Rwanda Public Health Bulletin

Evaluating the prevalence of early weaning of children and its determinants among maternal attendees at Remera Health Center, Kigali, Rwanda, 2023: a cross-sectional study

2024-06-11T17:23:44+00:00

INTRODUCTION: While breast milk is vital in fostering infant growth and diminishing the risk of illnesses, global exclusive breastfeeding rates stand at 45.7%. Early weaning remains a persistent issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Consequently, this study was formulated to evaluate the prevalence of early weaning and its influencing factors among mothers seeking care at the Remera Medicalized Health Center.
METHOD: A cross-sectional investigation encompassed 370 randomly chosen breastfeeding mothers who underwent data collection via a structured questionnaire.
RESULTS: In the cohort of 370 participants, this study unveiled that 97.8% (n=362) concurred on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, yet only 73.8% (n=263) adhered to this practice. Notably, 26% (n=97) initiated early weaning. Breastfeeding challenges were reported by 51.6% (n=191) of participants, with 21.6% (n=80) facing issues of low milk supply and 8.1% (n=30) experiencing child refusal to breastfeed. Furthermore, 90.8% (n=336) demonstrated awareness of the consequences of early weaning, and 33.5% (n=124) acknowledged agreement with all the potential repercussions. Among mothers who practiced early weaning, 29.9% (n=29) did so at 4 months, 25.9% (n=25) at 5 months, 21.6% (n=21) at 3 months, and 11.3% (n=11) at 1 and 2 months. Reasons for early weaning included tight schedules (43.3%, n=42) and the baby's hunger (36.1%, n=35). Additionally, 77.6% (n=287) concurred that the choice of early weaning should ultimately be the mother's decision.
CONCLUSION: The primary factors influencing mothers' adoption of early weaning were predominantly their demanding schedules, which encompassed both work and studies, as well as the baby's heightened need for food owing to hunger.

An assessment of barriers to implementation of school health program in primary schools in Ido/Osi, Southwest, Nigeria: a qualitative study

2024-06-11T17:45:59+00:00

INTRODUCTION: School Health Program is an event that promotes the understanding, maintenance, and improvement of the school community's health and ensures that children are at all times in a state of optimum health. The implementation of School Health Programme in most parts of Nigeria is, however, poor or suboptimal. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of the School Health Programme being implemented in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria.
METHODS: Focused group discussions were carried out among 4 different groups of 8 participants each, with each group comprised of different administrative heads and health instructors. The qualitative study was carried out among primary schools in the Ido/Osi local government area in Southwest Nigeria. The data were analyzed using a thematic framework approach for qualitative data analysis.
RESULTS: Administrative heads and health teachers lacked in-depth knowledge of the School Health Programme. Most private schools had good buildings but the majority of public schools had dilapidated structures. All schools had at least a source of water. Toilet facilities were present in a few public schools and in all private schools. Most of the schools practice open dumping of refuse. All the schools had a first aid box but with varying content. Only one private school had a school nurse. All the schools send a child with suspected communicable diseases home. Free mid-day meals are available in public schools but lacking in private ones.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed the poor state of SHP in Ido/Osi and identified deficiencies in the effective implementation of SHP.

Prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety among University of Rwanda community during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

2024-06-11T17:12:46+00:00

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many aspects of people’s well-being worldwide, including the mental and physical health of university students and staff. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in students and staff of the University of Rwanda (UR).
METHODS: Utilizing an online Google form, this rapid screening cross-sectional study collected and analyzed primary data from 693 participants (students: 73.9% and staff: 26.1%). Data was collected using a sociodemographic characteristic questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) for anxiety and depression. Multiple logistic regression model was used to test the association between social demographic characteristics, historical background and outcome variables.
RESULTS: This study found that about 40.6% of students had anxiety symptoms while 38.5% exhibited depression symptoms. Among staff, 34.8 % reported anxiety and 29.3% reported depression. Associated factors of anxiety included experiencing quarantine, pre-existing mental health conditions, exposure to violence, and belonging to a low-income household. Depression was linked to pre-existing mental health issues, COVID-19 related quarantine, and experiences of violence. Notably, students were more prone presenting with symptoms of depression as opposed to staff.
CONCLUSION: The study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among both students and staff. These findings emphasize the need for mental health services to be made available on campus to support those in the university community who are in need of assistance.

