Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior among adults with chronic health conditions in Malawi

Over 70% of completed suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. However, limited information is available on suicidal behavior encompassing ideation, plans, and attempts among high-risk populations in these settings. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of suic...

Global Prevalence of Adherence to Antihypertensives and Associated Moderating Factors Among Adults With Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a significant public health issue affecting over a billion adults worldwide with adherence to antihypertensives being crucial for achieving sustained blood pressure control and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To extend previous evidenc...

Aberrant one-carbon metabolism and ancestral genetics underlie edematous severe acute malnutrition

Edematous severe childhood malnutrition is distinct from the non-edematous form of malnutrition and remains a major cause of under-five mortality. Its etiology remains unclear, although aberrant one-carbon metabolism has emerged as a potential contributor. Here, we assess genetic...

Potential health impacts and costs of active case finding guided by Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunoreactivity survey results in Blantyre, Malawi: A mathematical modeling study

Background Active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) can reduce transmission, yet efficient targeting requires high-quality surveillance data. We investigated the potential costs and impact of targeted ACF, guided by local estimates of the annual risk of TB infection (ARTI)...

Non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep quality among people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH) and are associated with poor quality of life, suboptimal treatment adherence, and adverse clinical outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly recommended as scalable,...

Factors associated with paediatric ward abscondment in four district hospitals in Malawi

Abscondment from hospital poses risks to patients. The epidemiology of abscondment from hospitals remains unclear in Malawi and other sub-Saharan African settings. This case-control study used data from a hospital surveillance of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program in four...

Quality and concordance of international paediatric sepsis guidelines: a cross-sectional appraisal from the SENTINEL International study

Objectives To evaluate the methodological quality of hospital-specific paediatric sepsis clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) from sites participating in an international study using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool and to assess the consi...

Does plastic waste present an infection hazard? Current evidence, surveillance challenges and research priorities

Abstract Unmanaged plastic waste is widespread in settings with limited waste collection, yet its contribution to infectious disease risk remains poorly understood. In this review, we synthesise current evidence on the human health implications of plastic waste, with a specific f...

Spatial patterns and factors associated with vaccination uptake at follow-up among previously identified zero-dose children in Mchinji District, Malawi

Globally, more than 14 million infants remained zero-dose in 2024, having not received the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1). In Malawi, national immunisation estimates may mask sub-district inequities, limiting the ability to identify and reach...