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Background: Rising poisoning incidences worldwide, primarily in developing countries, remain ambiguous due to paucity of data and poison centres. This study evaluates patterns and factors causing poor outcomes in Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: A records-based retrospective cross-sectional study of poisoning cases who presented to nine facilities between June 2015 and July 2020 was conducted. The data collected was analysed through descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression using STATA version 13. Results: Kiambu county has a minimum prevalence of poisoning of 3.2%. A total of 434 cases were studied. Most cases (85.5%) resulted from acute exposures, with 75% being intentional. Pesticides (61.1%), paraffin (18.7%), alcohol (6.5%), and pharmaceutical drugs (4.4%) were the primary poisons used. 3.9% didn't fit these categories, while 5.5% remained unknown. Common presentations at admission were vomiting (35.3%) and unconsciousness (21.6%). Pesticides were responsible for 72.0% of deaths. Sequelae occurred in 7.8%, full but delayed recovery in 17.6%, and 6.0% died. The largest cluster of total cases was found in Thika town sub-county. It also contained the primary clusters of alcohol and pesticide poisoning. Being male (AOR 4.577, 95% CI [1.244–16.842]) was significantly associated with adverse outcomes. Regardless of the poison, the majority 78.8% made a full recovery. Conclusion: Due to the lack of standardized poisoning data tools, patient records lack vital information reflecting the quality of care that the patient received, reflecting a lack of structures to collect, analyse and utilise poisoning data for decision making. This study underpins the need for the establishment of a PC in Kiambu county, Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence is described as the intentional use of physical force against a person, oneself, or a group of people that causes trauma, psychological harm, or even death. It could take the shape of physical or psychological harm, deprivation, or emotional or sexual assault. Violence of many different kinds is committed in jails globally. However, they are frequently carried out in secrecy, which makes them challenging to establish. The target population for the study were prisoners and staff in Mogadishu Central Prison. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was applied to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Systematic sampling was used to select prisoners, while purposive sampling was used to select key informants (staff). The study used questionnaires and key informant interviews as data collection tools. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, and both Fisher's exact test and Pearson's Chi-square were used to test for associations and relationships between variables after descriptive analysis had been done. Qualitative analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. The study found that the overall prevalence of physical violence in the prison was 16.3%, with the majority of violence being conducted by convicts against other inmates, but there were also instances of violence committed against and committed by prison staff. The prevalence among inmates was 15%, and prisoners against warden was 1.3%. The most common types of physical violence were fist fights (11.8%), flogging (1.6%), use of weapons or other instruments (1.6%) such as razor blades, throwing shoes at each other, or use of finger rings and slapping (1.3%). The study highlights a concerning high prevalence of physical violence within Mogadishu Central Prison, primarily perpetrated by inmates against each other and occasionally involving prison staff. To address the issue, the study recommends a multifaceted approach, including heightened conflict recognition and resolution training for prison staff, increased investment in resources to alleviate overcrowding, and the establishment of rehabilitation and mental health programs to target the underlying triggers of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) HRQoL continues to be understudied among family caregivers with chronically ill children especially in developing countries like Malawi. Aim: This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life and determine the sociodemographic factors associated with the health-related quality of life of caregivers of children with lymphoma at a referral hospital in Malawi. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at a referral hospital in Malawi, and 107 caregivers were recruited. The Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire 36-Item Short Form was used to collect data which were analysed using SPSS Version 25. Results: All 107 targeted participants were assessed. Both the physical health component and the mental health component mean scores were low (M=50.63, SD=11.86 and M=45.51, SD=11.95, respectively). Time since diagnosis of the child's cancer accounted for significant differences in both the physical and mental health components' mean scores (F(2, 104)=5.030, p=0.002 and F(2, 104)=5.030, p=0.006, respectively). The caregivers >41years old, those who were married, those who were employed, and caregivers whose children were diagnosed >12 months were among those more likely to report a better physical health perception compared to those without these characteristics. Conclusion: The health-related quality of life of the caregivers at the referral hospital was severely impaired. The findings suggest that caregivers of children with lymphoma have the potential to develop more serious mental and physical health problems; hence, interventions to mitigate the burden of caring for children with lymphoma are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]