Archives

• Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Adolescents in Choma District of Zambia

  Vol. 49 No. (2) 118-127 (2022)

  Dental caries and periodontal
  diseases are the most common oral diseases
  globally. Early control of oral health behaviours is
  important because lifestyles acquired during
  adolescence are powerful predictors of adult health.
  We conducted a study to determine knowledge,
  attitude and practices on oral hygiene among
  school-going adolescents in Choma district of
  Zambia.

• Vision Screening of Learners by Teachers in Kafue District in Zambia as a Strategy to Address the Challenges of Childhood Blindness

  Vol. 48 No. (1) 4-14 (2020)

  Early detection and treatment of eye
  diseases in children is critical in combating
  childhood blindness. Innovative community-based
  strategies such as training of teachers in vision
  screening need to be developed for effective
  utilisation of the available human resources as well
  as to counter the challenges of inequitable
  distribution of trained eye health human resources
  as well as the limited access of quality eye health
  care services to the majority of our population.

• Histomorphology of Bone marrow from Adult Pancytopenic Patients at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

  Vol. 46 No. (1) 41-45 (2019)

  Pancytopenia is a haematologic
  condition characterised by leukopenia, anaemia and
  thrombocytopenia. Pancytopenia is not a diagnosis
  and has to be qualified by determination of its cause.
  The aetiologies of pancytopenia are diverse, and
  study of bone marrow histomorphology via
  cytology and histology are key components that
  assist in the determination of the underlying cause.
  Pancytopenia is encountered regularly in medical
  practice in Zambia, however, no studies have been
  conducted on pancytopenia to date. This was a
  descriptive cross-sectional study done on adult
  pancytopenic patients admitted to the medical wards
  of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) over an
  eight-month period. The aim of this study was to
  determine the histomorphology of the bone
  marrows of adult pancytopenic patients admitted to
  the UTH.

• Medical School Admissions: A Review of Global Practices, Predictive Validity, and Practice Points for Africa.

  Vol. 47 No. (3) 241-249 (2020)

  Processes for selection of candidates
  into medical schools vary globally. Knowledge of
  the predictive validity of a selection method is
  important for policy revision.

• Relative Frequencies of Odontogenic Cysts and their Protein and Glucose Content

  Vol. 45 No. (4) 203-209 (2018)

  Odontogenic cysts are derived from
  remnants of odontogenic apparatus entrapped
  within jawbones. The diagnosis of cysts is based on
  histology features; however, these features are not
  clear-cut in many cases, except for a few like OKC
  and Calcifying Odontogenic cyst. The knowledge of
  the content of these cysts may assist in the
  differentiation and diagnosis of the cysts. This study
  reviewed the pattern of jaw cysts presentation and
  further analyzed the glucose and protein contents of
  some odontogenic cysts among them. The findings
  from our local environment were compared with
  findings globally as regards jaw cysts.

• The use of Neurobion® Forte in the Treatment of Pellagra in an adult on anti-TB treatment: A case report from Lusaka, Zambia

  Vol. 48 No. (1) 58-62 (2021)

  The deficiency of Niacin and/or its precursor amino
  acid, Tryptophan can result in a disease called
  Pellagra. Isoniazid (INH), a key drug used in
  tuberculosis (TB) treatment has been associated
  with pellagra particularly in developing nations
  where poor nutritional status is highly prevalent
  among its people.We report a case of pellagra with
  classical dermatological manifestations
  (hyperpigmented skin lesions around the neck), on
  the face, and external surfaces of the upper limbs) in
  a black African HIV negative adult female, on TB
  treatment for 11 weeks managed with a combo of
  Vitamin B1 - 10mg, Vitamin B2 - 10mg, Vitamin B3
  - 45mg, Vitamin B5 - 50mg, Vitamin B6 - 3mg and
  Vitamin B12 - 15mcg (Neurobion® Forte) with
  noticeable response to the treatment within one
  week.

