Faculty of Medicine
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1245
2024-03-28T15:53:56ZThe Impact of China’s lockdown policy on the incidence of COVID-19: an interrupted time series analysis
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2478
The Impact of China’s lockdown policy on the incidence of COVID-19: an interrupted time series analysis
Molefi, Mooketsi; Tlhakanelo, John T.; Phologolo, Thabo; Hamda, Shimeles G.; Masupe, Tiny; Tsima, Billy; Setlhare, Vincent; Mashalla, Yohana; Wiebe, Douglas J.
Background. Policy changes are often necessary to contain the detrimental impact of epidemics such as those brought about by coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the earlier phases of the emergence of COVID-19, China was the first to impose strict restrictions on movement (lockdown) on January 23rd, 2020. A strategy whose effectiveness in curtailing COVID-19 was yet to be determined. We, therefore, sought to study the impact of the lockdown in reducing the incidence of COVID-19. Methods. Daily cases of COVID-19 that occurred in China which were registered between January 12th and March 30th, 2020, were extracted from the Johns Hopkins CSSE team COVID-19 ArcGIS® dashboards. Daily cases reported were used as data points in the series. Two interrupted series models were run: one with an interruption point of 23 January 2020 (model 1) and the other with a 14-day deferred interruption point of 6th February (model 2). For both models, the magnitude of change (before and after) and linear trend analyses were measured, and β-coefficients reported with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the precision. Results. Seventy-eight data points were used in the analysis. There was an 11% versus a 163% increase in daily cases in models 1 and 2, respectively, in the preintervention periods (). Comparing the period immediately following the intervention points to the counterfactual, there was a daily increase of 2,746% () versus a decline of 207% () in model 2. However, in both scenarios, there was a statistically significant drop in the daily cases predicted for this data and beyond when comparing the preintervention periods and postintervention periods (). Conclusion. There was a significant decrease the COVID-19 daily cases reported in China following the institution of a lockdown, and therefore, lockdown may be used to curtail the burden of COVID-19.
NB: Some scientific formulas or symbols may not appear as they are on the original document
2021-10-28T00:00:00ZUniversity of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit contributions to the national COVID-19 response
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2477
University of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit contributions to the national COVID-19 response
Siamisang, Keatlaretse; Kebadiretse, Dineo; Masupe, Tiny
COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020. Botswana reported its first case on 30th March 2020 and as of 31st January 2021 had 21,293 cases and 46 deaths. The University of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit has made significant contributions to the national preparedness and response to COVID-19. The program alumni and Public Health Medicine residents have and continue to provide key technical support to the Ministry of Health and Wellness across the major pillars of COVID-19. This includes key roles in national and subnational coordination and planning, surveillance, case investigations and rapid response teams, points of entry, travel and transportation, infection prevention and control and case management. The unit is thus supporting the country in achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) primary objective of limiting human-to-human transmission, optimal care of the affected and maintaining essential services during the outbreak. The Public Health Medicine Unit has played a key role in capacity building including early rapid COVID-19 training of healthcare workers across the country. Furthermore faculty members and residents are involved in several COVID-19 research projects and collaborations.
2021-05-27T00:00:00ZSuccessful spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in an African patient with Takayasu's arteritis
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2269
Successful spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in an African patient with Takayasu's arteritis
Kassa, Mamo Woldu; Bedada, Alemayehu Ginbo; Benti, Tadele Melese
Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the aorta and its main branches. We report a case of a 24-year-old primigravida, an African patient, with TA planned for caesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation. Clinically, she has involvement of aortic arch and its branches and abdominal aorta. She underwent caesarean section and delivered an alive baby boy under successful spinal anaesthesia with insignificant complications. Although it is rare in the African continent, anesthesiologists should be up-to-date with the knowledge of perioperative anesthetic management of TA in pregnant cases requiring operative delivery.
2018-08-20T00:00:00ZProphylactic antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections in Botswana: findings and implications
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2268
Prophylactic antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections in Botswana: findings and implications
Mwita, Julius C.; Souda, Sajini; Magafu, Mgaywa G. M. D.; Massele, Amos; Godman, Brian; Mwandri, Michael
Background and aims: Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery is known to reduce the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) as well as shorten hospital stay. However, there is currently a scarcity of data on antibiotic prophylaxis and SSIs among African countries including Botswana. Consequently, this study aimed to address this.
Methods: A prospective study involving 400 patients was carried out at a leading tertiary hospital in Botswana from 2014–2015. Patients’ demographic information, type of surgery performed and peri-operative use of antibiotics were documented. All enrolled patients were followed-up for 30 days post discharge to fully document the incidence of SSIs.
Results: Median age of patients was 35.5 (25 – 50) years, with 52% female. There were 35.8% emergency and 64.2% elective surgeries. The most common operations were exploratory laparotomy (25%), appendectomy (18.3%), excision, and mastectomy (8%). Antibiotics were given in 73.3% of patients, mainly postoperatively (58.3%). The most commonly prescribed antibiotics were cefotaxime (80.7%), metronidazole (63.5%), cefradine (13.6%) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (11.6%). The incidence of SSI was 9%. The most common organisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and coagulase-negative staphylococci.
Conclusion: The rate of SSI is a concern, and may be related to inappropriate antibiotic prophylaxis given post operatively. Interventions are in place to decrease SSI rates to acceptable levels in this leading hospital by improving for instance infection prevention practices including the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis. Research is also ongoing among other hospitals in Botswana to reduce SSI rates building on these findings.
2018-03-23T00:00:00Z