Current rates of purchasing of antibiotics without a prescription across sub-Saharan Africa; rationale and potential programmes to reduce inappropriate dispensing and resistance.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern. Currently, the greatest mortality due to AMR is in Africa. A key driver continues to be high levels of dispensing of antibiotics without a prescription.

Validation of Kiswahili version of WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire among people living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania- a cross sectional study.

Introduction: World Health Organization (WHO) has developed HIV specific quality of life tool called World Health Organization Quality of Life brief questionnaire in HIV population (WHOQOL-HIV BREF) for assessing the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Despite its sound validity and reliability from several studies, the developers recommend it to be validated in different cultures to assess its psychometric properties before its adoption. The study aimed at evaluating the validity and reliability of the Kiswahili version of the WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire in Tanzania among people living with HIV/AIDS.

Duration of Tenofovir Use and Diabetes Mellitus Predict Microalbuminuria among Well-controlled Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Patients Attending a Tertiary Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana.

The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of microalbuminuria among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Infectious Disease Control Center of Princess Marina Hospital, a Tertiary Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana. The risk factors of microalbuminuria were determined by comparing the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with the presence of microalbuminuria or normoalbuminuria.

Challenges and Innovations Brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic Regarding Medical and Pharmacy Education Especially in Africa and Implications for the Future.

Background: Multiple measures introduced early to restrict COVID-19 have dramatically impacted the teaching of medical and pharmacy students, exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure and experience with e-learning at the start of the pandemic. In addition, the costs and reliability of the Internet across Africa pose challenges alongside undertaking clinical teaching and practical programmes. Consequently, there is a need to understand the many challenges and how these were addressed, given increasingly complex patients, to provide future direction.

The Current Situation Regarding Long-Acting Insulin Analogues Including Biosimilars Among African, Asian, European, and South American Countries; Findings and Implications for the Future.

Diabetes mellitus rates continue to rise, which coupled with increasing costs of associated complications has appreciably increased global expenditure in recent years. The risk of complications are enhanced by poor glycaemic control including hypoglycaemia. Long-acting insulin analogues were developed to reduce hypoglycaemia and improve adherence.

Metabolic Control and Determinants Among HIV-Infected Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending a Tertiary Clinic in Botswana.

Purpose: We primarily aimed at determining the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and abnormal individual metabolic control variables in HIV-infected participants as compared to HIV-uninfected participants given current concerns. Our secondary objective was to determine the predictors of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic control variables among the study participants to guide future management.

Patients And Methods: A descriptive, case-matched cross-sectional study for four months from 15th June 2019 to 15th October 2019 at Block 6 Diabetes Reference Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana.

Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa: Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Alanine transaminase and hemoglobin appear to predict the occurrence of antituberculosis medication hepatotoxicity; findings and implications in Botswana.

Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem, with medications having adverse effects including drug-induced hepatotoxicity. We determined the prevalence of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity and associated risk factors.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study in Botswana including TB patients admitted from 1 June 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Review of Ongoing Activities and Challenges to Improve the Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Across Africa and the Implications for the Future.

Background: There has been an appreciable increase in the number of people in Africa with metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in recent years as a result of a number of factors. Factors include lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and the growing consumption of processed foods coupled with increasing levels of obesity. Currently there are 19 million adults in Africa with diabetes, mainly T2DM (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045 unless controlled.

Ongoing and planned activities to improve the management of patients with Type 1 diabetes across Africa; implications for the future.

Background: Currently about 19 million people in Africa are known to be living with diabetes, mainly Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045. However, there are concerns with early diagnosis of patients with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) as often patients present late with complications. There are also challenges with access and affordability of insulin, monitoring equipment and test strips with typically high patient co-payments, which can be catastrophic for families.

Adjustments of medication dosages in patients with renal impairment in Botswana; findings and implications to improve patient care.

: Medication dosage adjustments for renally impaired patients have not been studied in Botswana. This study was conducted to determine prescribing practices among patients with renal impairment in medical wards to improve future patient care.: We conducted a retrospective study involving medical charts of patients admitted at a tertiary level hospital in Gaborone Botswana.

Antimicrobial utilization research and activities in Botswana, the past, present and the future.

A number of activities are ongoing to reduce AMR in Botswana by improving antimicrobial utilization across all sectors. However, there is a need to share experiences. With the objective of sharing these, the second one day symposium was held in the University of Botswana in October 2018 involving both private and public hospitals.

Short stature and growth hormone deficiency: unexpected manifestations of McCune-Albright syndrome.

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare disease characterised by triad of monostotic or polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, café au-lait skin spots and a variety of endocrine disorders; precocious puberty (PP) being the most common presenting symptom in female patients. Hyperfunction endocrinopathies including hyperthyroidism, growth hormone excess and cortisol excess are typical presentations in MAS. We present a case of 21-year-old woman with clinical and radiological characteristics of MAS triad; she presented with short stature which was attributed to both growth hormone deficiency and PP.

Disseminated Burkitt's Lymphoma with a Pancreatic Mass in a HIV Positive Woman Diagnosed by Axillary Lymph Node Biopsy.

Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B cell lymphoma of non-Hodgkin's type usually presenting in extranodal sites for endemic and sporadic types of the disease. Like other non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (NHL), HIV positive associated BL is associated with peripheral lymphadenopathy. We present a case of 22-year-old newly diagnosed HIV positive female patient who presented with generalized peripheral lymphadenopathy and obstructive jaundice.

Adherence to anti-diabetic drugs among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania- A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Adherence to diabetes mellitus treatment regimens among Type 2 diabetes patients in Tanzania has not been well documented. This study sought to assess adherence to antidiabetic drugs and associated factors among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who were attending the Diabetic clinic of Muhimbili National hospital between May 2009 and February 2010.

Asthma prevalence, knowledge, and perceptions among secondary school pupils in rural and urban coastal districts in Tanzania.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic disease of childhood that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of asthma among secondary school pupils in urban and rural areas of coast districts of Tanzania. The study also aimed to describe pupils' perception towards asthma, and to assess their knowledge on symptoms, triggers, and treatment of asthma.

Non-communicable diseases in antiretroviral therapy recipients in Kagera Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the extent of self-reported non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) recipients in Kagera region in Tanzania and their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study was conducted 2 years after HAART administration was started in Kagera region.

Methods: The SF-36 questionnaire was used to collect the HRQOL data of 329 HAART recipients.