Perceptions and Knowledge towards COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among a Subpopulation of Adults in Kenya: An English Survey at Six Healthcare Facilities.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, as defined by the WHO, is the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines and is one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy remains a complex matter influenced by multiple factors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and January 2022 among the general adult public seeking care at six different healthcare facilities in Kenya. The survey, in English, consisted of questions based on demographics, knowledge, and attitudes, including hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: Of the 3996 surveys collected, 55.1% were from private, 19.5% from faith-based and 25.3% from government facilities., Approximately 81.0% of all the participants reported it was important to get a vaccine to protect other people from COVID-19, 79.9% reported they would take a vaccine to protect against COVID-19, yet 40.5% reported being hesitant to take the vaccine primarily due to side effects. Most of the variables were associated with receiving a vaccine. Only 52.1% of those seeking care from the government facility and 54.5% of those seeking care from the faith-based facility were vaccinated, compared to 81.5% seeking care from the private facilities (p < 0.001). More participants from private facilities felt that vaccines are safe as compared to those at the faith-based and government facilities (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy in Kenya, even though much lower than reported in other countries, remains a dynamic problem. Mitigating strategies specific to Africa need to be developed to help address vaccine hesitancy in this part of the continent.

Association between dialysate sodium concentration and interdialytic weight gain in patients undergoing twice weekly haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is highly prevalent across the globe with more than 2 million people worldwide requiring renal replacement therapy. Interdialytic weight gain is the change in body weight between two sessions of haemodialysis. Higher interdialytic weight gain has been associated with an increase in mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. It has long been questioned whether using a lower dialysate sodium concentration during dialysis would reduce the interdialytic weight gain and hence prevent these adverse outcomes. METHODS: This study was a single blinded cross-over study of patients undergoing twice weekly haemodialysis at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi and Parklands Kidney Centre. It was conducted over a twelve-week period and patients were divided into two groups: dialysate sodium concentration of 137 meq/l and 140 meq/l. These groups switched over after a six-week period without a washout period. Univariate analysis was conducted using Fisher's exact test for categorical data and Mann Whitney test for continuous data. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 61.37 years, and 73% were males. The mean duration for dialysis was 2.53 years. The interdialytic weight gain was not significantly different between the two groups (2.14 for the 137 meq/l group and 2.35 for the 140 meq/l group, p = 0.970). Mean blood pressures were as follows: pre-dialysis: DNa 137 meq/l: systolic 152.14 ± 19.99, diastolic 78.99 ± 12.20, DNa 140 meq/l: systolic 156.95 ± 26.45, diastolic 79.75 ± 11.25 (p = 0.379, 0.629 respectively). Post-dialysis: DNa 137 meq/l: systolic 147.29 ± 22.22, diastolic 77.85 ± 12.82 DNa 140 meq/l: systolic 151.48 ± 25.65, diastolic 79.66 ± 15.78 (p = 0.569, 0.621 respectively). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the interdialytic weight gain as well as pre dialysis and post dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressures between the two groups. Therefore, using a lower dialysate sodium concentration does not appear useful in altering the interdialytic weight gain or blood pressure although further studies are warranted with a larger sample size, taking into account residual renal function and longer duration for impact on blood pressures.

Cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder from the East Africa region, highlighting challenges in diagnostics and healthcare access.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an auto-immune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with the IgG-antibody against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). There is little published epidemiology of NMOSD from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). METHODS: We retrospectively collated NMOSD cases admitted to our tertiary regional neurology centre. RESULTS: We identified 11 cases (10 female, average age 30 years). 64% (7/11) were seropositive for AQP4-IgG, measured using indirect immunofluorescence. The remaining cases could either not afford tests, or had pathognomonic radiological features. 57% (4/7) of seropositive cases had concurrent/recent CNS infection. All patients were treated with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP), and 36% (4/11) also had plasma exchange. Only 55% (6/11) of the patients were seen by a neurologist at presentation: they had less relapses (1.3 vs 2.4), less diagnostic delay (2.3 vs 7.4 months), and were less disabled at the end of our review period. 10 cases were immunosuppressed long-term: 60% on mycophenolate, 30% azathioprine, and one on rituximab. CONCLUSION: Our study is the largest case series of NMOSD from the East Africa region. Patients faced challenges of access to appropriate and affordable testing, and timely availability of a neurologist at onset, which had impacts on their functional outcomes. The majority of the seropositive cases had recent/concurrent CNS infections, suggesting triggered auto-immunity.

Unusual presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma: Case report and review of literature.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary cancer of the liver and a major cause of mortality globally. Atypical presentation of HCC can present a diagnostic challenge. We, therefore, present a rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma fungating through the anterior abdominal wall with concomitant lung and brain metastases in a young patient with non-cirrhotic liver but positive chronic hepatitis B serology.