Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Prevalence of Intestinal Helminths Infestation in Children Attending Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Abstract: The deworming exercise program does not cover all children who are not in school. This study determined the prevalence and species type of helminth infestation and associated factors among children attending Princess Marie Louise Children's Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Children (225) below the age of 10 who have not taken antihelminthic drugs prior to the study period were recruited between May and June 2015. Children or guardians were interviewed using structured questionnaires and fresh stools were collected and processed for helminths species identification using microscopy. Data were analyzed using Stata version 12. Overall helminths infestation prevalence was 17.33% (39/225). The identified species were hookworm (10.22% (23/225)) and Ascaris lumbricoides (7.11% (16/225)). No double infestation was observed. Significant associations were observed between infestation and age group beyond 4 years (48 months) (aOR = 16.72, 95% CI 1.00-279.72), place of residence (aOR = 7.35, 95% CI 1.68-32.11), washing hands after using toilet (0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.20), and dirt on fingernails of children (7.96, 95% CI 1.73-36.65). This study demonstrates high prevalence of helminths parasites, hookworm, and Ascaris lumbricoides in children attending PMLCH. Deworming exercise should be extended to children hospitals in developing countries.

Repeat HIV testing during pregnancy and delivery: missed opportunities in a rural district hospital in Zambia

Abstract: Objective To assess coverage of repeat HIV testing among women who delivered in a Zambian hospital. HIV testing of pregnant women and repeat testing every three months during pregnancy and breastfeeding is the recommended policy in areas of high HIV prevalence. Methods A prospective implementation study in a second level hospital in rural Zambia. Included were all pregnant women who delivered in hospital during May and June 2012. Data regarding antenatal visits and HIV testing were collected by two investigators using a standardized form. Results Of 401 women who delivered in hospital sufficient antenatal data could be retrieved for 322 (80.3%) women. Of these 322 women 301 (93.5%) had attended antenatal care (ANC) at least once. At the time of discharge after delivery in hospital 171 (531%) had an unclear HIV status because their negative test result was more than three months ago or of an unknown date or because they had not been tested at all during pregnancy or delivery. An updated HIV status was present for 151 (46.9%) women: 25 (7.8%) were HIV positive and 126 (391%) had tested negative within the last three months. In this last group 79 (245%) had been tested twice or more during pregnancy. During the study period none of the women was tested during admission for delivery. Conclusion Despite high ANC coverage opportunities for repeat HIV testing were missed in almost half of all women who delivered in this hospital in a high-prevalence HIV setting.

Reframing undergraduate medical education in global health: Rationale and key principles from the Bellagio Global Health Education Initiative

Abstract: Global health education (GHE) continues to be a growing initiative in many medical schools across the world. This focus is no longer limited to participants from high-income countries and has expanded to institutions and students from low- and middle-income settings. With this shift has come a need to develop meaningful curricula through engagement between educators and learners who represent the sending institutions and the diverse settings in which GHE takes place. The Bellagio Global Health Education Initiative (BGHEI) was founded to create a space for such debate and discussion and to generate guidelines towards a universal curriculum for global health. In this article, we describe the development and process of our work and outline six overarching principles that ought to be considered when adopting an inclusive approach to GHE curriculum development.

Prevalence and correlates of abdominal obesity among adults in Uganda: findings from a national cross-sectional, population based survey 2014

Abstract: Overweight and obesity are associated with health complications the gravity of which, vary with the regional deposition of the excess fat. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used to measure obesity although is an inferior predictor of cardiovascular disease risk mortality and morbidity compared with measures of abdominal obesity. We analyzed data from Uganda’s 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to surveillance of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) survey to estimate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and associated factors to provide information on the prevention and control of overweight and obesity. Data were collected using the WHO STEPS protocol. Waist measurement was taken using a non-stretchable standard tape measure mid-way between the lowest rib and iliac crest with the subject standing at the end of gentle expiration. Participants with waist circumference > 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women were classified as abdominally obese. We used weighted modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to estimate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and associated factors. Of the 3676 participants, 432 (11.8%) were abdominally obese; with the prevalence higher among females 412 (19.5%) compared with males 20 (1.3%). Compared with males, female participants were more likely to be abdominally obese Adjusted Prevalence Rate Ratio (APRR) 7.59 [5.58–10.33]. Participants who were married or cohabiting APRR 1.82 [1.29–2.57] and participants who were separated or divorced APRR 1.69 [1.17–2.46] were more likely to be abdominally obese compared with those who had never married before. Compared with rural dwellers, participants from urban areas were more likely to be abdominally obese APRR 1.29 [1.09–1.53]. Compared with participants with normal blood pressure, those with elevated blood pressure were more likely to be abdominally obese APRR 1.83 [1.57–2.14].Compared with participants without any education, those with secondary education were more likely to be abdominally obese APRR 1.42 [1.12–1.78]. There is a high prevalence of abdominal obesity among adults in Uganda which puts many at risk of developing associated metabolic complications. These data provide useful information for developing interventions and formulation of policies for the control and prevention of abdominal obesity in Uganda.