Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among people with mental illness in Namibia

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people with mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek, Namibia Design: Observational, cross-sectional study. Setting: Mental health Care Centre, Windhoek Central Hospital. Namibia Participants: Adult patients with a mental illness attending the Mental Health Care Centre, Windhoek. Data collection: Within a systematic random sampling method, 385 adult patients with mental illness were recruited between May and December 2017. Statistical analysis: Validated assessment tools were used. Descriptive summary statistics and Chi-squared tests of association were conducted. Results: One-third (31.7%) of participants used alcohol, 21% used nicotine, 21.3% had hypertension, 55% were overweight or obese, 59.2% of females and 11.5% of males had abdominal obesity. About twenty per cent (19.9%) of participants did meet the World Health Organisation recommended level of activity, while more than two-thirds of participants did not participate in moderate or vigorous physical activities. The patient's psychiatric condition was significantly associated with alcohol use (Chi-square=20.450, p=0.002) and physical activity (Chi-square=20.989, p=0.002). The psychiatric condition was not associated with the waist circumference and gender of the participant. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of CVD risk factors in people with mental illness calls for mental health practitioners to screen, monitor and manage these risk factors regularly. Systematically screening and monitoring for cardiovascular risk factors is likely to contribute to National targets and significantly impact cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in people with mental illness

Hepatitis E in Namibia: A Historical Review

Namibia has had three outbreaks of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), in 1983, 1995 and 2017. HEV is particularly dangerous to pregnant women. The objective of this study was to present a thorough review of the history of HEV in Namibia; the genotypes which have appeared since 1983, and the possible reasons for the nationwide spread of HEV that has occurred since 2017. MATERIALS AND METHODS As this is a review article, no primary research data will be presented. However, an exhaustive literature study has been undertaken and there will be in-depth discussion of the findings of primary researchers in Namibia and elsewhere. RESULTS The first two episodes were confined to the Rundu area. The 1983 outbreak may have been genotype 1; that of 1995 contained genotypes 1 and 2. The genotype of 2017 episode has not been clearly established. Increased road traffic may have spread HEV during 2017-2020. Lack of clean water and washing facilities, and lack of awareness of what causes HEV, are the main factors in spreading it. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There remain challenges to the containment of HEV. A recent government initiative to stop COVID-19 has helped slow its progress. Both infections are propagated by poor hygienic practice and lack of clean water.

Present situation, prospects and suggestions of acupuncture-moxibustion in Namibia / 中国针灸

This article introduces the present development status, medical insurance charges, publicity and influence, legislation and practice of acupuncture-moxibustion in Namibia, and proposes some countermeasures for the current problems in the development of acupuncture-moxibustion in Namibia. Namibia has passed legislation of acupuncture-moxibustion and incorporated acupuncture-moxibustion into the medical insurance system in March 2020. The acupuncture-moxibustion will enter the fast track of development, but the acupuncture-moxibustion education, training and cooperation, talent cultivation mode, reimbursement scope of medical insurance, and standardization construction still need to be steadily improved and strengthened.

Prevalence and Characterization of Salmonella Isolated from Beef in Namibia.

Aim: The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in raw beef produced from selected commercial abbatoirs in Namibia. Methodology: A total of 9508 of beef samples from three different types of samples; meat cuts, carcass swabs and meat fluid were collected from the three local abattoirs over a period of two years starting from January 2008 to December 2009. Pre-enrichment for isolation of Salmonella was done in Buffered peptone water followed by enrichment in the Rappaport-Vassiliadis and selenite cystine broth. The isolation of Salmonella was done on Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate and Brilliant Green agar followed by biochemical confirmation and serotyping according to Kauffman- White scheme. Results: The overall prevalence of Salmonella was 0.85% for beef samples derived from meat cuts, meat fluid and carcass swabs. The prevalence of Salmonella in carcass swabs (2.67%) was significantly different (P = 0.05) from that of meat cuts (0.50%) and meat fluid (0.43%). No significant difference (P = 0.05) on the prevalence of Salmonella existed between the meat cuts and meat fluid. A total of 34 different types of Salmonella serovars were identified with S. Chester being the most frequently isolated serovars (n = 12), followed by S. Reading and S. Bredeney (n = 6) and S. Typhimurium (n = 5). Conclusions: The prevalence of Salmonella in raw beef found in this survey was lower than those observed in Sub Sahara Africa with S. Chester being the most prevalent serovar.

