Editorial: Infections, reproductive health and non-communicable diseases

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Welcome to this December 2025 issue of African Health Sciences. It is slimmer than the previous issue but it contains a very rich menu of original papers.

In the infectious disease section, we begin with an evaluation of procalcitonin for bacterial sepsis diagnosis1, followed by a treatise on the uptake and roll out of the WHO approved technologies for tuberculosis diagnosis in Africa2. It is followed by a study of biological quality of drinking water sources in Nigeria3.

While the HIV pandemic has remained an important infectious disease in our continent, there are a number of issues that keep it on the radar. One such issue is vitamin B12 levels4, as well as quality of life among persons receiving antiretroviral therapy5. Vaccines are in the news these days with numerous outbreaks of infectious childhood illnesses in high income countries. Barriers to vaccination of children6, and hepatitis B vaccination of medical workers concludes this section on infectious diseases7.

This leads us to papers on sexual reproductive health. First on the list is a paper by Odongo and colleagues8 on menopause, followed by one on use of modern contraceptives9. Then comes a paper on sexual reproductive health of refugees in Uganda10 spiced by one on experiences of teenage mothers11, and a report on adverse pregnancy outcomes in Ethiopia12. The section is capped with an interesting treatise on postpartum hemorrhages13, which is a very important cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa.

In the next section, non communicable diseases take center stage. Thus, we have papers on erythropoietic indices in asthma14, and pulmonary function among woodworkers exposed to hardwood dust15. Pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis is reported16. It is followed by papers on acute kidney injury among patients undergoing contrasted CT scan17, and hypertension in Eastern Uganda18. Mental health problems in the Kilimanjaro area of Northern Tanzania19, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder among displaced children in Nigeria20 cap this section on mental health issues.

We rarely cover health and human rights issues21. A treatise on patient satisfaction22 and determinants of nutrition status of children in a Nigerian community ends this Editor's choice23.

We thank our partners, authors, reviewers, readers, the editorial team and volunteers, without whose support, AHS would not have reached 25 years of publication. Have a fruitful reading and a happy festive season.