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Walters S, Aldous C, Malherbe H. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary healthcare practitioners in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review on genetics. J Community Genet 2024:10.1007/s12687-024-00721-y. [PMID: 39120782 DOI: 10.1007/s12687-024-00721-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Individualised treatment, including genetic services, calls for an increased role of primary healthcare practitioners (pHCPs) in diagnosing and caring for individuals with genetic conditions. PHCPs' genetics knowledge and practices must be current to ensure adequate care. A scoping review was conducted to explore peer-reviewed articles on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of pHCPs concerning genetics, genetic testing, and genetic services. English-language human genetics/genomics articles published between January 1990 and April 2022 in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were included. Twenty-eight articles from 16 LMICs in five World Health Organisation (WHO)-defined regions met the inclusion criteria and showed a steady increase in publications, with varied contributions by region. The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) contributed the most articles (n = 8), while the Western Pacific Region (WPR) had the least (n = 2). Brazil published the most articles (n = 6), while ten countries contributed one article each. Fifteen articles included knowledge, 19 included attitudes towards genetics, and eight included genetic practices. The findings indicate that pHCPs in LMICs lack knowledge of genetics and its applications despite their positive outlook towards genetic services. Barriers such as limited resources, financial constraints, and cultural or religious beliefs hinder access to genetic services. Enhancing pHCPs' genetics education is vital for improving care for those affected by genetic conditions. The scarcity of literature in LMICs emphasises the need for research on educational interventions to improve patient outcomes and family support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Walters
- School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Colleen Aldous
- School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Helen Malherbe
- Director of Research and Epidemiology, Rare Diseases South Africa, NPC, Bryanston, Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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Gallagher KE, Awori JO, Knoll MD, Rhodes J, Higdon MM, Hammitt LL, Prosperi C, Baggett HC, Brooks WA, Fancourt N, Feikin DR, Howie SRC, Kotloff KL, Tapia MD, Levine OS, Madhi SA, Murdoch DR, O’Brien KL, Thea DM, Baillie VL, Ebruke BE, Kamau A, Moore DP, Mwananyanda L, Olutunde EO, Seidenberg P, Sow SO, Thamthitiwat S, Scott JAG. Factors predicting mortality in hospitalised HIV-negative children with lower-chest-wall indrawing pneumonia and implications for management. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297159. [PMID: 38466696 PMCID: PMC10927117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In 2012, the World Health Organization revised treatment guidelines for childhood pneumonia with lower chest wall indrawing (LCWI) but no 'danger signs', to recommend home-based treatment. We analysed data from children hospitalized with LCWI pneumonia in the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) study to identify sub-groups with high odds of mortality, who might continue to benefit from hospital management but may not be admitted by staff implementing the 2012 guidelines. We compare the proportion of deaths identified using the criteria in the 2012 guidelines, and the proportion of deaths identified using an alternative set of criteria from our model. METHODS PERCH enrolled a cohort of 2189 HIV-negative children aged 2-59 months who were admitted to hospital with LCWI pneumonia (without obvious cyanosis, inability to feed, vomiting, convulsions, lethargy or head nodding) between 2011-2014 in Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Mali, The Gambia, Bangladesh, and Thailand. We analysed risk factors for mortality among these cases using predictive logistic regression. Malnutrition was defined as mid-upper-arm circumference <125mm or weight-for-age z-score <-2. RESULTS Among 2189 cases, 76 (3·6%) died. Mortality was associated with oxygen saturation <92% (aOR 3·33, 1·99-5·99), HIV negative but exposed status (4·59, 1·81-11·7), moderate or severe malnutrition (6·85, 3·22-14·6) and younger age (infants compared to children 12-59 months old, OR 2·03, 95%CI 1·05-3·93). At least one of three risk factors: hypoxaemia, HIV exposure, or malnutrition identified 807 children in this population, 40% of LCWI pneumonia cases and identified 86% of the children who died in hospital (65/76). Risk factors identified using the 2012 WHO treatment guidelines identified 66% of the children who died in hospital (n = 50/76). CONCLUSIONS Although it focuses on treatment failure in hospital, this study supports the proposal for better risk stratification of children with LCWI pneumonia. Those who have hypoxaemia, any malnutrition or those who were born to HIV positive mothers, experience poorer outcomes than other children with LCWI pneumonia. Consistent identification of these risk factors should be prioritised and children with at least one of these risk factors should not be managed in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E. Gallagher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Juliet O. Awori
