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BackgroundDental caries is still a health problem worldwide, its prevalence and incidence are associated with various factors like age, sex, social status, dietary patterns and oral hygiene habits.MethodologyA Secondary data collected from outreaches done by UR CMHS, School of Dentistry at Kimironko II Primary School was analyzed. This secondary data had been obtained using structured questionnaires with close ended questions. Clinical examination had also been done to gather information. SPSS statistical software package version 22 was used to analyse data from Community outreach done at Kimironko Primary School in August 2019.ResultsThe prevalence of dental caries of 42.4% was found among children aged 6-12 years old of Kimironko II Primary School. The researchers found the following to be statistically significantly associated with prevalence of dental caries: gender (p=0.042), dental visits (p=0.001), and use of chew sticks or miswaks (p=0.041). Females were 1.4 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 1.462; 95% CI: 1.16-2.017; p=0.021) and children who did not use toothpick were 2 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR: 2.149; 95%CI: 1.251-4.395; p=0.036), whereas visiting a dental practitioner was protective against dental caries (OR: 0.362, 95% CI: 0.251-0.516; p=0.001).ConclusionDental caries is prevalent among children of Kimironko II Primary School. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken to protect those found to be exposed.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(3):341-346

Hazards resulting from climate change jeopardize human in one way or another. Annually countless deaths, physical injuries, and the collapse of houses, among other consequences, are reported as negative effects associated to climate change events. There is no doubt that these effects are followed by mental health problems which requires the continuation of care after the emergency situation. This paper aimed at highlighting how climate change hazards in Rwanda might be followed by unidentified mental health illness, and proposed a model for proper management. The authors reviewed different literatures to inform their views about the issue and appreciate the efforts being done by the Government to manage immediate mental health problems resulting from climate change hazards for the victims. The authors suggested the need for the continuation of mental health care services after an emergency and that these services be provided by Community Health Workers who live day to day with victims. This will benefit not only the victims but also other people who might be having mental health issues within the community. The Authors recommend further research to document the impact of climate change on mental health and magnitude of the problem in Rwanda.

Background: Online bibliographic databases are important tools in health sector for both literature research and clinical practices. They provide current scientific insight for evidence based medicine and have the potential to support clinicians by providing them with the information they need in a timely fashion. Objective: This study was carried out to assess the utilization of online bibliographic databases by medical doctors at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali. Methods: A mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) with a crosssectional design was used. Results: The study population was composed of 153 medical doctors and response rate was 53.5 %. The results of this study indicate that the most visited online bibliographic database is the Medline at the rate of 94% (N=82). More than 92% (N=82) of physicians at this hospital have computers with internet in their offices. Only 47.6% are able to use filters when they searching information to guide treatment. Physicians at the rate of 97.6 % (N=80) have used online bibliographic databases in the past six months and 96% (N=80) were satisfied with their expectations. The constraints they face when searching information, is lack of full access to some scientific medical journals. A key informant said: "The challenge is that some medical journals provide only abstracts. In this case it is not easy for physicians to access full papers or full books to find information for patient care" Conclusion: The study concludes that physicians at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali use online bibliographic databases to guide treatment and Medline/Pubmed are the most used database. Nevertheless, there is gap in advanced searching skills among physicians. In terms of infrastructures the quality of internet bandwidth is another challenge. The study recommends continued sessions for literature search, as it is a key to practicing evidence-based medicine. It also recommends ensuring full access to scientific papers as well as good internet service delivery.

BackgroundProper healthcare waste management is crucial to minimize the exposure of health professionals, patients, and the public in general, and to reduce the pollution of the environment in particular.In Rwanda, scientific documents on occupational health risks resulting from medical waste management practices among healthcare workers are currently rare. AimThis study aimed to explore occupational health risks associated with medical waste management practices among health professionals in the Rwandan context. Method A cross-sectional study design was used. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The respondents were composed of health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff) from the district hospital and six key informants. We used questionnaire, interview guide, and observation checklists as research instruments. We performed descriptive statistics to analyze the quantitative data. Also, qualitative data were analyzed using narrative analysis method. ResultsThe findings revealed that 56.5 % of respondents from Kibagabaga hospital, 26.8% from Masaka and 49.3% from Muhima Hospital reported that they experienced occupational health risks related to inadequate medical waste management at their workplaces, and some of those risks include risk of infection and physical injuries. ConclusionThis study concludes that health professionals working in health facilities in Rwanda are exposed to the risks resulting from poor medical waste management practices. Thus, the study recommends putting more emphasis on raising awareness of staff towards risks resulting from poor medical waste management practices.