Research Article
Serum Calcium Concentration in Pregnant Women in Kindu, Maniema, Democratic Republic of Congo
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
62-66
Received:
7 September 2026
Accepted:
23 September 2026
Published:
14 October 2026
Abstract: Background: Calcium plays an essential role in maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. Maternal calcium status is influenced by dietary intake, nutritional status, gestational age, and physiological adaptations occurring during pregnancy. However, data on serum calcium concentrations among pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Maniema Province, remain limited. Objectives: This study aimed to determine serum calcium concentration among pregnant woman in Kindu, Maniema province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to assess the frequency of hypocalcémie during early pregnancy. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted among 116 pregnant women with gestational ages of less than 20 weeks. Participants were recruited and followed at Lumbulumbu Hospital Center, Kindu General Referral Hospital, and Kasuku 2 Health Center between Januarys 1 and December 31, 2024. Serum calcium concentrations were measured during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the chi-square test. A p- value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean serum calcium concentration was 1.146±0.132 mmol/L. Hypocalcaemia was identified in 16.4% of the pregnant women studied. Conclusion: This study found that hypocalcaemia was relatively frequent among pregnant women in Kindu. Early assessment of maternal calcium status may help identify women at risk of calcium deficiency and facilitate appropriate nutritional counseling and management during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to investigate the determinants of hypocalcaemia and its potential relationship with maternal and fetal outcomes in this population.
Abstract: Background: Calcium plays an essential role in maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. Maternal calcium status is influenced by dietary intake, nutritional status, gestational age, and physiological adaptations occurring during pregnancy. However, data on serum calcium concentrations among pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,...
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Research Article
Pre-Operative Surgical Asepsis and Associated Factors in Operating Theatres at a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
67-76
Received:
17 September 2026
Accepted:
20 October 2026
Published:
6 November 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ejcbs.20261204.12
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Abstract: Background: Pre-operative surgical asepsis is essential for preventing surgical site infections (SSI), yet evidence on pre-operative contamination and associated factors in Ugandan operating theatres remains limited. This study assessed the proportion of pre-operative surgical asepsis, the microorganisms involved in contamination, and factors associated with pre-operative contamination at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Uganda. Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June and September 2022 among 71 surgical procedures. Four microbiological swabs were collected from each procedure before skin incision, including the patient's surgical site, surgeon glove-gown interface, assistant surgeon glove-gown interface, and Cheatle forceps. Pre-operative surgical asepsis was defined as the absence of pathogenic bacterial growth in all four specimens. Descriptive statistics summarized contamination patterns, while Fisher's exact test assessed factors associated with pre-operative asepsis. Results: Overall pre-operative surgical asepsis was 77.5% (95% CI 66.0–85.9). Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate (16.9%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.0%). Cheatle forceps had the highest contamination rate (15.5%), while no contamination occurred at the prepared surgical site. In multivariable analysis, surgeon scrubbing for less than one minute (AOR 6.37, 95% CI 1.03–39.47; p = 0.047) and assistant surgeon open gloving (AOR 9.18, 95% CI 2.25–37.34; p = 0.002) were independently associated with pre-operative contamination. Conclusion: Approximately one in five surgical procedures demonstrated pre-operative contamination, predominantly involving the Cheatle forceps and glove gown interfaces. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate. Surgeon scrubbing for less than one minute and assistant surgeon open gloving were independently associated with pre-operative contamination. Strengthening adherence to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended surgical hand preparation duration, closed-gloving techniques, appropriate handling of sterile equipment, and routine microbiological surveillance may improve pre-operative surgical asepsis in resource limited operating theatres.
Abstract: Background: Pre-operative surgical asepsis is essential for preventing surgical site infections (SSI), yet evidence on pre-operative contamination and associated factors in Ugandan operating theatres remains limited. This study assessed the proportion of pre-operative surgical asepsis, the microorganisms involved in contamination, and factors assoc...
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Dieudonne Mushengezi Sengeyi
