Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and financial burden. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG), have limitations in detecting intermittent AF episodes. Consequently, smart wearables have been introduced to enhance continuous AF monitoring. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of ECG smart chest patches and photoplethysmography (PPG)– based smartwatches in AF detection. From august 16–20, 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, DOAJ, AJOL, and the Cochrane Library. Original studies assessing the performance of ECG smart chest patches and PPG smartwatches in detecting AF were included. Studies were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the most relevant were finally included. For ECG smart chest patches and PPG smartwatches groups, random-effects model was used to pool these performance metrics. Statistical analyses were performed using Jamovi 2.3.28, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. A total of 15 studies were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis. ECG smart chest patches demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 96.1% [(95% CI: 91.3–100.8), (I² = 94.59%)], and a pooled specificity of 97.5% [(95% CI: 94.7–100.2), (I² = 79.1%)]. PPG smartwatches showed a pooled sensitivity of 97.4% [(95% CI: 96.5–98.3), (I² = 3.16%)], and a pooled specificity of 96.6% [(95% CI: 94.9–98.3), (I² = 75.94%)]. Comparatively, both ECG smart chest patches and PPG smartwatches exhibited excellent performance in atrial fibrillation detection, with PPG smartwatches showing slightly higher sensitivity and ECG chest patches exhibiting marginally greater specificity. Both ECG smart chest patches and PPG smartwatches are highly effective for detecting atrial fibrillation. However, further advancements are needed to match their accuracy with that of standard diagnostic methods and achieve comprehensive digital cardiac monitoring.

Introduction: Africa, a continent considered to be the cradle of human beings has the largest genetic diversity among its population than other continents. This review discusses the implications of this high African genetic diversity to the development of personalized and precision medicine. Methodology: A comprehensive search across PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, DOAJ, AJOL, and the Cochrane Library electronic databases and manual Google searches was conducted using key terms “genetics”, “genetic diversity”, “Africa”, “precision medicine”, and “personalized medicine”. Updated original and review studies focusing on the implications of African high genetic diversity on personalized and precision medicine were included. Included studies were thematically synthesized to elucidate their positive or negative implications for personalized healthcare, aiming to foster informed clinical practice and scientific inquiry. Results: African populations’ high genetic diversity presents opportunities for personalized and precision medicine including improving pharmacogenomics, understanding gene interactions, discovering new variants, mapping disease genes, creating updated genomic reference panels, and validating biomarkers. However, challenges include underrepresentation in studies, scarcity of reference genomes, inaccuracy of genetic testing and interpretation, and ancestry misclassification. Addressing these requires the establishment of genomic research centers, increasing funding, creating biobanks and repositories, education, infrastructure, and international cooperation to enhance healthcare equity and outcomes through personalized and precision medicine. Conclusion: High African genetic diversity presents both positive and negative implications for personalized and precision medicine. Deep further research is recommended to harness the challenges and use the opportunities to develop customized treatments.

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, with nearly half of the world's population at risk of infection. In 2022 alone, malaria claimed approximately 608,000 lives, with 76% of these fatalities occurring in children under the age of five, underscoring the disease’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Africa bears the highest burden, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases. For over 60 years, the development of a malaria vaccine has been a critical objective for scientists and governments, with substantial efforts directed toward this goal. Recent progress has led to the approval of the first malaria vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix®) and the R21/Matrix-M vaccine. Inspired by the promise of these vaccines, the global malaria community has renewed its focus on malaria eradication, 50 years after flawed earlier eradication efforts in the mid-twentieth century. Since the World Health Organization’s endorsement of RTS,S in 2021 and R21 in 2023, several African countries, beginning with Cameroon, have integrated these vaccines into routine immunization programmes. This review examines the role of routine malaria vaccination in Africa as a key strategy toward malaria elimination, explores challenges and solutions for widespread vaccine implementation, and discusses future directions in the ongoing fight to eliminate malaria on the continent.

