A review of ophthalmic registries in Africa – The shortage and importance

BACKGROUND: Clinical registries systematically collect standardized information for pre-defined purposes on patients with a particular condition of interest. The characteristics and quantity of ophthalmic registries in Africa are unclear.This study aimed to quantify ophthalmic clinical registries in African countries from published literature, and to supply an overview of the features and study outcomes of these registries. METHODS: A systematic search of the EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was conducted to find ophthalmology clinical registries in Africa without time and language limitations. Relevant data elements about registry characteristics, nature, methodology, and outcomes were extracted for each individual registry identified. RESULTS: Six clinical eye registries were found with no substantial growth over time. The most common condition captured is ocular tumors (n=3), of which two were retinoblastoma-specific registries. Five of them were focused on retinal diseases and one on blindness and low vision. None addressed cataracts and glaucoma. A third of the registries originated outside Africa, and one was multinational. Only three African countries produced a registry data set, with South Africa having the majority of the registries (n=3), followed by Egypt (n=2), and Ghana (n=1). Ophthalmic registries in Africa are used to study the epidemiologic features of ocular diseases, treatment outcomes, and genetic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The potential for clinical eye registries has not been adequately harnessed in Africa, as only a few ophthalmic registries exist. Findings from this study may help inform the planning and implementation of future ophthalmic registries and suggest focus areas that have not received due attention

Optimal routing for automated emergency vehicle response for incident intervention in a traffic network

Congestion constitutes a major problem in modern urban traffic networks if not well managed. Its monstrous effects, on occasions, can paralyze a traffic network eating deep into the productive hours of commuters as well as vehicles and persons on essential services. Particularly affected are incidence-intervention vehicles such as emergency vehicles and fire-fighting vehicles. Whatever the cause of the congestion, its effect is counter-productive and an indication of an inefficient traffic network. This work, as presented in this paper, is concerned about the issue of traffic route management for emergency service (emergency vehicle) for which a delay of few minutes may cause tremendous loss of lives and properties. The route management scheme built for this purpose integrates information obtained from the use of Radio Frequency Signals for Traffic Light Preemption at Intersections in a Proteus Simulator environment and the use Arc GIS as a mode of routing the emergency vehicle from base to the incidence location, then to Health Facilities and from thence back to the emergency vehicle base in an optimal routing time. Traffic information are loaded into the Arc GIS environment which predicts the required tri-legged optimal routing and its duration using Dijkstra’s algorithm. Different scenarios of emergency vehicle, incidence and health facility locations were exploited using the scheme and compared with situations without their implementation. The proposed scheme outperforms the trial and error routing of emergency vehicles and can be embedded into traffic advisory system or as stand-alone emergency vehicle management system.Keywords: GIS, Dijkstra’s algorithm, Facility Location, Emergency-Vehicle, Optimal Routin

Improving Domestic Ergonomics: A Fuzzy-Based Model Approach

In this study a fuzzy logic model was adopted to assess the degree of Domestic Ergonomic Hazards (DEH) among women in the Southwest Nigeria. Three risk factors of weight (Kg), height of load (cm) and the handlers’ arm reach (cm) were used. The leading objective was to provide an improved assessment ergonomics tool to Risk Assessment Filter (RAF). The algorithm of the fuzzy inference engine applied sets of 64 linguistic rules to generate the output variable in lifting/lowering risk. The Spearman’s rank correlation value of 0.85 at the confidence level of 0.01, indicated no significant difference between the human predictions of DEH with the use of RAF tool and the model’s predictions. The risk values and interpretations generated by the model were confirmed not just similar to, but with better information than, using RAF. The study proposed a fuzzy-based model for an enhanced domestic ergonomics among women than using RAF device. It is simple and can find its usefulness in household chores

Correlation between Body mass index, Waist Hip ratio, blood sugar levels and blood pressure in apparently healthy adult Nigerians

Abstract: Background: Obesity is a global epidemic and is on the rise. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) BMI and RBS (0.083, p=0.020), SBP (0.206, p=0.000) and DBP (0.152, p=0.000). There was a slightly stronger correlation between WHR and RBS (0.093, p=0.009), SBP (0.273, p=0.000) and DBP (0.217, p=0.00

Hunting practices and heavy metals concentrations in fresh and smoked wildmeats in Kumasi, Ghana

The consumption of bush meat is currently a common practice in sub-urban and urban communities of Africa. The study investigates hunting practices and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd and Mn) concentrations in fresh and smoked bush meats in Kumasi, Ghana. The animal samples were obtained from Sekyere Dumase, Atwemunom and Central Markets. A total of 32 samples from various game animals were used for the study. The samples were wet digested and analyzed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The use of guns (68%) was the most applied method of capture followed by cutlasses (10%), dogs (4%), traps (2%) and baits (2%). In the fresh meat, the concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb was 12.72±2.56mg⁻kg 5.16±2.65mg⁻kg, 0.96±0.29mg⁻kg, 7.40±0.68 mg ⁻kg, 0.10±0.00 mg ⁻kg and 4.31±3.46 mg ⁻kg respectively while in smoked meats, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were 15.28±2.29 mg ⁻kg, 5.33±0.98 mg ⁻kg, 0.94±0.98 mg⁻kg, 7.39±0.57 mg ⁻kg, 0.1±0.00 mg ⁻kg, 0.07±0.00 mg ⁻kg respectively. Higher amount of Lead (Pb) was found in the fresh wild meat than in the processed. The levels of Zinc in both the fresh and smoked bush meat were high while Mn, Cu, Fe and Cd in both fresh and smoked meats were in the acceptable range recommended for human consumption. However, there is need to monitor the levels of heavy metals in bush meat in relation to the hunting practices so as to avoid any possibility of poisoning to human health.Keywords: Heavy metals, Bush meat, Hunting, Ghana, Healt

