4 research outputs found
Point-of-Care Sexually Transmitted Infection Diagnostics: Proceedings of the STAR Sexually Transmitted Infection-Clinical Trial Group Programmatic Meeting.
The goal of the point-of-care (POC) sexually transmitted infection (STI) Diagnostics meeting was to review the state-of-the-art research and develop recommendations for the use of POC STI diagnostics. Experts from academia, government, nonprofit, and industry discussed POC diagnostics for STIs such as Chlamydia trachomatis, human papillomavirus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Treponema pallidum. Key objectives included a review of current and emerging technologies, clinical and public health benefits, POC STI diagnostics in developing countries, regulatory considerations, and future areas of development. Key points of the meeting are as follows: (i) although some rapid point-of-care tests are affordable, sensitive, specific, easy to perform, and deliverable to those who need them for select sexually transmitted infections, implementation barriers exist at the device, patient, provider, and health system levels; (ii) further investment in research and development of point-of-care tests for sexually transmitted infections is needed, and new technologies can be used to improve diagnostic testing, test uptake, and treatment; (iii) efficient deployment of self-testing in supervised (ie, pharmacies, clinics, and so on) and/or unsupervised (ie, home, offices, and so on) settings could facilitate more screening and diagnosis that will reduce the burden of sexually transmitted infections; (iv) development of novel diagnostic technologies has outpaced the generation of guidance tools and documents issued by regulatory agencies; and (v) questions regarding quality management are emerging including the mechanism by which poor-performing diagnostics are removed from the market and quality assurance of self-testing is ensured
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Regional differences in vision health: findings from Mwanza, Tanzania.
BackgroundVisual impairment in developing countries has both social and economic impact on individuals and communities. Understanding the subjective visual functioning of populations will allow for local policymakers to identify the need for optometric or ophthalmic services in their communities.MethodsThe authors surveyed 644 adult patients in Mwanza, Tanzania at three clinics (Buzuruga, Mwananchi and Kisesa) using a modified Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25. Responses were categorized into General health, General vision, Ocular pain, Near activities, Distance activities, Social function, Mental health, Role difficulties, Color vision, Peripheral vision and Dependency.ResultsPatients at Buzuruga reported the lowest scores on most subscales. Of 100 employed patients, 37% claimed to have at least some difficulty in performing job duties due to their eyesight. At Kisesa, 146 (246/221) patients (66.1%) had never had an eye exam, compared with 134/227 (59.0%) at Buzuruga and 69/173 (39.9%) at Mwananchi (p<0.01). Common reasons for not seeing an eye doctor were the perceived expense and lack of vision problems.ConclusionsDue to regional differences in visual functioning in Mwanza, a national effort for vision health cannot be entirely successful without addressing the individualized needs of local communities. Reducing the cost of vision care appointments may expand vision health care utilization in Mwanza