Creating Indigenous Discourse: History, Power, and Imperialism in Academia, Palestinian Case

This article examines the impossibilities of implementing decolonizing research for indigenous scholars. In addition, it articulates the relationship between a decolonizing research approach and the historical and current forms of academic imperialism; a prototype of the Palestinian legacy is presented. The author argues that the current indigenous discourse is a remnant of oppression. The existing indigenous discourse is not due to the original quest but instead, it is in response to oppression. Also, the author explains the struggles of some indigenous scholars in complying with the reporting and ownership of knowledge that is required by Cartesian principles.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline

Complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in children in Dar es Salaam

Background: From the few reports available, VP shunt surgery in sub- Saharan Africa is associated with significant complications. This study was aimed at establishing the pattern, causes and frequency of complications of VPS in Tanzania. Methods: Sixty five of the 102 children with hydrocephalus treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts between January 1996 and January 1999 were studied prospectively. The first follow-up was at 2 weeks postoperative when the wounds were evaluated and occipitofrontal circumference measured. Further follow-ups were at 4 weeks and at three months. Collaborating staff of the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) thereafter regularly followed up the children at home. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.8 to 1. Forty-seven of the children (72%) were less than 12 months old but no patient was under 1 month of age at operation. The mean occipitofrontal circumference was 50.7cm. Shunt blockage was the commonest complication (32.3%) followed by infection (24.6%). The combined complication rate of shunt infection and wound infection was 46.1%. Shunt-related mortality was 13 (20.0%). There was no statistically significant correlation between the occipitofrontal circumference and type of complication or mortality. The mean age among the patients showing disconnection was 21.3 months compared to a mean age of 8.1 months for those not having this complication (P-value=0.04) Conclusion: The complication rates were higher than those in Western series but compared well with findings from sub Saharan Africa other studies