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Biomedical subjects

A S Muula

Publications and source records attributed to A S Muula.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Responsibilities and obligations of using human research specimens transported across national boundaries.

Research collaboration beyond national jurisdiction is one aspect of the globalisation of health research. It has potential to complement researchers in terms of research skills, equipment and lack of adequate numbers of potential research subjects. Collaboration at an equal level of partnership though desirable, may not be practicable. Sometimes, human research specimens must be transported from one country to other. Where this occurs, there should be clear understanding between the collaborating research institutions regarding issues of access and control of the specimens as well as the duration of storage of specimens. The researchers have the duty to inform the research participants about specimen storage and transport across national boundaries. While obtaining informed consent from study subjects if specimens are to be stored beyond the life of the present study could be the ideal, there still remains significant challenges in a multi-cultural world.

Biomedical Research↗
PubMed2006

Knowledge, attitudes and public health response towards plague in Petauke, Zambia.

In 2001, two plague outbreaks were reported in Zambia, one of which occurred in Petauke, Eastern Province, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Of the community respondents, 43.4% did not know the aetiology of plague. Although rats and fleas were frequently mentioned, many respondents did not know how these were related to plague. Local belief that the plague outbreak was the result of witchcraft was prevalent. Use of rodenticides was not preferred as these were reports of they being used for poisoning people. The public health response was initially slow by both the community and also the formal health sector. Once the diagnosis of plague was made, fears of witchcraft dispelled and collaboration not only between the formal health sector and the community, but also between Zambian health workers and their Mozambican counterparts developed, and it was possible to control the outbreak.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Reflections on the health workers' strike at Malawi's major tertiary hospital, QECH, Blantyre, 2001: a case study.

Health workers and support staff at Malawi's major referral hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, were on strike between 5th and 19th October 2001. The health workers' grievances included: lack of risk allowances; poor professional allowances; low salaries; and low housing allowances. The strike resulted in almost total closure of the 1500-bed hospital; only the burns and orthopaedic wards continued to serve patients. Volunteer staff, comprising the Red Cross, and nursing and medical students provided services. Verbal and written threats by the authorities had minimal effect on terminating the strike; rather, they encouraged the resolve to continue with the industrial action. We report aspects of the genesis, progress and resolution of the strike. Although not much seems to have been achieved, both the employer and the workers need to draw lessons from the experience.

Collective Bargaining↗
PubMed2001

The Australian contribution towards medical training in Malawi.

Malawi opened its only medical school in April 1991, despite opposition from some who believed that the venture was a waste of precious resources. From 1986, selected Malawi students had done preclinical training in Australia, the United Kingdom and South Africa, returning to Malawi for the clinical phase of their training. From 1994, Malawi students have been able to do the whole undergraduate medical course in their own country. Twenty Malawi medical students attended the medical schools of the University of Adelaide and Flinders University in South Australia between 1991 and 1996. All but three of those students are now qualified doctors working in various capacities in healthcare delivery service in Malawi.

Australia↗
PubMed2001

The first decade of the Malawi College of Medicine: a critical appraisal.

The College of Medicine of the University of Malawi was opened in April 1991. Over almost a decade it has flourished in the face of economic and political constraints, as well as a change in the philosophy of donor support. We review the past, assess the present and look to the future.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specialisation patterns of medical graduates, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre.

OBJECTIVE: To describe specialization patterns of medical graduates of the University of Malawi College of Medicine. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SUBJECTS: Medical graduates of the University of Malawi College of Medicine. SETTING: University of Malawi College of Medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Speciality choices, sources of funding for training, employer at time of graduate studies and country where specialist training obtained. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2000, 60 (35.5%) of the 169 graduates of the College of Medicine of the University of Malawi have obtained or are in specialist training, 38/60 (63.3%) with training institutions either in the United States or the United Kingdom, 10 (16.7%) had gone to South Africa, 8% Kenya, 5% to the Republic of China (Taiwan) and 3.3% to Uganda. Other countries are; Uganda, Australia and Finland. The preferred specialties were; Public Health 17 (28.8%), Internal Medicine 12 (20%) and Paediatrics 10 (16.7%). Most of the funding was provided by agencies/institutions in the USA and UK. At the time of their training fellowship, 33 (55%) of the candidates were employed by the College of Medicine, 24 (40%) by the public service and the rest, three (5%) by other institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Most Malawian medical graduates are obtaining their specialty training overseas funded mostly by institutions/agencies in the UK and USA. There is need to explore ways on how training could be provided regionally. Malawi and her neighbours must develop post graduate speciality training locally and regionally.

Career Choice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knowledge and perceptions of antenatal women towards prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Blantyre, Malawi.

OBJECTIVES: To determine antenatal attendees' knowledge and perceptions towards selected aspects of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. SETTING: Five rural and six urban public health centers in Blantyre District, Malawi. SUBJECTS: 126 consecutive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. DESIGN: Cross sectional qualitative study utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs). Analysis was based on content analysis. RESULTS: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS especially regarding causative agents of AIDS, transmission and prevention was generally high in all FGDs. One individual though, suggested that HIV was transmitted by mosquito bites and another that HIV was transmitted by being exposed to persistent coughing. The majority of 126 women identified HIV testing of pregnant women as of potential benefit and necessary for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. In most cases, the benefit mentioned for HIV testing was that it was good to know about one's HIV status rather than being ignorant. Other suggested benefits of HIV testing of pregnant women were: future family planning, as an incentive to reduce the number of sexual partners and to know the cause of the problem in case a child is failing to thrive rather than blame witchcraft. Male spouses were identified as both potential supporters and limiting agents towards pregnant women's acceptability of HIV testing. CONCLUSION: HIV testing among pregnant women to ensure prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV is a complex issue. Women consider various factors before making decisions. Programme planners and implementing agencies need to be aware of these issues and work together with women and other stakeholders in order to overcome such limitations.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Test offering, not additional information, may increase HIV testing uptake in a knowledgeable population.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient HIV knowledge and testing experience and assess the effect of an HIV informational handout on HIV testing propensity. DESIGN: Cross sectional, descriptive techniques were employed to assess demographics, HIV knowledge and HIV testing experience. A randomized controlled trial was performed to determine if an HIV/AIDS information sheet influenced testing propensity. SETTING: Blantyre Adventist Hospital Outpatient Clinic. SUBJECTS: Non-emergency patients over 18 years old attending during consulting hours. INTERVENTIONS: All subjects answered a questionnaire. For the randomized controlled trial component, half received an HIV information handout. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportions were calculated to evaluate testing experience. Logistic regression was used to assess impact of written information and demographics on HIV testing propensity. RESULTS: 490 participants were recruited, of whom 57% had never been tested for HIV. Of the untested, 88% had never been offered an HIV test. Of those that had never been offered a test, 46% desired one. The sample was highly knowledgeable about HIV. Reading an information sheet had no impact on HIV knowledge (p=0.736 to 0.788) or desire for testing (p=0.387). However, age (OR=0.97, 95%CI (0.95,0.99)) and gender (OR=1.85, 95%CI (1.06, 3.23)) significantly correlated with testing propensity. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of patients who have never been offered HIV testing desire testing. More frequent HIV test offering by clinicians could improve testing rates. Clinician education programmes should be developed to increase test offering. Furthermore, written health information in a setting of high HIV/AIDS knowledge may not change behaviour. Alternative methods should be employed to encourage HIV testing uptake.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