Increasing the capacity of health surveillance assistants in community mental health care in a developing country,Malawi

Mental health services in Malawi are centralized in the three tertiary units which are located one in each of the three regions of Malawi and this means that most people with mental health problems do not get help. With severe shortages of mental health professionals in the country, integration of mental health into existing primary and community health services is the most feasible way of increasing access to services for people with mental health problems. This paper discusses a pilot program of integrating mental health in the activities of Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who are community health workers in Malawi.     

Prevalence of proteinuria and its association with HIV/AIDS in Congolese children living in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

ContextIn Sub-Saharian Africa, the extent of the HIV-related kidney diseases is less known. Even so, that region is supposed to be the epicentre of such complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of proteinuria in Congolese children living in Kinshasa and to study its association with the HIV infection.MethodsBy a cross-sectional and multicentric study (in six hospitals of Kinshasa), 194 children were consecutively recruited from August 2008 to February 2009. Among these, 101 naives HIV-infected children and 93 HIV-uninfected children like a control group. Proteinuria was assessed using urine dipstick completed by the 24-hour proteinuria assessment (Esbach method). Determinants of proteinuria were assessed by logistic regression.ResultsThe median age of all children recruited was 84 months (9–221months). Concerning the HIV-infected children, the median age was 76 months (9–221months) with a male/female ratio of 1/1. The prevalence of proteinuria in this group was in order to 23.8%. HIV infected children have seven times more probability to present proteinuria than non infected children (OR 6.9; IC 95%: 2.3–20.8; P < 0.001). Important immunosuppression was the main determinant of proteinuria (OR 10.4; IC 95%: 3.34–32.48; P < 0.001).ConclusionProteinuria is common in Congolese children. The HIV infection rises significantly the probability to present proteinuria in children of this study, more so among those with important immunosuppression. This raises the question about the ideal time to initiate HAART in order to reduce the prevalence of kidney injury and to provide the best outcome.     

Task shifting in the management of hypertension in Kinshasa,Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study

Background

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is characterized by a high prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and a high proportion of uncontrolled HTN, which is indicative of poor HTN management. Effective management of HTN in the African region is challenging due to limited resources, particularly human resources for health. To address the shortage of health workers, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends task shifting for better disease management and treatment. Although task shifting from doctors to nurses is being implemented in the DRC, there are no studies, to the best of our knowledge, that document the association between task shifting and HTN control. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between task shifting and HTN control in Kinshasa, DRC.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Kinshasa from December 2015 to January 2016 in five general referral hospitals (GRHs) and nine health centers (HCs). A total of 260 hypertensive patients participated in the study. Sociodemographic, clinical, health care costs and perceived health care quality assessment data were collected using a structured questionnaire. To examine the association between task shifting and HTN control, we assessed differences between GRH and HC patients using bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Almost half the patients were female (53.1%), patients’ mean age was 59.5 ± 11.4 years. Over three-fourths of patients had uncontrolled HTN. There was no significant difference in the proportion of GRH and HC patients with uncontrolled HTN (76.2% vs 77.7%, p = 0.771). Uncontrolled HTN was associated with co-morbidity (OR = 10.3; 95% CI: 3.8–28.3) and the type of antihypertensive drug used (OR = 4.6; 95% CI: 1.3–16.1). The mean healthcare costs in the GRHs were significantly higher than costs in the HCs (US$ 34.2 ± US$3.34 versus US$ 7.7 ± US$ 0.6, respectively).

Conclusion

Uncontrolled HTN was not associated with the type of health facility. This finding suggests that the management of HTN at primary healthcare level might be just as effective as at secondary level. However, the high proportion of patients with uncontrolled HTN underscores the need for HTN management guidelines at all healthcare levels.

     

Severity of Outcomes Associated to Illnesses Funded by GFATM Initiative and Socio Demographic and Economic Factors Associated with HIV/AIDS,TB and Malaria Mortality in Kinshasa Hospitals,DRC

Background

For the past decades, developing countries have received considerable support to fight infectious illnesses in their homelands. This global effort has tremendously reduced case fatality rates associated with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in many countries. However, this information is still missing in some developing countries, hindering international effort for control programs; we designed this study in effort to close this gap.