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Maria D. Knoll
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julia Rhodes
- Global Disease Detection Center, Thailand Ministry of Public Health–US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Melissa M. Higdon
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Laura L. Hammitt
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine Prosperi
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Henry C. Baggett
- Global Disease Detection Center, Thailand Ministry of Public Health–US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
- Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - W. Abdullah Brooks
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka and Matlab, Bangladesh
| | - Nicholas Fancourt
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Daniel R. Feikin
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Stephen R. C. Howie
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Basse, The Gambia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen L. Kotloff
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Milagritos D. Tapia
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Orin S. Levine
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shabir A. Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - David R. Murdoch
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Microbiology Unit, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Katherine L. O’Brien
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donald M. Thea
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vicky L. Baillie
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Bernard E. Ebruke
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Basse, The Gambia
| | - Alice Kamau
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - David P. Moore
- South African Medical Research Council: Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation: Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence Mwananyanda
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Right to Care-Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Emmanuel O. Olutunde
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Basse, The Gambia
| | - Phil Seidenberg
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Samba O. Sow
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins (CVD-Mali), Bamako, Mali
| | - Somsak Thamthitiwat
- Global Disease Detection Center, Thailand Ministry of Public Health–US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - J. Anthony G. Scott
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
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The potential use of digital health technologies in the African context: a systematic review of evidence from Ethiopia. NPJ Digit Med 2021; 4:125. [PMID: 34404895 PMCID: PMC8371011 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-021-00487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently put forth a Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025 with several countries having already achieved key milestones. We aimed to understand whether and how digital health technologies (DHTs) are absorbed in Africa, tracking Ethiopia as a key node. We conducted a systematic review, searching PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, ScienceDirect, African Journals Online, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases from inception to 02 February 2021 for studies of any design that investigated the potential of DHTs in clinical or public health practices in Ethiopia. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021240645) and it was designed to inform our ongoing DHT-enabled randomized controlled trial (RCT) (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04216420). We found 27,493 potentially relevant citations, among which 52 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 596,128 patients, healthy individuals, and healthcare professionals. The studies involved six DHTs: mHealth (29 studies, 574,649 participants); electronic health records (13 studies, 4534 participants); telemedicine (4 studies, 465 participants); cloud-based application (2 studies, 2382 participants); information communication technology (3 studies, 681 participants), and artificial intelligence (1 study, 13,417 participants). The studies targeted six health conditions: maternal and child health (15), infectious diseases (14), non-communicable diseases (3), dermatitis (1), surgery (4), and general health conditions (15). The outcomes of interest were feasibility, usability, willingness or readiness, effectiveness, quality improvement, and knowledge or attitude toward DHTs. Five studies involved RCTs. The analysis showed that although DHTs are a relatively recent phenomenon in Ethiopia, their potential harnessing clinical and public health practices are highly visible. Their adoption and implementation in full capacity require more training, access to better devices such as smartphones, and infrastructure. DHTs hold much promise tackling major clinical and public health backlogs and strengthening the healthcare ecosystem in Ethiopia. More RCTs are needed on emerging DHTs including artificial intelligence, big data, cloud, cybersecurity, telemedicine, and wearable devices to provide robust evidence of their potential use in such settings and to materialize the WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health.
