March – June 2020
This update: 3 April 2020
The document introduces a simple classification, minimums standards and a registration form for Foreign Medical Teams (FMTs) that may provide surgical and trauma care arriving within the aftermath of a sudden onset disaster. These can serve as tools to improve the coordination of the foreign medical... team response, and be the reference for registration on arrival as well as a possible global registration mechanism similar to what exists for urban search and rescue teams
more
Primary Care: The Community Health System
Background
Asthma remains highly prevalent, with more severe symptoms in low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with high-income countries. Identifying risk factors for severe asthma symptoms can assist with improving outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence, severity and ris...k factors for asthma in adolescents in an LMIC.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey using the Global Asthma Network written and video questionnaires was conducted in adolescents aged 13 and 14 from randomly selected schools in Durban, South Africa, between May 2019 and June 2021.
Results
A total of 3957 adolescents (51.9% female) were included. The prevalence of lifetime, current and severe asthma was 24.6%, 13.7% and 9.1%, respectively. Of those with current and severe asthma symptoms; 38.9% (n=211/543) and 40.7% (n=147/361) had doctor-diagnosed asthma; of these, 72.0% (n=152/211) and 70.7% (n=104/147), respectively, reported using inhaled medication in the last 12 months. Short-acting beta agonists (80.4%) were more commonly used than inhaled corticosteroids (13.7%). Severe asthma was associated with: fee-paying school quintile (adjusted OR (CI)): 1.78 (1.27 to 2.48), overweight (1.60 (1.15 to 2.22)), exposure to traffic pollution (1.42 (1.11 to 1.82)), tobacco smoking (2.06 (1.15 to 3.68)), rhinoconjunctivitis (3.62 (2.80 to 4.67)) and eczema (2.24 (1.59 to 3.14)), all p<0.01.
Conclusion
Asthma prevalence in this population (13.7%) is higher than the global average (10.4%). Although common, severe asthma symptoms are underdiagnosed and associated with atopy, environmental and lifestyle factors. Equitable access to affordable essential controller inhaled medicines addressing the disproportionate burden of asthma is needed in this setting.
more
O presente Guião de Bolso referente ao Tratamento antiretroviral e de infecções oportunistas
do adulto, adolescente e criança é um instrumento de grande utilidade para os profissionais de saúde, em especial os envolvidos no tratamento dos pacientes infectados pelo HIV em Moçambique. O Guião... salvaguarda uma abordagem correcta, atempada e padronizada no atendimento aos pacientes com HIV/SIDA, garantindo o uso racional e cientificamente fundamentado dos escassos recursos existentes.
more
l’IMC et le gain de poids gestationnel sont des facteurs déterminants des risques de
résultats de grossesse, de la santé de la mère et de l’enfant. Cette étude analyse l’incidence de la
nutrition chez les femmes enceintes sur la santé néonatale au Bénin. Les résultats d’estimation... par les
équations simultanées montrent que le gain de poids gestationnel insuffisant ou excessif a des effets
néfastes aussi bien sur la santé de la mère que sur celui de l’enfant. L’étude montre que la majorité des
femmes béninoises étudiées, avec un IMC faible ou normal n’atteignent pas le gain de poids
gestationnel recommandé en fin de grossesse. La plupart des nouveau-nés de petits poids de naissance
sont nés de femme dont l’IMC est normal, ce qui renforce la théorie bien connue que l’IMC n’est pas un
bon indicateur de la malnutrition chez la femme enceinte.
more
The Ideal Clinic Realisation and Maintenance (ICRM) programme was initiated by the National Department of Health in July 2013 in order to systematically improve primary health care (PHC) facilities and the quality of care they provide. The Ideal Clinic framework/dashboard sets out the standards for ...PHC facilities to provide good-quality health services. An Ideal Clinic is defined as a clinic with good infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicines and supplies, good administrative processes, and sufficient adequate bulk supplies. Applicable clinical policies, protocols and guidelines are adhered to, and it harnesses partner and stakeholder support.
more