Journal of Public Health Research (PAGEPress Publications)
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Risk factors for acute otitis media in primary school children: a case-control study in Central Java, Indonesia
Full text linkBackground: Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common disease in young children requiring antibiotic treatment. Information on AOM-related determinant risk factors in primary school children is still limited, particularly in Indonesia. This study aims to identify risk factors related to AOM in primary school children in Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Indonesia.Design and Methods: This is an analytical study with a case-control design in Banyumas Regency, Indonesia. 3574 children from 6 regions of the Banyumas Regency were recruited for the screening of AOM detection, and confirmation of AOM diagnosis was determined by Otolaryngologist. One hundred and twenty-five cases and 125 control were involved in this study. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire focusing on several variables such as household cooking fuel, house environment, smoking exposure, knowledge of parents, and nutrition status. Univariate, bivariate using chi-square and multivariate with regression logistic was conducted for data analysis. Results: This study highlights the risk of household firewood use (p=0.003), poor nutritional status (p=0.009), and a family history of ear infections (p=0.015) with an increased risk of otitis media.Conclusions: Household firewood use, poor nutritional status and family history of ear infection are factors associated with the occurrence of acute otitis media. It is necessary to provide public health education to prevent exposure to fuel at risk for children and to improve their nutritional status
Work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Full text linkBackground: COVID-19 is affecting all spheres of life. As of 8 September 2020, there have been 321,595 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,107 deaths in Saudi Arabia. The concerns regarding work from offices and contacting others is a global concern during this pandemic. Most of workers are mainly concerns about getting infected and spread it to their families. Therefore, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, architects, urban planners, and designers have already switched their attention to visualizing the post-pandemic era; however, there are inadequate studies on how the antivirus-built environment will look. Accordingly, this study aims to reflect on perceptions of the work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.Design and Methods: An online questionnaire consisting of five questions was designed to collect the data and was distributed via SurveyMonkey in August 2020. Research ethics approval was sought from the institutional review board. A total of 87 respondents participated in this study.Results: The result shows that 57.83% of respondents were female and 42.17% were male. The majority of the respondents were from the public sector (49.40% – public sector, 43.37% – private sector, and 7.23% – other sectors). Overall, female participants were more concerned about work environments during the pandemic. Most of the participants were working in individual offices.Conclusion: The virus does not discriminate by gender. In order to respond effectively to the crisis, we need a whole-society approach to understand its differential impact on women and men. The findings will encourage policymakers and business owners to respond to the areas highlighted in this study as causing concern such as elevators, restrooms, and common areas
Shorter delay to treatment by integrated diagnostic services and NGO-provided support among breast cancer patients in two Brazilian referral centres
Full text linkBackground: The diagnosis of breast cancer requires a complicated series of diagnostic exams. The present study addressed the delay of patients who used publicly and privately financed diagnostic services. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) donated diagnostic mammograms and biopsies.Design and Methods: Data from 304 patients were obtained from two Brazilian referral centres. In one referral centre (FAP), diagnostic mammography, clinic-histopathological exam and immunohistochemistry were outsourced, whereas in the other centre (HNL), these services were integrated. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis and non-parametric tests were used to compare variables and time intervals.Results: If diagnostic mammography was financed privately and covered by private health insurance, the likelihood of a delay of >90 days between the first medical visit and the initiation of treatment decreased 2.15-fold (95%CI: 1.06- 4.36; p=0.033) and 4.44-fold (95%CI: 1.58-12.46; p=0.004), respectively. If the clinic-histopathological exam was outsourced (FAP) and publicly or privately financed, the median time between diagnostic mammography and the diagnostic result was 53 and 65 days in the integrated (HNL) and outsourced public system, compared to 29 days in the outsourced private system (p<0.050). The median time between the first medical visit and the diagnostic results of patients who were supported by NGOs, who financed their diagnostic services privately, and who used exclusively public diagnostic services was, respectively, 28.0, 48.5 and 77.5 days (p<0.050).Conclusion: Patients who used privately financed health services had shorter delays. Compared to outsourcing, the integration of the publicly financed clinic- histopathological exam diminished the delay. The support of patients by NGOs accelerated patient flow
Barriers to healthcare seeking, beliefs about ovarian cancer and the role of socio-economic position. A cross-sectional multilevel study in Dubai, a multicultural society
Full text linkBackground: Studies have shown that public awareness of ovarian cancer is weak, and women are often diagnosed at late stages when treatment is difficult. This study aimed to determine the barriers for seeking early medical care and level of knowledge and awareness among women regarding ovarian cancer.Design and methods: A structured questionnaire was designed and adapted from the validated cancer awareness measure.Results: The recognition level of ovarian cancer symptoms among women in this study varied from 12-51%, and the most alarming ones, back pain, eating difficulties, and persistent abdominal pain, were missed by most of the surveyed women. The most recognized ovarian cancer risk factors were never being pregnant, having a history of infertility, and going through menopause, while the least recognized was having personal or family history of breast cancer. Non-UAE nationals women with higher educational levels had better knowledge of ovarian cancer compared to their peers.Conclusions: A change or implementation model is highly recommended in order to improve women's awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms. Strengthening education among women with regards to risk factors, early symptoms, and the need to seek early medical help should help to increase ovarian cancer awareness and reduce a delay in the diagnosis