Epidemiological profile of abdominal surgical emergencies in adults at the Saint-Louis Regional Hospital (Senegal) between 2021 and 2022: a cross-sectional study

2024-06-11T18:00:51+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal surgical emergencies are relatively common conditions, with a frequency varying between 20 and 22.7%. Understanding their epidemiological profile would help tailor medical interventions to improve access to care and prognosis. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of abdominal surgical emergencies in adults at the Regional Hospital Center of Saint-Louis, Senegal.
METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from June 1, 2021, to May 30, 2022, in the General Surgery Department of the Regional Hospital Center of Saint-Louis, Senegal. It included all patients aged 15 years and above who presented with an acute abdomen (operated or not). The study collected sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic data.
RESULTS: During the study period, 1,228 emergencies were received, of which 275 were abdominal surgical emergencies, resulting in an annual hospital incidence of 22.3%. Of these patients, 191 were male and 84 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.3. The mean age was 39.6 years, with a standard deviation of 18.3 (ranging from 15 to 88 years). The majority of patients (80.0%) arrived at the hospital on their own, with the dominant means of transportation being personal vehicles (68.4%). The most common pathologies were appendicular pathologies (25.1%), followed by strangulated hernias (16.7%), peritonitis (16.7%), intestinal obstructions (15.3%), and abdominal traumas (12.7%). The mean waiting time for surgical management was 50.1 hours, ranging from 8 to 72 hours. General anesthesia was the most commonly used method (66.5%), and surgical treatment was the predominant approach (78.2%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.8%.
CONCLUSION: The most affected patients were young men, and the most frequent emergency was appendicitis and its complications. Patients are mostly transported to the hospital on their own using personal vehicles. Despite the relatively low in-hospital mortality rate, the conditions for managing abdominal surgical emergencies remain limited.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards prevention of Tuberculosis among HIV-positive patients at Kibagabaga District Hospital, Rwanda, 2021

2024-06-12T17:06:23+00:00

INTRODUCTION: Globally, an estimated 10.3 million people fell ill with TB in 2021, especially for people living with HIV. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of TB prevention among HIV patients at Kibagabaga District Hospital (KDH). This study on TB prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices among HIV-positive patients at Kibagabaga District Hospital aims to improve public health practices and the lives of people living with HIV by identifying knowledge gaps, tailoring prevention strategies, encouraging early TB detection, and informing policy development

METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Kibagabaga District Hospital (KDH) from November 2019 to February 2021. A sample size of 237 Participants was calculated using Epi-info software and selected through a stratified simple random sampling method. Data collection employed self-administered questionnaires, and analysis was performed using SPSS software version 23.

RESULTS: Among the 237 Participants, the demographics revealed a majority of females (60.3%), with nearly half (45.1%) being married. The private sector employed over half (52.5%) of the Participants. Primary education was the most common educational attainment (51.1%), and the 39-48 age group represented the largest portion (35.4%). Encouragingly, a significant majority demonstrated positive knowledge (86.9%), attitude (86.1%), and practices (91.6%) towards tuberculosis prevention.

CONCLUSION: While the study revealed positive overall knowledge, practices, and attitudes towards tuberculosis prevention among Participants, a potential knowledge gap regarding the specific cause of the disease was identified. This suggests that future health education efforts for HIV patients could benefit from further emphasis on understanding the causative agent of tuberculosis for even more comprehensive knowledge and ongoing positive behaviour towards prevention.

Thirty years of Rwanda's resilience and success: a sign of hope for mental health recovery after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi

2024-06-11T17:05:56+00:00

No abstract