The current pattern of facility-based perinatal and neonatal mortality in Sagamu, Nigeria

Background: Perinatal and neonatal mortality rates have been described as sensitive indices of the quality of health care services. Regular audits of perinatal and neonatal mortalities are desirable to evaluate the various global interventions. Objective: To describe the current pattern of perinatal and neonatal mortality in a Nigerian tertiary health facility. Methods: Using a prospective audit method, the socio-demographic parameters of all perinatal and neonatal deaths recorded in a Nigerian tertiary facility between February 2017 and January 2018 were studied. Results: There were 1,019 deliveries with stillbirth rate of 27.5/1000 total births and early neonatal death (END) rate among in-born babies of 27.2/1000 live births. The overall perinatal mortality rate for in-facility deliveries was 53.9/1000 total births and neonatal mortality (till the end of 28 days) rate of 27.2/1000 live births. Severe perinatal asphyxia and prematurity were the leading causes of neonatal deaths while obstructed labour and intra-partum eclampsia were the two leading maternal conditions related to stillbirths (25.0% and 21.4% respectively). Gestational age < 32 weeks, age < 24 hours and inborn status were significantly associated with END (p = 0.002, p <0.001 and p = 0.002 respectively). Conclusion: The in-facility perinatal mortality rate was high though stillbirth rate was relatively low. There is a need to improve the quality of emergency obstetric and neonatal services prior to referral to tertiary facilities

Hyperglycemic Emergency in Pregnancy- Case Report and Review of Literature

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are two of the most serious acutecomplications of diabetes. The occurrence of hyperglycaemic emergency in pregnancy compromises both the fetusand the mother and is associated with excess fetal and maternal mortality. It usually occurs in the later stages ofpregnancy and is also seen in newly presenting type 1 diabetes patients. We present a case of hyperglycaemicemergency in a pregnant woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus.Key words: Diabetes, Emergency, Pregnanc

Septic abortion at a university teaching hospital in South West Nigeria.

Background: Abortion is a common cause of maternal mortality and this usually follows severe haemorrhage or sepsis. Septic abortion is sequelae of unsafe abortion and this usually occurs when it is done in a clandestine manner which may be due to lack of legalization of abortion. The study is to determine the pattern of septic abortion managed in the hospital. METHOD: This is a retrospective study of consecutive cases of septic abortion that were admitted into the gynaecological ward between 1998 and 2007 in the hospital. The diagnosis of sepsis was based on clinical and laboratory findings. RESULTS: Thirty-four cases of septic abortion that warranted admissions were seen during the study period and this represented 1.64% of all gynaecology ward admissions. The age range of the patients was between 15-41years with a mean of 24.53years and nulliparous patients represented 47.1%. Fifty eight percent of the abortions were done by quacks while 9.7% was done by medical doctors. The abortion was induced in 91.2% of the cases and only 20.6% of the patients had not had a previous abortion. The abortion was by dilatation and curettage in 61.8% of the cases. The gestational age at abortion ranged between 5 and 26 weeks with majority at 6-10weeks (47.1%) with a mode of 8weeks. Apart from the sepsis, 61.8% of the patients had other complications like anaemia and peritonitis. Definitive management was by conservative measures in 79.4 % with antibiotics and evacuation. The mean interval between abortion and presentation at OOUTH was 9.9days. There was only one case of mortality in the series giving a case fatality rate as 2.94%. Conclusion There is a need for training and retraining of health workers on methods of evacuation of the uterus and early detection of complications. Since it is a problem that is more common among nulliparous young adults, more effort need to be made to reach out to the young adult through incorporation of family life education

Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Believes of Glaucoma Patients in a Nigerian Hospital

To find out the knowledge, attitude and health beliefs of glaucoma patients in Sagamu, Nigeria. A Prospective hospital based case series of 90 patients aged 5-87years who has been attending the glaucoma clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching hospital (OOUTH) was conducted. Patients were interviewed using a questionnaire and the data obtained analyzed using Epi Info 2002. Overall 15.1% (13) had family history of glaucoma and only 18.1% had heard of glaucoma before their diagnosis was made.93.9% believed that glaucoma is a serious condition which can damage vision and 7.1% believed that they can recover from the illness after treatment. We conclude that glaucoma awareness among glaucoma patients was not high. Majority believed that they can recover from the illness after treatment. Health education programmes may help increase the awareness and knowledge of glaucoma. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 50 (3&4) 2006: pp. 62-6