• Is It Possible to Miss a Metallic Airway Foreign Body on a Chest Radiograph? Imaging Case Report from Zambia

  Vol. 49 No. (1) 96-101 (2022)

  Infants and young children are commonly referred
  for medical imaging for suspected aspirated or
  inhaled foreign bodies (Fbs). FB aspirations are
  potentially life-threatening and immediate
  diagnosis and treatment are vital to avert fatalities.
  Chest radiography is the first-line imaging method
  indicated to evaluate suspected aspirated FB. This
  can be supplemented withothermedical imaging
  modalities, such as fluoroscopy, computed
  tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging
  (MRI). However, the lack of specialised medical
  imaging modalities in developing countries
  impends timely diagnosis of aspirated FB. We report
  a case of a 7-year-old girl with airway metallic FB
  not visible on the initial chest radiograph. This case
  report highlights the challenges low-income health
  institutions are facing in the diagnosing of airway
  FBs and other complicated conditions which require
  advanced imaging. In the absence of specialised
  medical imaging modalities, radiographers and
  clinicians should have high indexes of suspicion to
  avert deaths. In addition, specialised training of
  radiographers in the absence of radio lo gists might
  contribute to improved patient outcomes.

• The Pattern and Outcome of Management of Acquired Anorectal fistulas in Children at a semi-urban Teaching Hospital

  Vol. 47 No. (2) 143-146 (2020)

  Acquired anorectal fistulas are a
  severe cause for parental concerns, and they pose
  considerable challenges in their management.

• Distribution and Characteristics of Endometriotic Lesions in South- Western Nigeria: A Single Institutional Experience

  Vol. 46 No. (1) 28-32 (2019)

  Endometriosis poses a significant
  burden mainly to women of child bearing age.
  Historically, endometriosis was thought to be of low
  prevalence among African women. However, recent
  studies have documented an increased prevalence
  than previously thought. This study aimed to
  determine the distribution and characteristics of
  endometriotic lesions among Nigerian women.

• Impact and challenges of consultancy role regarding the delivery of breast imaging services in the United Kingdom: consultant breast radiographers' perspective

  Vol. 48 No. (1) 46-53 (2021)

  Breast cancer is the leading cause of
  death in women worldwide. Imaging and
  radiographers play an important role in the diagnosis
  and treatment of breast cancer. With the increase in
  demand and a shortage of radiologists in the UK,
  consultant breast radiographers were introduced to
  perform some roles previously performed by
  radiologists. However, there is a scarcity of research
  to assist other countries, such as Zambia, who are
  planning to extend the role of radiographers.

• Correlates of Hypertension among Persons Living with HIV at Livingstone Central Hospital: A Cross- sectional study

  Vol. 49 No. (1) 4-16 (2022)

  Persons living with HIV (PLWH) are more likely to develop hypertension and cardiovascular disease than the HIV-negative population. The new hypertension guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) lowered the definition of hypertension from systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) of ≥140/90mmHg to ≥ 130/80, respectively. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension in PLWH in Livingstone using the new hypertension diagnostic criteria.

• Road traffic injuries among children in Dakar, Senegal

  Vol. 47 No. (3) 204-207 (2020)

  Road traffic injuries (RTI) are a major
  public health problem and contribute significantly
  to the global burden. The aim of this study was to
  assess the frequency of RTIs in children and to
  determine their socio-demographic and lesional
  characteristics.

• Spinal Haemangioblastomas: A Report of Two Cases

  Vol. 46 No. (2) 140-146 (2019)

  Spinal haemangioblastomas are rare
  benign but potentially devastating vascular tumours.
  They may occur sporadically or as a component of
  Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. There is a dearth
  of information about these tumours among
  Nigerians. This study aims to evaluate the clinical
  profile and outcome of surgery as well as the
  challenges of management of these tumours in a
  resource-limited country.

