients who did not acquire malaria after electrotherapy sessions was approximately 80% with P-value (<0.001) compared to those infected with malaria after electrotherapy sessions. CONCLUSION The study results suggest the potential hypothesis of existence of effect of electrotherapy on acquiring malaria infection, the study recommended to carry out further experimental in-vitro and in-vivo studies to prove and explain the mechanism of effect in order to assist in treatment and management of the disease.

Impact of Irrational Use of Antibiotics Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit on Clinical Outcomes in Sudan.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialized ward where critically ill patients are admitted to provide intensive health care Inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (AMT) and high mortality rates were documented in the ICU. The influence of irrational use of empiric antibiotics on clinical outcomes in ICU patients is not well studied in Sudan. This study aims to determine the rational use of antibiotics and its impact on clinical outcomes among ICU patients. Using data collection form, a retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among ICU patients at Omdurman Military Hospital, Khartoum State. Patients admitted from January 2019 to December 2019 were included in the study. Patients who stayed in ICU < 48 hr were excluded. Appropriateness of AMT is assessed using culture sensitivity test (CST) and the American Society of Infectious Diseases (IDSA) guideline. Among 102 patients, 54.9% male, one-third of patients developed nosocomial infections, 80.4% received empiric therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The CST is done in 19%, and 43% patients are prescribed inappropriate AMT. Inappropriate AMT is associated with recurrent infections 38.4% (p=0.028) and high mortality 33.8% (p=0.014). Overall mortality rate 63.7% ICU patients. Elevated mortality in nosocomial 57.8%, decreased with inappropriate AMT in 21.6% patients. Significantly higher mortality rates 90.7% among uncontrolled infections (p<0.001), 80.6% nosocomial infections (p=0.001), and 76.7% renal compromised (p=0.002). Empirical AMT reduces the frequency of nosocomial infections, which has an impact on mortality. Inappropriate AMT is significantly associated with uncontrolled infections and lower mortality. Implementing a restrictive infectious control system and effective stewardship programs in hospital ICU wards is recommended.

Health Impact of Household Waste Burning in Khartoum State, Sudan [Letter

Health Impact of Household Waste Burning in Khartoum State, Sudan [Letter

OTHER-02 BRAIN TUMORS: CLINICAL PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES IN KHARTOUM 2019-2022

Abstract Brain tumors are intracranial neoplastic proliferation of cells. They are implicated in high patient morbidity and mortality. Malignant brain tumors are less common in relevance to other types of malignancies, yet they are enumerated as the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. Diagnosis of these tumors mainly depends on clinical features and imaging. This study aims to describe the clinical presentation and associated factors of brain tumors and has been conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional 4-year facility-based study at the National Center for Neurological Sciences (NCNS), a center in Khartoum state that receives all neurological patients from all over Sudan. Data were collected from records of patients of all ages who have been diagnosed with brain tumors from 2019 to 2022. The data included demographic information, clinical presentation, and the anatomical site of tumors. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 and ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board. The total number of patients with brain tumors was 182. Female to male ratio was 1.3:1 and most of the patients were adults in 131. Headache was found to be the most frequent symptom and motor deficit was the most frequent sign. The commonest anatomical site was supratentorial. Brain tumors despite being more common in adults, share the same most frequent clinical presentation, and with the anatomical site came in consistence with the worldwide population, apart from the gender distribution as females are more affected than males.

Accessibility crisis of essential medicines at Sudanese primary healthcare facilities: a cross-sectional drugs’ dispensaries assessment and patients’ perspectives

BackgroundAccess to essential medicines is a critical component of universal health coverage. However, the availability of essential medicines in Sudan isn’t well studied. As well, most Sudanese people lack health insurance, making out-of-pocket spending the primary source of drug financing. Therefore, the affordability of medicines in Sudan is questionable, with only 30% of the total population being covered by a public health service or public health insurance. We undertook this study to assess the availability and prices of essential medicines in public-sector health facilities in Khartoum state. Moreover, this study aims at assessing patients’ perceived affordability of essential medicines, and accommodation and acceptability of the public facility.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out at 30 primary healthcare facilities’ drug dispensaries across three districts in Khartoum state. Within each Centre’s dispensary unit, a standardized checklist evaluated the availability and affordability of 21 essential medicines selected from Sudan’s national essential medicines list and assessed their storage conditions. Furthermore, 630 patients were selected from all dispensary units for an exit interview that assessed their perceived accessibility, acceptability, accommodation, and affordability of essential medicines. Data were collected through the Kobo toolbox and analyzed using SPSS version 26.ResultsParticipants’ ratings of accessibility, affordability, accommodation, and acceptability were 3.7/5, 1.5/4, 5/6, and 5.4/6, respectively, with a 26.7% full access and weak correlation between some of the indices. The overall availability of adults and pediatric medicines was 36.8% 6.7%, respectively. Cost of a single course of treatment for 10 and 16 drugs out of the 19 drugs consumed exceeds the daily wage of insured and uninsured patients, with a median price ratio of 16.4 and 62.8, respectively. Moreover, the dispensary area conditions were found to be of good quality, yet the storerooms were not functioning in 40% of the outlets.ConclusionPatients had limited access to their needed drugs due to high prices and physical unavailability, and primary healthcare capacities are not meeting the demands of citizens. The outcomes for the patients’ access variables (accessibility, accommodation, acceptance, and affordability) are comparable to those in countries with low incomes. Ensuring access to free medicines is likely to improve patients’ satisfaction with healthcare services and reduce private expenditure on medicines, which is a long-term, sustainable way towards universal health coverage in Sudan.

