Browsing by Author "Bihizimana, Pascal"

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Dyspepsia Prevalence and Impact on Quality of Life Among Rwandan Healthcare Workers: A Cross-sectional Survey
(Sa Medical Assoc , Block F Castle Walk Corporate Park, Nossob Street, Erasmuskloof Ext3, Pretoria, South Africa, 0002, 2015) Bitwayiki, Remy; Orikiiriza, Judy T; Kateera, Fredrick; Bihizimana, Pascal; Karenzi, Ben; Kyamanywa, Patrick; Walker, Tim D
Background. Dyspepsia has been demonstrated worldwide to have major personal and societal impacts, but data on the burden of this disease in Africa are lacking. Objective. To document the prevalence of dyspepsia and its quality-of-life impact among healthcare workers (HCWs) at Butare University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Rwanda. Methods. A cross-sectional survey among consenting HCWs at BUTH was conducted. Multilingual interviewers guided participants through validated questionnaires, including the Short-Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire (SF-LDQ), to detect the presence and frequency of dyspeptic symptoms, and the Short-Form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI), to examine the impact of dyspepsia on quality of life. Results. The study included 378 enrolled HCWs, all of whom provided responses to the SF-LDQ and 356 of whom responded to the SF-NDI. The prevalence of dyspepsia in the study population was 38.9% (147/378). Of these 147 HCWs, 79 (53.7%) had very mild dyspepsia, 33 (22.4%) had mild dyspepsia, 20 (13.6%) had moderate dyspepsia and 15 (10.2%) had severe dyspepsia. Females were more likely to complain of dyspepsia than males (98/206 v. 49/172; odds ratio (OR) 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5 - 3.5; p<0.001). Participants with dyspepsia of at least mild severity had SF-NDI scores reflecting reduced quality of life when compared with non-dyspeptic participants (OR 17.0; 95% CI 5.0 - 57.1; p<0.001), with most marked effects on the ‘tension’ and ‘eating and drinking’ subdomains of the SF-NDI. Conclusion. The prevalence of dyspepsia among HCWs in Rwanda is high and is associated with lowered quality of life
Hepatitis B and C Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in Rwanda
(Oxford Univ Press , Great Clarendon St, Oxford, England, Ox2 6dp, 2015) Kateera, Fredrick; Walker, Timothy D; Mutesa, Leon; Mutabazi, Vincent; Musabeyesu, Emmanuel; Mukabatsinda, Constance; Bihizimana, Pascal; Kyamanywa, Patrick; Karenzi, Ben; Orikiiriza, Judy T
Background Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) are significant global public health challenges with health care workers (HCWs) at especially high risk of exposure in resource-poor settings. We aimed to measure HBV and HCV prevalence, identify exposure risks and evaluate hepatitis-related knowledge amongst Rwandan tertiary hospital HCWs. Methods A cross sectional study involving tertiary hospital employees was conducted from October to December 2013. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect data on HCWs' socio-demographics, risk factors and knowledge of blood-borne infection prevention. Blood samples were drawn and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. Results Among 378 consenting HCWs, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was 2.9% (11/378; 95% CI: 1.9 to 4.6%) and anti-HCV positivity 1.3% (5/378; 95% CI: 0.7 to 2.7%). Occupational exposure to blood was reported in 57.1% (216/378). Of the 17 participants (4.5%; 17/378) who reported having received the HBV vaccine, only 3 participants (0.8%) had received the three-dose vaccination course. Only 42 HCWs (42/378; 11.1%) were aware that a HBV vaccine was available. Most HCW (95.2%; 360/378) reported having been tested for HIV in the last 6 months. Conclusions Despite their high workplace exposure risk, HBV and HCV sero-prevalence rates among HCWs were low. The low HBV vaccination coverage and poor knowledge of preventative measures among HCWs suggest low levels of viral hepatitis awareness despite this high exposure.