ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan African countries have urged grassroots input to improve research capacity. In East Africa, MicroResearch is fostering local ability to find sustainable solutions for community health problems. At 5years, the following reports its progress. METHODS: The MicroResearch program had three integrated components: (1) 2-week training workshops; (2) small proposal development with international peer review followed by project funding, implementation, knowledge translation; (3) coaching from experienced researchers. Evaluation included standardized questions after completion of the workshops, 2013 online survey of recent workshop participants and discussions at two East Africa MicroResearch Forums in 2013. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2013, 15 workshops were conducted at 5 East Africa sites with 391 participants. Of the 29 projects funded by MicroResearch, 7 have been completed; of which 6 led to changes in local health policy/practice. MicroResearch training stimulated 13 other funded research projects; of which 8 were external to MicroResearch. Over 90% of participants rated the workshops as excellent with 20% spontaneously noting that MicroResearch changed how they worked. The survey highlighted three local research needs: mentors, skills and funding - each addressed by MicroResearch. On-line MicroResearch and alumni networks, two knowledge translation partnerships and an East Africa Leaders Consortium arose from the MicroResearch Forums. CONCLUSION: MicroResearch helped build local capacity for community-directed interdisciplinary health research.
Subject(s)
Biomedical Research/organization & administration , Community Health Services/organization & administration , Developing Countries , Education/standards , Public Health/standards , Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards , Adult , Africa, Eastern , Biomedical Research/standards , Child , Child Health Services/organization & administration , Community Health Services/standards , Female , Health Policy , Health Surveys/standards , Humans , Interdisciplinary Communication , International Cooperation , Male , Maternal Health Services/organization & administration , Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Translational Research, Biomedical/standardsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and pattern of diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed black African patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the associated risk factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional hospital-based study. SETTING: Eye clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. SUBJECTS: Africans aged 20 years and above with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus of up to 12 months duration. RESULTS: One hundred and forty one eyes of 71 patients were included in this study, while slides of 92 eyes of 65 patients were of good enough quality for evaluation. The mean duration of diabetes was 11.7 weeks (SD 16.6) and 11.3 (SD 10.1) in men and women respectively. Overall, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macula oedema was 30.4% and 8.7% respectively. There was a positive association between diabetic retinopathy and systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed Africans with type 2 diabetes in Kenya is very high. This suggests longstanding undiagnosed diabetes.
Subject(s)
Black People , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/ethnology , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/ethnology , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/etiology , Female , Humans , Kenya , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Contaminated ophthalmic solutions represent a potential cause of avoidable ocular infection. This study aimed to determine the magnitude and pattern of microbial contamination of multi-dose ocular solutions at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi, at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. METHODS: 101 vials were obtained for microbial examination after an average use of 2 weeks. The dropper tip and the residual eye drop were examined for contamination. The specimens were cultured, the number of colonies counted, the organisms identified and susceptibility testing to selected antimicrobial agents was done. RESULTS: Six (6%) of the 101 analysed vials were contaminated: 4/77 vials (5%) from a multi-user setting and 2/24 vials (8%) from a single user setting. Three contaminations (3/38, 8%) occurred in vials from the eye ward, another three (3/59, 5%) in vials from the outpatient clinic. Most bacteria identified belonged to the normal commensal flora of the eye. Isolated contaminants were micrococci (n = 2), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Haemophilus sp, Bacillus sp and a Gram negative rod. The dropper tip was more often contaminated (n = 6) than the residual solution (n = 1), and only one vial showed a contamination of both the drop and the tip. CONCLUSION: Our data show a contamination rate of 6%, which is in the lower range of data published on the contamination of eye drops elsewhere (0.07% to 35.8%).