Status of rheumatoid arthritis practice and treatment in Sudan

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic immune mediated predominantly articular inflammatory disease that may lead to joint destruction and disability. This study described the status of Rhematoid Arthritis among Sudanese patients. A multi-center descriptive cross-sectional study was implemented. 90 patients were involved. Morisky scale was used to assess the adherence to rheumatoid medications. Data were analysed using SPSS-23. Chi-square and regression were used to establish the relationship between adherence and the associated factors. Tests were considered significant when p < 0.05.Females comprised 93.3 %. A statistically significant association (p = 0.01) was found between the disease duration and female gender. Hydroxychloroquine was the mostly used medication (83.3 %). 69.7 % of the patients had low adherence to rheumatoid medications and none of the patients had high adherence. A statistically significant association (p = 0.025) was found between adherence and medication unavailability. The number of pills and side effects of anti-rheumatic medications were the statistically significant predictors of adherence with a p-value of respectively 0.030 and 0.009.In Sudan, the status of Rhematoid arthritis was understudied, for this reason our study was developed to give a picture about the status of this disease among Sudanese population. We studied the characteristics of the patients, the distribution of the disease and the factors related to poor adherence. Patients in all the states of Sudan are suffering because of the lack of medical access as all rheumatology centers were located only in Khartoum state. Nevertheless, majority of patients had lack of knowledge about their disease condition, and suffered from the high products prices as well as market unavailability. This study highlighted the burden of this disease on Sudanese society and the urgent need for the concerned authorities to develop support programs and policies to improve the healthcare status of Sudanese population with rheumatoid arthritis.

Visceral adipose index, lipid accumulation product, and selected cardiometabolic risk markers among postmenopausal Sudanese women: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Sub-Saharan African countries, data examining postmenopausal women's cardiometabolic risk (CMR) remains limited. Our study aimed to assess the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and physical activity levels of postmenopausal women and determine their CMR. MethodsA cross-sectional study included 224 postmenopausal women aged ≥47 years recruited from Khartoum State, Sudan. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Physical activity levels were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. Fasting blood samples (5 mL) were collected to determine the lipid profile. The VAI and LAP were calculated as indicators for visceral adiposity, whereas AIP was calculated as an indicator of CVD risk. ResultsThe postmenopausal women's mean age was 62.4 ± 10.2 years. Women (29.2%; 54/185) were physically inactive, with most inactive women being >64 years and having ≥5 CVD risk factors compared with the active and very active women with 3–4 CVD risk factors. Women had high total cholesterol (24.6%), triglycerides (26.6%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (14.3%), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (61.2%) levels. Moreover, women (33.5%) had a high CVD risk. In multiple regression analyses, AIP increased significantly with VAI and BMI. The ROC analysis revealed that the highest and statistically significant AUC was recorded for VAI followed by LAP among postmenopausal women, suggesting their diagnostic significance for CVD risk. ConclusionVAI and LAP were closely associated with an increased risk of CVD in postmenopausal Sudanese women and were considered the best diagnostic performance.

Knowledge of Physiotherapy among Final Year Students Faculty of Medicine in Universities at Khartoum State, Sudan

Knowledge of Physiotherapy among Final Year Students Faculty of Medicine in Universities at Khartoum State, Sudan

Evaluating the Triage of Suspected COVID-19 Cases in Sudan's Emergency Settings: A Clinical Audit.

The inevitable coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic has severely affected Sudan's fragile healthcare system. The authors share the experience of COVID-19 triage in the emergency departments of five public hospitals in Khartoum state, Sudan. A clinical audit was conducted in December 2020 using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Checklist and Monitoring Tool for Triage of Suspected COVID-19 Cases. The tool was categorised into 5 domains and 38 indicators. Only three hospitals had hand hygiene stations in their triage areas: Ibrahim Malik, Omdurman, and Al-Nau. Omdurman Teaching Hospital was the sole hospital with a designated respiratory waiting area. At Al-Nau and Omdurman Hospitals, all respiratory symptomatic patients wore a facemask or alternative. Ibrahim Malik and Bahri Teaching Hospitals had 60% and 50% compliance, respectively, while none at El-Tamayouz Hospital did. No posters or job aids were present in donning and doffing areas. Heavy duty gloves were worn only at Ibrahim Malik (50%) and Omdurman (20%). 100% of staff wore closed-toe footwear at Ibrahim Malik and Omdurman, 75% at El-Tamayouz, 63% at Bahri, and none at Al-Nau. The healthcare facilities displayed significant shortcomings in preparedness and response to COVID-19, with variations across hospitals in infrastructure, human resources, and procedures. To better combat future outbreaks, systemic improvements and a focused approach on consistent staff training, standard triage algorithms, and adequate PPE availability are imperative.