Methods

Data on 23,487 inpatients from Kinshasa hospitals were gathered and analyzed using EpiData and SPSS. Major illnesses affecting inpatients were identified; mortality and case fatality rates associated with each such illness were estimated. Case fatality rates associated with each illness were compared between consecutive years. Socio demographic and economic factors associated with mortality due to HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria were investigated using logistic regression.

Results

The outstanding findings were that case fatality rates associated with major illnesses were relatively higher in 2008 than in the previous year; inpatients hospitalized for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in 2008 were more likely to die than those hospitalized in the previous year. Low socioeconomic status inpatients hospitalized for malaria, HIV/AIDS or TB were more likely to die than high socioeconomic status inpatients (AOR 0.29, 95% CI 0.22–0.40; AOR 0.20, 95%CI0.12–0.33; AOR 0.33, 95%CI 0.21–0.53), even though both groups presumably had access to free life-saving treatment and care.

Conclusion

These results indicate that while improvement in health indicators greatly depends on funds availability and sustainability, these alone might not be enough in resource poor developing countries. Other factors, i.e., population SES also need to be addressed before needed changes may occur.     

Severity of Outcomes Associated to Types of HIV Coinfection with TB and Malaria in a Setting Where the Three Pandemics Overlap

The objectives of this study is to (1) characterize profiles of HIV coinfection with TB and malaria; (2) estimate the severity of outcome associated with each type of coinfection; (3) identify most severe coinfection type, and populations most affected. Data on 1,302 HIV/AIDS patients were collected from hospital record books for 2007 and 2008. Distribution patterns of types of HIV coinfection with TB and malaria were assessed among low and high SES (socioeconomic status) inpatients. Case fatality rate for each type of coinfection was estimated as the ratio of number of deaths associated with a specific type of coinfection over the number of cases, times 100. Case fatality rates were compared among coinfection types and between low and high SES inpatients. Four types of coinfections were identified: single-HIV, HIV-TB, HIV-malaria and HIV-TB-malaria. Single-HIV infection was the most prevalent, and predominant among high SES inpatients; HIV-TB was the second most prevalent, and predominant among low SES inpatients; HIV-malaria and HIV-TB-malaria coinfections were the least prevalent, they were relatively comparable between both SES groups. HIV-TB coinfection was the deadliest type of coinfection, followed by HIV-TB-malaria and HIV-malaria. Single-HIV infection was the least deadly of the four conditions. Aside from HIV-malaria, the proportion of fatalities associated with each coinfection type was higher among low SES inpatients when compared with high SES inpatients. HIV/AIDS treatment and care programs in communities with limited resources and high prevalence of malaria and TB should give priority attention to low socioeconomic status patients coinfected with TB to prevent unnecessary deaths among those living with HIV.     

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Transfused Children in Kinshasa

Objective

To determine seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and associated factors among transfused children.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional study of transfused children aged between 18 mo and 13 y old was conducted in 4 hospitals in Kinshasa. Blood samples were collected for the detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HCV, HIV 1and 2.

Results

A total of 177 (47.7 %) boys and 194 (52.3 %) girls participated in the study. The median age was 59.5 mo (Interquartile range IQR?=?60.6). The prevalence rates of HCV, HBV, and HIV infection were 13.5 %, 1.6 %, and 1.3 %, respectively. Frequency of transfusion events were significantly associated with HCV (p?<?0.001) and HIV (p?<?0.05) infections.

Conclusions

HCV infection was by far more frequently identified than HBV and HIV infections among Congolese transfused children. Frequency of transfusion events was the only significant risk factor associated with HCV and HIV infections but not for HBV.     

Microalbuminuria among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-naive children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background

To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and associated factors among Congolese human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study in which 77 HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-naive children and 89 uninfected controls were enrolled. Microalbuminuria was assessed using the immune-turbidimetry method, and associated factors were studied by logistic regression.

Results/Conclusion

The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 18% in the HIV-infected children and 2% in the HIV-uninfected children. No common determinants of proteinuria were significantly associated with microalbuminuria.