The Marburg virus, which is a member of the same virus family as the Ebola virus called Filoviridae, causes the severe infectious disease known as Marburg virus disease (MVD). Previously, different outbreaks of MVD have appeared in different African countries, including Ghana, Guinea, Uganda, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and South Africa. For the first time, Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania are experiencing MVD outbreaks. A total of 17 laboratory‐confirmed cases of MVD and 23 probable cases have been reported in Equatorial Guinea since the confirmation of the outbreak on February 13, 2023. The first MVD outbreak in the United Republic of Tanzania was formally confirmed by the Ministry of Health on March 21, 2023. As of 22 March, there were eight cases and five fatalities (case fatality ratio [CFR]: 62.5%). Due to the facts that Ebebiyin and Nsock Nsomo districts, the affected regions of Equatorial Guinea, borders Cameroon and Gabon, and Kagera region, the affected region of Tanzania, borders Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, there is fear of cross‐border spread of MVD due to cross‐border migrations, and this can be a great crisis in West and East Africa. Although there are currently outbreaks of MVD in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, there is currently no proof of an epidemiological connection between the two outbreaks. The aim of this article is to describe MVD, describe its first outbreak in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, explain the efforts being used and the challenges being faced in MVD mitigation, and recommend different measures to be taken to cope with the outbreak of MVD in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania.

Introduction: Health inequality, disparity, and inequity are critical global health challenges, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Africa's healthcare systems have been profoundly impacted by these issues for decades, leading to severe and far‐reaching consequences. This rapid review aims to explore the concepts of health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa, identify their root causes, and propose practical recommendations to address them.Methodology: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and through manual searches on Google to identify literature on health inequalities, disparities, and inequities in Africa. Key terms, such as “Health inequality,” “Health disparity,” “Health inequity,” “Health injustice,” “Health unfairness,” “Healthcare access,” and “Health challenges,” were employed. The identified literature was carefully reviewed, and relevant sources were selected to discuss the concepts, causes, and potential solutions to these differences in health outcomes across Africa.Results: Although some aspects of health inequality are linked to unmodifiable factors, health disparities and inequities are often the result of preventable and modifiable factors and can be addressed through targeted efforts. The root causes of health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa include poverty, inadequate education, corruption, poor governance, geographic isolation, unsupportive environmental conditions, cultural norms, and international influences. Solutions to these differences in health outcome lie in reversing the root causes.Conclusion: Addressing health inequality, disparity, and inequity in Africa requires a multifaceted approach, including improving education, healthcare infrastructure, and gender equality, alleviating poverty, and ensuring fair governance to achieve equitable health outcomes.

Caesarean section (C‐section) is the most performed major surgery worldwide. About 15% of births are delivered through C‐section in Rwanda. The post‐caesarean surgical section is one of the most frequent complications that follow a C‐section. The purpose of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to estimate the pooled prevalence of surgical site infections following caesarean section deliveries in Rwanda. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, DOAJ, AJOL and the Cochrane Library to identify primary studies on post‐caesarean surgical site infections in Rwanda. Studies meeting predetermined criteria were included, and their quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tools. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2 statistics, while publication bias was examined via funnel plots and statistical tests. Pooled prevalence was calculated using Jamovi 2.3.28 software, with subgroup analysis conducted to identify sources of heterogeneity. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. From 139 articles initially searched from the databases, only 17 studies with 8, 082 individuals were finally included in the systematic review and meta‐analysis. Using the random‐effects model, the pooled estimate of post C‐section SSIs prevalence in Rwanda was 6.85% (95% CI 5.2, 8.5). Subgroup analysis based on publication year, sample size, hospital and study design showed no much difference in SSI prevalence. The current systematic review and meta‐analysis indicates that post‐caesarean surgical site infections are significant in Rwanda. A collaborative effort is required to lower post‐C‐section SSIs and provide the best surgical care in the country.