Risk factors for some tropical diseases in an African country

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Tropical Diseases among Nursing Students: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to compare bachelor nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding tropical diseases. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 128 participants who were recruited using stratified random sampling and completed a sociodemographics questionnaire and KAP questionnaire concerning tropical diseases. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data, and inferential statistics, including one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U tests, were calculated to identify potential differences between variables. The study found nursing students who took the tropical nursing courses had better knowledge and attitudes regarding preventing tropical diseases than those who did not. Participants who took the tropical nursing courses had a significantly higher median knowledge score of 22 with an interquartile range (IQR) of 2 (P <0.001) and a median attitude score of 31 (IQR: 6, P = 0.02) compared with those who did not take it. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in practice regarding tropical diseases (P = 0.20). In conclusion, students who take tropical nursing courses may improve their knowledge and attitudes toward tropical diseases, but the two groups in this study did not significantly differ in practice, possibly because of self-reported practices rather than direct observation. This study highlights the potential of accurate digital information to provide credible resources in enhancing nursing students' KAP concerning tropical diseases.

Multi-criteria decision analysis method for differential diagnosis of tropical febrile diseases

This paper employs the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to enhance the accuracy of differential diagnosis for febrile diseases, particularly prevalent in tropical regions where misdiagnosis may have severe consequences. The migration of health workers from developing countries has resulted in frontline health workers (FHWs) using inadequate protocols for the diagnosis of complex health conditions. The study introduces an innovative AHP-based Medical Decision Support System (MDSS) incorporating disease risk factors derived from physicians' experiential knowledge to address this challenge. The system's aggregate diagnostic factor index determines the likelihood of febrile illnesses. Compared to existing literature, AHP models with risk factors demonstrate superior prediction accuracy, closely aligning with physicians' suspected diagnoses. The model's accuracy ranges from 85.4% to 96.9% for various diseases, surpassing physicians' predictions for Lassa, Dengue, and Yellow Fevers. The MDSS is recommended for use by FHWs in communities lacking medical experts, facilitating timely and precise diagnoses, efficient application of diagnostic test kits, and reducing overhead expenses for administrators.

The Burden of Typhoid Fever in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Perspective

While typhoid fever has largely been eliminated in high-income regions which have developed modern water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, it remains a significant public health burden resulting in morbidity and mortality among millions of individuals in resource-constrained settings. Prevention and control efforts are needed that integrate several high-impact interventions targeting facilities and infrastructure, including those addressing improvements in sanitation, access to safe water, and planned urbanization, together with parallel efforts directed at effective strategies for use of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV). The use of TCVs is a critical tool with the potential of having a rapid impact on typhoid fever disease burden; their introduction will also serve as an important strategy to combat evolving antimicrobial resistance to currently available typhoid fever treatments. Well-designed epidemiological surveillance studies play a critical role in establishing the need for, and monitoring the impact of, typhoid fever control and prevention strategies implemented by public health authorities. Here, we present a perspective based on a narrative review of the impact of typhoid fever on morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and discuss ongoing surveillance activities and the role of vaccination in prevention and control efforts.