COVID-19 Pandemic: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, February 2022
Pages:
1-5
Received:
22 December 2020
Accepted:
11 September 2021
Published:
9 February 2022
Abstract: COVID-19, or Coronavirus Sickness 2019, is a terrible disease that has been sweeping the globe since late 2019. Since the emergence of this deadly disease, activities ranging from economic, political, social, cultural and even religious have been brought to a halt or at best disrupted. This disease manifests in various means and thrives so much under a certain atmospheric condition or seasons. Fever, dry cough, exhaustion, and other sometimes minor symptoms might all be indicators of the disease. Regardless of these factors, the pandemic can be contained by strictly adhering to the precautionary guidelines. Although studies have shown that the virus is not seasonal, they also show that it flourishes best in colder climates, with older people, those with disabilities, youth, and indigenous people being the most vulnerable victims. The pandemic's impacts are multi-faceted, ranging from good to bad to ugly. Global carbon emissions have plummeted, community living and interventions have increased, family closeness has increased, and so forth. The Bad repercussions have included job losses and wages, domestic violence, child abuse, pornography, rape and sexual abuse, a high crime rate, and other issues, while the Ugly effects have included chronic health issues and death. While there is no one-shot cure or specialized treatment so far for this dreaded disease, drugs are supplied or recommended based on the level of affection and peculiarities of the individual. With the alarming rates of deaths and deformities emanating from the available vaccines, no one-shot solution has been discovered.
Abstract: COVID-19, or Coronavirus Sickness 2019, is a terrible disease that has been sweeping the globe since late 2019. Since the emergence of this deadly disease, activities ranging from economic, political, social, cultural and even religious have been brought to a halt or at best disrupted. This disease manifests in various means and thrives so much und...
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Quality Assurance Assessment for Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test in Ngoma District, Eastern Province of Rwanda: A Cross-sectional Prospective Study
Metuschelah Habimana,
Vedaste Ndahindwa,
Stella Matutina Umuhoza,
Jared Omolo,
Schifra Uwamungu,
Naomi Wangui Lucchi,
James Humuza
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, February 2022
Pages:
6-12
Received:
24 January 2022
Accepted:
16 February 2022
Published:
25 February 2022
Abstract: Currently, malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are increasingly used for the diagnosis of malaria, particularly in communities where microscopy-based diagnosis is not practical. However, the diagnostic accuracy of mRDTs performed by community health workers (CHWs) remains unknown. This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of mRDT results performed by CHWs in Ngoma district, eastern province of Rwanda. This was a cross sectional prospective study. A total of 420 blood samples of patients self-reported to CHWs for malaria diagnosis were collected and analyzed by CHWs using mRDT, and quality control tests were performed by using microscopy as a reference test. The study was conducted from 22 April to 08 July 2021. Among the 420 patients, 234 (55.71%) were females, and 186 (44.29%) were males. Malaria test positivity was 2.62% by using mRDT and 1.67% by using microscopic tests. The sensitivity and specificity of mRDT were 85.71% and 98.78%, respectively. The negative predictive value, positive predictive value and accuracy of mRDTs were 99.75%, 54.54% and 98.57%, respectively. The sensitivity of mRDT was below the WHO recommended sensitivity (>95%), although the specificity (98.78%) was within the WHO recommended specificity (>=90). There was substantial agreement between the mRDT and malaria microscopic test results, k=0.642. mRDTs continue to be an appropriate choice for malaria diagnosis in the absence of microscopy.
Abstract: Currently, malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are increasingly used for the diagnosis of malaria, particularly in communities where microscopy-based diagnosis is not practical. However, the diagnostic accuracy of mRDTs performed by community health workers (CHWs) remains unknown. This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of mRDT result...
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Knowledge and Practice of COVID-19 Preventive Measures in an Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Zonkwa, Kaduna State, Nigeria - An Observational Study
Paul Audu Odumu,
Jude Ikechukwu Akunne,
Abubakar Audu Ogeriya,
Olukemi Titilope Olugbade,
Patricia Elameyi Idoko,
Musa Yusuf,
Zainab Kwaru Muhammad-Idris,
Ado Zakari,
Martha Ngufan Odumu,
Sunday Joseph,
Tajudeen Ayodeji Olasinde
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 1, February 2022
Pages:
13-21
Received:
18 January 2022
Accepted:
15 February 2022
Published:
28 February 2022
Abstract: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan China and declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The measures for prevention and control instituted and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) include hand hygiene, use of face masks and physical distancing. Physical distancing may be challenging in crowded places like internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, information about the COVID-19 response in IDP settings is limited. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of COVID-19 among the IDPs in Zonkwa camp, determine the practice of preventive measures and educate the IDPs on COVID-19 preventive measures. A cross-sectional study using interviewer administered questionnaires was conducted among IDPs in Zonkwa camp, Kaduna State. A multi-stage sampling method was used to select respondents. Information about socio-demographic data, awareness about COVID-19 was collected and assessment of knowledge of respondents about modes of transmission and prevention of COVID-19 was done using multiple response analysis. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Majority of the 276 respondents in this study were females, Christians and married. Television and radio were the major sources of health information about COVID-19, and awareness about the disease was high among majority of the respondents. The practice of preventive measures was poor, though better in males than females (p=0.04). A higher proportion of respondents with good knowledge of modes of transmission, and knowledge of symptoms were observed to have good practice of preventive measures, (p<0.001). The practice of infection preventive measures is very important in reducing the onset and spread of the COVID-19 infection. IDPs live in very peculiar conditions owing to their forced displacement. There was a significant association between the overall level of knowledge of COVID-19 and the practice of preventive measures among respondents. Continuous health education about COVID-19 by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to the IDPs will improve the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures.
Abstract: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan China and declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The measures for prevention and control instituted and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) include hand hygiene, use of face masks and physical distancing. Physical distancing may be challenging in crow...
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