#YouAsked Health Was acacia root used as a contraceptive by Africans in ancient times? Source The New York Times: In Ancient Times, Flowers and Fennel For Family Planning Short answer Was acacia root used as a contraceptive by Africans in ancient times? Ancient Egyptian documents say that acacia gum prevents pregnancies if mixed with plant fibres and honey to form a pessary, a device worn in the vagina. Modern studies have shown that rats fed the plant's leaves or seeds did not become pregnant. However, Dr J. Worth Estes, a professor of pharmaco... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health Does Covid-19 cause hair loss? Source American Academy of Dermatology Association Short answer Does Covid-19 cause hair loss? Temporary hair loss is normal after a fever or illness and fever is a common symptom of Covid-19. A few months after having a high fever or recovering from an illness, many people see noticeable hair loss. While many people think of this as hair loss, it’s actually hair shedding. The medical na... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health Does wearing a mask actually help reduce the risk of Covid-19? Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidance for Wearing Masks Short answer Does wearing a mask actually help reduce the risk of Covid-19? Covid-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in. Masks are a simple b... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Health Is there a cure for HIV? Source Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: Treatment – Living with HIV Short answer Is there a cure for HIV? There is no effective cure for HIV, but with proper medical care, the disease can be controlled. HIV treatment involves taking medicine, called antiretroviral therapy (ART), that reduces the amount of HIV in your body. It’s important to remember that taking HIV medicine does not prevent the transm... Back Full answer
Health What share of African children under five years are underweight? Source World Bank Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) - Sub-Saharan Africa Short answer What share of African children under five years are underweight? An estimated 16.9% of children under 5 years old were underweight in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020. ... Back Full answer
Health What share of African children under five years are stunted? Source WHO Global Health Observatory Stunting prevalence among children under 5 years of age (%) (JME) Short answer What share of African children under five years are stunted? 30.7% (61.4 million) of children under five years old were stunted in WHO’s Africa region in 2020. ... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health What is the Covid-19 variant found in India? Source Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism – Three for three: Understanding the 3 COVID variants circulating during SA’s third wave Short answer What is the Covid-19 variant found in India? The Delta or B.1.617.2 variant of SARS CoV-2 (previously known as the “Indian variant”)was first detected in India in December 2020 and became the most commonly reported variant in the country from mid-April 2021. The mutations in the Delta variant’s spike protein help the virus to bette... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Health Which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective against the variant found in India? Source Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism – Three for three: Understanding the 3 COVID variants circulating during SA’s third wave Short answer Which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective against the variant found in India? Although it is still too early to know, there is some evidence suggesting that the Delta variant reduces vaccine efficacy. Data from cases in England showed that the effectiveness of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines had been lowered after one dose from 51.1% to 33.5%. But after a second shot... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health Are Covid-19 vaccines untested and deadly? Source WHO – Status of Covid-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process Short answer Are Covid-19 vaccines untested and deadly? The WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is a procedure for assessing unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics and in vitro diagnostics during public health emergencies with the ultimate goal of expediting the availability of these products to people who need them. The assessment weighs the threat posed by the ... Back Full answer