Terapia de alta frecuencia en pacientes con afecciones del sistema estomatognático / High-frequency therapy in patients with disorders of the stomatognathic system i: en

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de 40 pacientes con afecciones del sistema estomatognático, que acudieron al Departamento de Fisiatría del Hospital Estatal Intermedio de Katutura, en Windhoek (Namibia), remitidos de la especialidad de cirugía maxilofacial, desde el 2008 hasta el 2009, con vistas a evaluar los síntomas y signos manifestados, así como el tiempo de mejoría con la aplicación de los agentes físicos. En la serie se consideraron las variables: sexo, edad, diagnóstico, síntomas y signos, sesiones de tratamiento y resultados finales; finalmente, se obtuvo que 87,5 % de los afectados fueron evaluados de bien entre las sesiones 5 y 10 de tratamiento, lo cual indicó que con este método terapéutico se logra una evolución satisfactoria, sin complicaciones ni empeoramiento del cuadro clínico.

A descriptive study was conducted in 40 patients with disorders of the stomagtonathic system who visited the Physical Medicine Department of the Intermediate State Hospital of Katutura, in Windhoek (Namibia) and were referred from the specialty of maxillofacial surgery, from 2008 to 2009, in order to assess the symptoms and signs, as well as the time of improvement with the application of physical agents. Variables such as sex, age, diagnosis, symptoms and signs, sessions of therapy and final results were considered in the series. Finally it was found that in 87.5% of patients good results were obtained between sessions 5 and 10, which indicated that with this therapeutic method a satisfactory course without complications or worsening of clinical pattern is achieved.

Síndrome de bridas amnióticas / Syndrome of amniotic bands

Se presentan 2 casos clínicos de niños de 3 años y 7 meses de edad, respectivamente, atendidos en el Hospital Central de Windhoek, Namibia, donde laboraba una brigada médica cubana, por presentar bridas amnióticas congénitas en los miembros inferiores, los cuales fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente. En ambos, la evolución fue satisfactoria y a los 2 años de operados los resultados eran excelentes.

Two case reports of children with 3 year-old and 7 months respectively, assisted in the Central Hospital of Windhoek, Namibia, where a Cuban medical brigade worked are presented due to their disorders of congenital amniotic bands in the lower members, which were surgically treated. In both, the clinical course was satisfactory and after 2 years of the surgery the results were excellent.

Tratamiento y seguimiento de adultos con asma bronquial en las clínicas de la capital de Namibia / Treatment and follow-up of adults with bronchial asthma in the clinics from the capital of Namibia

Se hizo un estudio descriptivo y transversal de 196 pacientes con asma bronquial, atendidos durante el 2007 en las clínicas de Katutura (Namibia), para determinar algunos aspectos biomédicos y sociales relacionados con esa afección en los integrantes de la casuística. En la serie predominaron el sexo femenino, los grupos etarios de 25 a 44 años, el esquema terapéutico basado en broncodilatadores y esteroides, así como la ausencia de una terapia higienoambiental y rehabilitadora. De igual manera, no hubo seguimiento clínico y tratamiento adecuados según el grado de asma bronquial existente y las acciones de promoción de salud resultaron escasas.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 196 patients with bronchial asthma was carried out. They were assisted in the clinics of Katutura (Namibia), during 2007 in order to determine some social and biomedical aspects related to this disorder in the members of the case material. In the series prevailed the female sex, the age groups from 25 to 44 years old, the therapeutical outline based on bronchodilators and steroids, as well as the lack of a rehabilitation and hygiene-environmental therapy. Similarly, there was neither appropriate clinical follow-up nor treatment according to the degree of existing bronchial asthma and there were just a few health promotion actions.