• A Case Report of Tenofovir Alafenamide Induced Alopecia in a Zambian Teenager: A call for Pharmacovigilance

  Vol. 48 No. (1) 63-66 (2021)

  Adverse drug reactions continue to pose a global  risk in the fight against HIV. In an attempt to attain  the end AIDS pandemic by 2030, newer drugs are  being formulated with better efficacy and fewer side  effects. However, these new drugs still have Adverse  Drug Reactions (ADRs), which may affect adherence and compliance. We present a rare case of  Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) induced alopecia of a  Zamb i a n teenager  in the context of pharmacovigilance as a tool to identify ADRs,  which may or may not have been identified during  clinical trials. This is a wake-up call to all health care  workers to identify and report ADRs and use the  established channels to affect policy change.

• Application of Interprofessional Education Model to University Pre-Licensure Health Students in the Management of Chronic Care Conditions in Zambia

  Vol. 49 No. (2) 185-197 (2022)

  There is evidence that
  multidisciplinary healthcare teams can provide
  better quality of care and treatment outcomes
  compared to that delivered by individuals from a
  single health discipline. The project on which this
  article is based applied the interprofessional
  education model to university pre-licensure health
  students in the management of chronic care
  conditions in Zambia.

• Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Breast Carcinomas in Uyo, Subtropical Region of Africa

  Vol. 46 No. (2) 100-108 (2019)

  There is a relative dearth of data for
  immunohistochemical characteristics of breast
  carcinomas in cancer registries of Nigeria and some
  parts of Africa. A descriptive hospital based study,
  done over a year, involving three hospitals in Uyo
  rendering breast cancer care.

• Trosier's sign: A Rare Presentation of Metastatic Prostate Cancer

  Vol. 48 No. (3) 339-341 (2021)

  Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men globally. The most common sites of metastasis include the bone, lymph nodes, lungs, liver, pleura, and adrenal glands. A 65-year- old Zambian man presented with neck swelling for 3 months with mild lower urinary tract symptoms. He reported that the swelling was fast growing, painless and with no history of trauma. On examination, Trosier's sign was present. Histology report following a lymph node incision biopsy demonstrated Adenocarcinoma. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was also positive. A follow up prostate biopsy found adenocarcinoma Gleason 8. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion in older, male patients presenting with unexplained neck swelling and no known history of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

• Factors Influencing the Knowledge and Practice of Emergency Contraception among Nigerian Male Undergraduates

  Vol. 47 No. (2) 98-105 (2020)

  Unwanted pregnancies among young
  women is a growing reproductive health concern.
  Correct and consistent use of contraception will stop
  this ugly trend while emergency contraception (EC)
  can also be viewed as a 'second chance method' in
  preventing unwanted pregnancies and unsafe
  abortions. The aim of this study is to assess the
  knowledge and practice of emergency contraception
  among Nigerian male undergraduates as they are
  known to have risky sexual behaviours.

• 

  An Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with Pregnancy Related Acute Kidney Injury in Women Admitted to the High Dependency Care Unit at Women and Newborn Hospital, Lusaka-Zambia

  Vol. 49 No. 2 (2022)

  The Medical Journal of Zambia (MJZ) is a peerreviewedquarterly journal intended for the publication of papers from all specialities ofmedicine (Internal medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and their subspecialities, basic science, public health, social medicine and medical politics. The journal also welcomes contributions from experienced individuals describing the way they deal with particular problems (i.e. intended to pass on the art of medicine).

• Synonymous Myocilin mutations break their silence in a Zambian population attending selected referral eye health facilities

  Vol. 49 No. (2) 157-162 (2022)

  Primary open-angle glaucoma in Zambia has an earlier age of onset and appears to be more  clinically severe. Myocilin mutations are associated with primary open angle glaucoma in multiple popuations  Therefore, we investigated   the role of  myocilin gene mutations in Primary Open Angle  Glaucoma in a Zambian population.