Biography:

Mr. Molungoa Sello is registered with the Lesotho Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Council as a Pharmacist. I am currently the head of pharmacy department; and a pharmacology and therapeutics lecturer for Pharmacy and Nursing students at the National University of Lesotho. My research interests are the clinical management of chronic Infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS and TB); and Non-Communicable diseases prevalent in southern Africa (Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Asthma, COPD, Cancers). The research team composed of final year B.Pharmacy honours final years for the academic year 2018-2019 at the National University of Lesotho (NUL), faculty of Health Sciences (FoHS) in the Department of Pharmacy.  

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The number of patients receiving ART therapy seems to be increasing daily. This imposes a burden on both the patients and the health care workers. The patients travel long distances to the health facilities (Decroo et al., 2013:179). This becomes more of a challenge in rainy seasons when they have to cross rivers to get their refills. More transport costs are incurred as they visit the health Centre every month. Patients wait in long queues at the health facility, thus discouraging them to visit the health care facility more often. Health workers have to deal with large volumes of patients and this reduces quality of care. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of community ART groups on the clinical outcomes of stable patients on ART. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted on 512 adults patients served at two primary health care centers in the peri-urban areas of Maseru capital city, Lesotho. The sample consisted of two groups namely those who were on CAGs and those not on CAGs. Findings: The majority of people on CAG were found to be virally suppressed and well retained in care. The plasma viral loads for most CAG participants were undetectable and viral suppression was maintained; while those not in CAGs, most of them still had detectable viral loads. Health care   professionals reported reduced work load and reduced congestion of patients at the health facilities. Conclusion & Significance: Community ART Groups improved clinical outcomes of HIV infection. These patient-led groups provide support to members; assisting them to adhere to medication, thereby enhancing viral load suppression and improving retention in HIV care. Recommendations are that CAGs is an effective system to implement and hence healthcare workers are advised to encourage their patients to join CAGs.

 

Biography:

Teferi Yidenek Alene was born in Dessie, Ethiopia on 27 August 1985.  I am graduated from Jimma University in Medical Laboratory Technologist in June 2007. After receiving my degree I started working as Junior Medical Laboratory Technologist profession and then promoted to the department head of laboratory in Mehal Meda Hospital in Ethiopia. In 2010 after receiving my professional registration and licensing certificate and I pursue training in ART, Malaria, on sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), TB and HIV; I deployed to Debre berhan referral Hospital and served as Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist profession in ART clinic and department head of laboratory.

 

Abstract:

Background: Syphilis is caused by bacteria known as Treponema palladium and it is transmitted through sexual contact, via blood transfusion, or transplacentally from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Among STIs, syphilis and HIV are significant public health problems in Ethiopia and causes several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus this study aims to assess magnitude of both infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Debre Berhan Public health institutions.

 

Objective: To determine sero-prevalence of Syphilis and HIV infections and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Debre Berhan Public health institutions, North Shewa, Ethiopia, 2018.

 

Methods: Facility based retrospective cross-sectional study (record review) was conducted in Debre Berhan public health institutions from Sep 2015 to August 2017 on individual ANC chart using structured checklist. Quality of the data was maintained through providing training to the data collector, and collecting the data using pretested checklist. Finally data was entered to EPI Data3.02; descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS version16, variables in multivariate analysis with p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

 

Result: In this study, overall 7 (1.8%) and 28 (7.2%) of pregnant mothers were positive for syphilis and HIV respectively. The highest number of syphilis and HIV prevalence were reported in 2015.Previous history of STD for syphilis (AOR 9.4; 95% CI 1.6-25) and HIV (AOR 8.2; 95% CI 2.2-31.8), previous history still birth for syphilis (AOR 4.9; 95% CI 1.1-23.4) and HIV (AOR 5.6; 95% CI 1.8-17.1) and partner HIV test positive for HIV (AOR 11.9; 95%CI 1.18- 20.6).

 

Conclusion and recommendation:

Syphilis and HIV infections were prevalent among pregnant women in our study area. Risk factors for both infections were mother history of STD and history of still birth, so health information dissemination for every pregnant woman is important during her ANC visit and partner testing is recommended.