Conectar
by Esther Mofiyinfoluwa Ola, Temitope Helen Balogun, Rasheed Olayinka Isijola, Oluwaremilekun Grace Ajakaye
Parasitic infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, with malaria and schistosomiasis having the highest burden. This study investigated the prevalence of malaria, urogenital schistosomiasis, and co-infections and their impact on the nutritional status of schoolchildren in two communities in Ondo State. A total of 185 participants from Ipogun and Oke Igbo were screened for malaria and schistosomiasis infection using the ParaHit malaria rapid diagnostic test kit and urine microscopy. Anthropometric measurements were used to assess the nutritional status of the participants. In this study, a higher prevalence of malaria was recorded in Oke Igbo, with 36 individuals (57.1%), compared to 60 individuals (49.2%) in Ipogun. Urogenital schistosomiasis was also more prevalent in Oke Igbo, affecting 18 individuals (28.6%), while only 5 individuals (4.1%) were affected in Ipogun. Co-infection with both diseases was more common in Oke Igbo, with 13 cases (20.6%), compared to 4 cases (3.3%) in Ipogun. However, malnutrition rates were similar between the two communities, with 60 cases (77.9%) in Ipogun and 28 cases (75.5%) in Oke Igbo. Notably, participants with either malaria or urogenital schistosomiasis, as well as those co-infected, exhibited a higher frequency of chronic malnutrition. The likelihood of co-infection was significantly associated with gender and locality, with individuals in Oke Igbo being 0.78 times less likely to be co-infected (P = 0.00; CI = 0.09–0.49), while males were 2.19 times more likely to have co-infections (P = 0.02; CI = 1.13–4.28). This study emphasised the significant health burden posed by malaria and urogenital schistosomiasis co-infections among schoolchildren in Ondo State, highlighting the need for comprehensive health and nutritional interventions to address the challenges associated with these parasitic diseases.
Adolescents’ experiences (10–19 years-old) with tuberculosis (TB) remain poorly understood. Descriptions of adolescent TB experiences, particularly how they interact with the health system, are scarce. We aimed to understand adolescents’ experiences of TB health services in the Western Cape, South Africa. We focused on how TB services were aided or hindered through interactions with healthcare providers and health system processes.
Teen TB, an observational study in Cape Town, enrolled 50 newly diagnosed adolescents with multidrug-resistant and drug-susceptible TB. A subset of 20 was selected for serial qualitative data collection, with 19 completing all tasks between December 2020 and September 2021. 52 interviews were conducted and thematically analysed using a case descriptive process for experiences across the TB care cascade.
Adolescents criticised the difficulties and delays they encountered in obtaining an accurate TB diagnosis. Initial misdiagnoses and delayed TB diagnoses were reported, despite seeking help from multiple healthcare providers at different facilities. Adolescents questioned whether the financial, social and emotional costs of TB care outweighed the costs of delaying treatment initiation and adherence. Adolescents reported that the treatment regimen, adherence support processes and interactions with the health system posed significant challenges to maintaining adherence. Encouragingly, however, most adolescents reported being well treated and cared for by health workers.
Our study shows that adolescents experience challenges throughout their TB treatment journeys. More adolescent-focused research is needed to tailor treatment and healthcare processes to their needs.
To synthesize the literature on the experiences of patients, families and healthcare professionals with video calls during hospital admission. Second, to investigate facilitators and barriers of implementation of video calls in hospital wards.
Scoping review.
PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar were searched for relevant publications in the period between 2011 and 2023. Publications were selected if they focused on experiences of patients, families or healthcare professionals with video calls between patients and their families; or between families of hospitalized patients and healthcare professionals. Quantitative and qualitative data were summarized in data charting forms.
Forty-three studies were included. Patients and families were satisfied with video calls as it facilitated daily communication. Family members felt more engaged and felt they could provide support to their loved ones during admission. Healthcare professionals experienced video calls as an effective way to communicate when in-person visits were not allowed. However, they felt that video calls were emotionally difficult as it was hard to provide support at distance and to use communication skills effectively. Assigning local champions and training of healthcare professionals were identified as facilitators for implementation. Technical issues and increased workload were mentioned as main barriers.
Patients, families and healthcare professionals consider video calls as a good alternative when in-person visits are not allowed. Healthcare professionals experience more hesitation towards video calls during admission, as it increases perceived workload. In addition, they are uncertain whether video calls are as effective as in-person conservations.
When implementing video calls in hospital wards, policymakers and healthcare professionals should select strategies that address the positive aspects of family involvement at distance and the use of digital communication skills.
No patient or public contribution.
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