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Quinonez SC, O’Connor BC, Jacobs MF, Mekonnen Tekleab A, Marye A, Bekele D, Yashar BM, Hanson E, Yeshidinber A, Wedaje G. The introduction of genetic counseling in Ethiopia: Results of a training workshop and lessons learned. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255278. [PMID: 34297771 PMCID: PMC8301664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past two decades non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have steadily increased as a cause of worldwide disability and mortality with a concomitant decrease in disease burden from communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional conditions. Congenital anomalies, the most common NCD affecting children, have recently become the fifth leading cause of under-five mortality worldwide, ahead of other conditions such as malaria, neonatal sepsis and malnutrition. Genetic counseling has been shown to be an effective method to decrease the impact of congenital anomalies and genetic conditions but is absent in almost all sub-Saharan Africa countries. To address this need for counseling services we designed and implemented the first broad-based genetic counseling curriculum in Ethiopia, launching it at St. Paul's Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS The curriculum, created by Michigan Medicine and SPHMMC specialists, consisted of medical knowledge and genetic counseling content and was delivered to two cohorts of nurses. Curriculum evaluation consisted of satisfaction surveys and pre- and post-assessments covering medical knowledge and genetic counseling content. Following Cohort 1 training, the curriculum was modified to increase the medical knowledge material and decrease Western genetic counseling principles material. RESULTS Both cohorts reported high levels of satisfaction but felt the workshop was too short. No significant improvements in assessment scores were seen for Cohort 1 in terms of total scores and medical knowledge and genetic counseling-specific questions. Following curriculum modification, improvements were seen in Cohort 2 with an increase in total assessment scores from 63% to 73% (p = 0.043), with medical knowledge-specific questions increasing from 57% to 79% (p = 0.01) with no significant change in genetic counseling-specific scores. Multiple logistic, financial, cultural and systems-specific barriers were identified with recommendations for their consideration presented. CONCLUSION Genetics medical knowledge of Ethiopian nurses increased significantly following curriculum delivery though difficulty was encountered with Western genetic counseling material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane C. Quinonez
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Metabolism and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Bridget C. O’Connor
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Metabolism and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Michelle F. Jacobs
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Atnafu Mekonnen Tekleab
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ayalew Marye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Delayehu Bekele
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Beverly M. Yashar
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Erika Hanson
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Abate Yeshidinber
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Getahun Wedaje
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Quinonez SC, Terefework Z. The introduction of clinical genetic testing in Ethiopia: Experiences and lessons learned. Am J Med Genet A 2021; 185:2995-3004. [PMID: 34169623 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Limited data are available on genetic testing laboratories in low- and middle-income countries including those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To characterize the need for genetic testing in SSA we describe the experience of MRC-ET Advanced Laboratory, a genetic testing laboratory in Ethiopia. Test results were analyzed based on indication(s) for testing, referral category, and diagnostic yield. A total of 1311 tests were run using the full MRC-Holland catalogue of Multiplex-Ligation Probe Amplification assays. Of all samples, 77% were postnatal samples, 15% products of conception (POC), and 8% amniotic samples. Of postnatal samples, the most common testing categories were multiple congenital anomalies (32%), disorders of sex development (17%), and Obstetrics/Gynecology (16%). Forty-three percent of postnatal samples were diagnostic, 11% were variants of uncertain significance (VUS), and 46% were normal with Trisomy 21 the most common diagnosis. Of POC samples, 10% were diagnostic, 34% revealed VUSs, and 55% were normal with Trisomy 18 the most common diagnosis. Of amniotic samples 17.5% were diagnostic, 3% revealed VUSs, and 79% were normal with Trisomy 18 the most common diagnosis. There is increasing demand for genetic testing in Ethiopia. Diagnostic genetic testing in SSA deserves increased attention as testing platforms become more affordable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane C Quinonez
- Division of Pediatric Genetics, Metabolism, and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Jacobs MF, O'Connor BC, Weldetsadik AY, Tekleab AM, Bekele D, Hanson E, Quinonez SC. Knowledge and attitudes about genetic counseling in patients at a major hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. J Genet Couns 2020; 30:544-552. [PMID: 33118289 DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Previous work at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, demonstrated a need for genetic counseling (GC) services, with 4% of pediatric, neonatal intensive care, and prenatal patients identified as having indications for genetic evaluation (Quinonez et al, 2019). The aim of this study was to investigate SPHMMC patients' familiarity with, knowledge of, and attitudes toward GC services. Surveys were adapted from previous work in North America populations (Riesgraf et al, 2015 and Gemmell et al, 2017) and administered to 102 patients, and results were compared to North American populations using Student's t test. 30% of respondents reported at least some familiarity with GC, primarily via the media or healthcare providers. Patients had generally positive attitudes toward GC, reporting they would trust information provided by a genetic counselor and that GC is in line with their values. Knowledge of GC showed similar trends overall when compared to results from North American populations. Our work indicates limited exposure to GC in this population, but generally positive feelings toward GC. Patients' attitudes toward GC were comparable to rural North American populations surveyed using the same tool on most items; however, cultural differences including views on abortions and directiveness of healthcare providers could account for discrepancies and are important considerations when implementing genetic services globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle F Jacobs
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Rogel Cancer Center, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Atnafu Mekonnen Tekleab
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Delayehu Bekele
- Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Erika Hanson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shane C Quinonez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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