The corona chronicles: Framing analysis of online news headlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, USA and South Africa

Background: The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, now in its second year, has resulted in a large corpus of literature in a number of disciplines, particularly virology and epidemiology. In contrast, scholarly inquiry in other areas of the health sciences, particularly in media representations and public health communication, is still emerging. Aim: As an integral stakeholder in communication during a pandemic, this descriptive study sought to delineate the media frames of the COVID-19 pandemic in online news headlines in the first month that the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Setting: Online news headlines in three global hotspots, namely Italy, the USA and South Africa, during the month of March 2020, were analysed. Methods: Thematic content analysis and epidemic framing typology. Results: The findings indicate that COVID-19 has been internationally portrayed as a lethal pandemic that destroys and disrupts human life. Discursive frames of consequences monopolised its coverage, whilst discursive frames of reassurance were rare, despite the high survival rate. One of the unique findings of this study is that the COVID-19 pandemic coverage included the naming of positive patients, who were thereby made known to the public. Conclusion: Internationally, COVID-19 pandemic coverage used consequence frames that dramatized loss of life instead of deploying frames of reassurance that foreground the high survival rate of this disease. Contribution: Results of the study may help inform public health communication of the COVID-19 pandemic, by offering a detailed description of the frames that journalists use in news headlines, all of which possibly influence public perception of the pandemic. Theoretically, the article has also contributed to the application of epidemic framing typology and has contributed to knowledge in the field of public health communication and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development of the African Digital Health Library (ADHL): Experience at the Medical Library, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

The African Digital Health Library, (ADHL) is a collaborative project involving five African institutions namely Bamako University of Science and Technology, Kenya Methodist University, Universities of Ibadan, Nairobi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The University of Ibadan Nigeria component of the ADHL (ADHL-UI) is described in this paper. Funded by the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator of the United States Department of State, the goal of ADHL-UI is to store, preserve, make accessible through an institutional repository, theses and dissertations by postgraduate students of the institution's College of Medicine. The ADHL-UI has over 1000 theses and dissertations accessible on the internet. Creation of the ADHL-UI, a repository of theses and dissertations in the Medical Library, University of Ibadan, is a major contribution to research development and preservation of institutional scholarly heritage. Effective use by students and faculty will help in reducing duplication of research efforts and create visibility for the authors and the institution.

Public Library Services to HIV/AIDS Clients in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study investigated Public Library Services to HIV/AIDS Clients in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study was carried out using a descriptive survey design with two research questions and two hypotheses. The population of this study comprised of 5,385 adult male and female HIV/AIDS Clients registered in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. The sample size was 385 HIV/AIDS Clients. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the number of respondents for this study The major findings are that some of the services provided by the public library to HIV/AIDS Clients are reading materials, chairs and tables, referral services, bibliographic services, literature search and lending services; while some of the ones not provided are: document delivery services, weekend library services, recreation services, film show services, career information service and notification of conferences, seminars and workshop services. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the government should ensure that any constraint facing the provision of adequate library services for HIV/AIDS clients should be tackled

Coping with the supply-side effects of free maternal healthcare policies in seven sub-saharan african countries: a systematic review

Free maternal healthcare policies (FMHP) result in enormous supply-side effects on care delivery in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review synthesises the mechanisms adopted by supply-side actors to cope with the effects of FMHP and the results of coping mechanisms on policy objectives in seven SSA countries. We searched bibliographic databases for articles published in English for research that reported supply-side effects of FMHP, coping mechanisms, and effects of various coping mechanisms on attainment of reform objectives. Out of 215 studies identified, nine qualified for inclusion. Selected studies were exploratory in design and based on either mixed or qualitative methods. While local health system authorities and health facilities coping mechanisms that were intended to enhance implementation, facility managers and staff engaged in self-interest adaptation decisions and behaviours. Lack of explicit policy commitment to enhancing organisational and managerial capacity of local health authorities contribute to sustaining negative supply-side effects and adverse coping mechanisms. Without due consideration to governance and health system strengthening, FMHP are prone to perverse outcomes that undermine intended benefits. Context-specific empirical studies are needed to further conceptualise the supply-side effect ­ coping mechanism ­ consequential effect nexus of the policy

Patient blood management

I was invited to an interest group meeting at Inanda Club, Sandton that was hosted by the Gastro Foundation. It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning and the room was filled with familiar faces. What better way to spend a Saturday morning: great food, excellent company and brilliant discussions

Surveying the knowledge landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa: Methodology

Objective To describe in detail the methods followed in each of the qualitative and quantitative surveys of national health information; research and knowledge systems and research institutions. Design Cross-sectional surveys. Setting National health information and research systems; and 847 health research institutions in 42 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. Participants Key informants from health research institutions; ministries of health and statistical offices. Main outcome measures Stewardship; financing; ethics; human and material resources and output of health information and research systems. Results Key informants were used to collect data to assess national research systems in 44 countries in the Region. The same method was followed in assessing national information systems in 17 countries and knowledge systems for health in 44 countries. These assessments included a detailed review of the state of data sources in the Region and their effect on measuring progress on the health-related Millennium Development Goals. A concurrent survey employed a structured questionnaire (the WHO Health Research Systems Analysis Questionnaire) to assess the capacity of 847 health research institutions in 42 countries. Stewardship; financing; ethics; human and material resources and research output were assessed. Conclusions The logistics and resources involved in surveying the knowledge landscape in the 42 countries were substantial. However; the investment was worthwhile as the results of the surveys can be used to inform policy-making and decision-making; as well as to establish a regional database of national health information; research and knowledge systems