Non-communicable Diseases In Africa Research Articles

Stroke Risk Factor Profile In Nigerian African Women

Background: Stroke is a growing noncommunicable disease in Africa. Though stroke accounts for a substantial number of medical and neurological admissions in Nigerian hospitals, the specific impact of stroke on women has not been well documented. Aim: This study examined the profile of risk factors in women diagnosed with stroke in South East Nigeria. Methodology: A retrospective study was done of all adult Nigerian women admitted with a diagnosis of stroke into the medical wards and casualty department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. The period covered was from January 2006 to December 2008. The case notes were retrieved and appropriate data including biometrics and identified risk factors for stroke in the patients. Results: Hypertension was the commonest risk factor (49.6%), followed by age ≥ 65years (39.4%), diabetes mellitus (16.8%) and heart disease (9.2%). Morbid obesity, dyslipidaemia and HIV infection were also present in 13.2% of the patients.Conclusion: Stroke principally affects the middle aged Nigerian women, with increasing cases of stroke in the young. Despite the predominance of recognized risk factors for stroke, there is the need for clinicians to still consider under-recognized risk factors such as HIV infection.

Africa - Managing non-communicable diseases in Africa

Africa - Managing non-communicable diseases in Africa

Noncommunicable diseases in Africa: a silent hypertension epidemic in Eritrea

Noncommunicable diseases in Africa: a silent hypertension epidemic in Eritrea

Internet initiative to boost health research in Africa, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe

In December 2000 the WHO launched an initiative to bridge the information technology gap. This initiative will establish high-speed Internet connectivity provide top-quality scientific information online and train researchers in information management so they can exploit these services to the full. 6-12 month pilot projects of this initiative will begin in early 2001 at nine health research institutes specializing in tropical diseases reproductive health and communicable and noncommunicable diseases in Africa (Ghana Mali Mozambique Tanzania and Uganda) Central Asia (Mongolia) and Eastern Europe (Armenia and Uzbekistan). To culminate the launching of this initiative several pilot projects have been planned which will include Health InterNetwork partners that will provide computer technology training and logistic support tailored to meet the differing needs of researchers policymakers and health care providers in different countries. Other pilot projects in the pipeline include a program for nurse training in Africa and a project to improve the flow of information and communication at all levels within Indias health system.

Ten Tanzanian transplants: problems and perspectives.

A strategy of live related donor kidney transplantation coupled to the briefest possible preparatory period of haemodialysis was adopted as the most cost effective treatment for a selected group of 9 Tanzanian patients who received a total of 10 grafts. Patient and donor selection and preparation were carried out at Muhimbuli Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, and the transplant procedure and first few months of follow-up were done at St. Thomas' Hospital, London. There was a high incidence of complications which drew attention to particular risk factors in the group treated. The high cost of treating these individuals emphasizes the need for research into chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa and highlights the dilemma of appropriate use of resources in serving the world's medical needs.