Key factors predicting suspected severe malaria case management and health outcomes: an operational study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Publications)
RAS could influence positively health outcomes of such severe disease episodes and death. Its effectiveness is hampered by the insufficient quality of care at RHF, especially the provision of a full course [...] Recognition of danger signs indicative of severe malaria is critical for prompt and appropriate case management. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted in three Health Zones of the Democratic [...] Democratic Republic of the Congo to determine the distribution of dangers...
Quality control in the diagnosis of <em>Trichuris trichiura</em> and <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> using the Kato-Katz technique: experience from... (Publications)
analyses show that the rate of false-positive diagnoses of soil-transmitted helminths is low. As the probability of false-positive results increases after examination of multiple stool samples from a [...] detailed analyses of quality control, including false-positive and faecal egg count (FEC) estimates, have received little attention.MethodsOver a 3-year period, within the frame of a series of randomised controlled [...] conducted in Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania, 10% of randomly...
Harbor and intra-city drivers of air pollution: findings from a land use regression model, Durban, South Africa (Publications)
and 21 sites with PM Monitors. Sampling was undertaken in two regions of the city of Durban, South Africa, one with high levels of heavy industry as well as a harbor, and the other small-scale business [...] variables. While these results demonstrate the influence of industrial and traffic emissions on air pollution concentrations, our study highlighted the importance of a Harbor variable, which may serve as a proxy [...] Durban metropolitan area, South Africa. Based on the European Study of...
Inhibition of the different complement pathways has varying impacts on the serum bactericidal activity and opsonophagocytosis against <em>Haemophilus... (Publications)
blocked. In the presence of C3 or C5 inhibitors, addition of post-vaccination, but not of pre-vaccination serum to the blood cells triggered opsonophagocytosis, leading to suppression of bacterial multiplication [...] effector functions. Findings may be relevant for the treatment of certain diseases caused by dysregulation of the complement system, where inhibitors of complement factors C3 or C5 are used. Inhibitors against [...] titers. Independently of the vaccination status, both C3 and C5...
Key factors predicting suspected severe malaria case management and health outcomes: an operational study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Publications)
RAS could influence positively health outcomes of such severe disease episodes and death. Its effectiveness is hampered by the insufficient quality of care at RHF, especially the provision of a full course [...] Recognition of danger signs indicative of severe malaria is critical for prompt and appropriate case management. METHODS: This was an observational study conducted in three Health Zones of the Democratic [...] Democratic Republic of the Congo to determine the distribution of dangers...
Quality control in the diagnosis of <em>Trichuris trichiura</em> and <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> using the Kato-Katz technique: experience from... (Publications)
analyses show that the rate of false-positive diagnoses of soil-transmitted helminths is low. As the probability of false-positive results increases after examination of multiple stool samples from a [...] detailed analyses of quality control, including false-positive and faecal egg count (FEC) estimates, have received little attention.MethodsOver a 3-year period, within the frame of a series of randomised controlled [...] conducted in Pemba, United Republic of Tanzania, 10% of randomly...
Complete series method (CSM): a convenient method to reduce daily heterogeneity when evaluating the regeneration time (RT) of insecticide-treated nets... (Publications)
minimal, with variance of 1.26 for CSM and 1.18 for LM. For unwashed nets, LM had substantially greater variance and ratio of LM:CSM was 2.66 in test 1 and 2.49 in test 2. The magnitude of mortality measured [...] day. A complete regeneration series of samples is removed from the refrigerator, defrosted and evaluated on a single day with one mosquito batch reducing the influence of mosquito batch heterogeneity on results [...] mortality rate for mosquitoes exposed to insecticide-treated nets...
"Quality of prenatal and maternal care: bridging the know-do gap" (QUALMAT study): an electronic clinical decision support system for rural... (Publications)
countries of Sub-Saharan Africa as persistently high maternal mortality rates testify. The QUALMAT study seeks to improve the performance and motivation of rural health workers and ultimately quality of primary [...] actions in maternal and perinatal care, (2) integration of clinical data to detect situations of concern by algorithms, and (3) electronic tracking of peri- and postnatal activities. In addition, the tool [...] tool facilitates patient management and is a source of training...
Poor mental health of livestock farmers in Africa: a mixed methods case study from Ghana (Publications)
the root causes of livestock losses and their influence on pastoralists' mental health. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods study in two districts in the Northern and Southern Belts of Ghana. Using the [...] Findings showed that 60% of livestock farmers had poor mental health. Of those, 72% were depressed, 66% anxious and 59% stressed. Mental wellbeing was negatively associated with the number of adverse events e [...] veterinary services, the arbitrary use of veterinary drugs and sale of...
Human behaviour and residual malaria transmission in Zanzibar: findings from in-depth interviews and direct observation of community events (Publications)
elimination remains elusive despite high coverage of core vector control interventions. As part of a study investigating the magnitude and drivers of residual transmission in Zanzibar, qualitative methods [...] accelerate the final phases of malaria elimination. Development and deployment of complementary interventions should consider human behaviour, including gender norms, that can influence exposure to malaria vectors [...] METHODS: A total of 62 in-depth interviews were conducted with...