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editorial
. 2021 Mar;21(1):i–iv. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v21i1.1

Non communicable diseases persist despite being overshadowed by Covid-19 globally

James K Tumwine 1
PMCID: PMC8356587  PMID: 34394331

In this March 2021 issue, we start with interesting papers on non-communicable diseases.

Thus, Jian Ma and colleagues have a meta-analysis on the efficacy of dapagliflozin in type 1 diabetes mellitus.1 Keeping with the diabetes theme we have papers on vitamin D receptor gene in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,2 TCF7L2 gene polymorphism3, overweight4 and knowledge, attitude and practice in the Sudan5. Continuing with the NCD theme, we bring you papers on cancer of the breast6,7, childhood tumors8, oncology nursing care in Mexico9, and multiple myeloma in Uganda.10 We then have papers on hypertension11,12 cholesterol and aortic dilatation13, and heart rates in smoker and nonsmoker athletes.14 You talk of smoking! Gazibara and others write for us an interesting article on differences among former light and heavy smokers in a post conflict setting.15 Then comes the paper on risk factors for hazardous drinking among South African and Belgian University Students.16

Nyoni-Kachambwa's paper on skin bleaching17 in Zimbabwe is a must read and so is Celik's on p wave dispersion associated with obstructive pulmonary disease.18

Papers on sickle cell anemia19, IgA nephropathy20, and pseudobulbar palsy21, spice this series.

Olusegun-Joseph et. al have written on mortality in an emergency department in Nigeria22, while Sarwar's paper23 on MAO-A gene association with aggression in Pakistan concludes this NCD section.

Infections

Now to infections. Yes, you guessed right! We have failed to resist the temptation and included papers on Covid-19: roles of exercise and immunity 24, and mortality among Indian patients;25 and a paper on Corona-Virus reaching far beyond the common cold.26 So we are deep in the infectious disease territory: risk factors for multiple drug resistant bacteria in urinary tract infections (UTI)27, and UTI in nurses and civil servants.28

We have several papers on TB: hearing-threshold in drug-resistant TB29; non adherence to MDR-TB treatment in Uganda30, and TB/HIV service integration in Kampala.31 HPV/HIV confection in Kenya32, and first line HIV treatment failure in Ethiopia33, conclude the HIV papers. We have a series of papers on malaria34, septic shock 35, and wound infection with MRSA36 concluding the infections disease section.

Reproductive and child health

Now to reproductive and child health. There are papers on ectopic pregnancy in the Gambia37, postpartum haemorrhage management in Kenya38 and South Africa39 and Caesarean section deliveries in Ibadan in Nigeria. 40 We also have papers on married women procuring abortions41, fetal ear length 42, infertility 43, and paternity in motherless children.44 These are followed by papers on birth length45, neonatal asphyxia46, and neonatal mortality47, and factors associated with underweight in Ethiopia.48

Then we have a cocktail of papers on anti-inflammatory potential of Eucalyptus49, herbal medicine use in Ethiopia50, and traditional bone-setting in Tanzania51.

This ushers in surgical issues: intestinal stoma in Uganda52, phthisis bulbi in Nigeria 53, cataract surgery in Ghana 54, mercury in dentstry55, dental health insurance hygiene56, and ethical issues in seeking consent for health procedures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.57 We hope that you will enjoy this hybrid issue of AHS. Good reading.

References

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