Exploring health impact and safety measures against transmission of COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Full text linkThe pandemic of Covid-19 at the global level cannot be underestimated. Arab world including Saudi Arabia is affected with the pandemic of Covid-19. More importantly, the surge of the numbers of infected individuals in Iran has brought fear and anxiety in the whole region in general and Saudi Arabia in particular. Several studies have investigated the prevalence of the virus in different countries from various perspectives. Nonetheless, little focus is given to academic research on health challenge of the virus resulting to fear and anxiety in the recent time in the context of Saudi Arabia. This study primarily aims at exploring the health effect of Covid-19 in Saudi Arabia despite the fact that, the World Health Organization (WHO) has clamored for preventive measures in addressing global health effect of the virus. The methodology of the study is systematic literature review (SLR) and content analysis of the secondary data on health impact of Covid-19 and preventive measures against its transmission in the country are critically analyzed. The results of secondary data of the study indicated that a number of confirmed cases, active cases and deaths in Saudi Arabia manifested negative impact of Covid-19 on citizens’ health especially fear and anxiety despite the fact that records have showed steady recovered cases in the country. More specifically, the findings indicated that, health impact of Covid-19 are as follows namely: fear or anxiety, negative attitude among health workers and women in health workforce. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has put in place various preventive measures such as: preventive measures against transmission of Covid-19 which are as follows: institutional preparedness and strengthening mechanism, curfews and lockdowns and suspension of activities and order of social distancing. In conclusion, this paper has lucidly highlighted the health effect of Covid-19 and safety measures against the transmission of Covid-19 have been elaborated in the context of Saudi Arabia. It is thereby suggested that, the outcome of this study can be helpful to the health workers and policymakers in the country to be acquainted with the magnanimity of the novel coronavirus as well as putting effective safety mechanisms in place in curtailing the spread of Covid-19 in Saudi Arabia
Clinical decision-making of bachelor and clinical internship (professional) nursing students in Indonesia
Full text linkBackground: Clinical decision-making is an essential element of every professional nursing career. A nurse's aptitude for clinical decision-making influences the quality of the healthcare they provide. This research aims to describe the clinical decision-making among nursing students at Universitas Indonesia.Design and Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design by sampling 216 students across several types and level of students programs in the University. The samples were selected using a stratified random sampling technique and met the inclusion criteria. The instrument of this research was the 2014 Nursing Decision Making Instrument (NDMI-R2014). The survey instrument was translated from English into Indonesian, and its validity and reliability were tested (α Cronbach value = 0.816).Results: The results of the univariate analysis revealed that students’ clinical decision-making abilities vary; 59.2% in the analysis category, 40.3% in the quasi-rational category, and 0.5% in the intuitive category.Conclusion: This research concludes that the clinical decision-making ability of bachelor and professional nursing students program is in the analysis category which indicate that students’ clinical decision-making abilities involve their explicit-theoretical knowledge and are supported by evidence-based practices. Therefore, their clinical decision-making can be logically defended, though it requires a longer duration of time to strengthen those abilities. The students’ clinical decision-making must continuously be improved to enable them to create precise decisions based on various situations and clinical conditions. 
Acute lethal poisonings in children: a 10-year retrospective study of the Moscow Region, Russia
Full text linkBackground: Poisoning is a critical public health problem. Toxic substances differ across time, region and age. Little is known about poisoning in Russia, and even less is known about lethal poisoning in children in Russia. We aimed to describe the characteristics of cases of lethal poisoning in children and adolescents.Design and methods: Our retrospective study was based on autopsy reports from archives of the Moscow Region Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination for the period of 2009 to 2018.Results: A total of 438 lethal poisoning cases were recorded. The average age of the poisoned children was 11.3 years. Deaths predominantly occurred in boys, mostly due to the higher frequency of poisoning with household and technical chemicals (p<0.01). Accidental deaths were also higher in males (p < 0.01). Therapeutic drug poisoning (p<0.01) and suicide (p < 0.01) were more frequent in females. The leading cause of lethal poisoning in children was exposure to carbon monoxide, especially in children aged 5 to 9 years (p<0.01) and 1 to 4 years (p<0.01). Carbon monoxide poisoning occurred more often in winter (p<0.01). Regarding the structure of poisoning with household and technical chemicals, the most frequent was poisoning by a mixture of utility gases.Conclusion: Our study shows that carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious problem in the region. This may be associated with the ongoing use of individual heating systems. A significant increase in the frequency of fatal poisoning by chemicals, especially by propane-butane gas mixtures while sniffing, has become a disturbing trend
Electronic cigarettes consumption and associated factors among general population in Western Saudi Arabia
Full text linkBackground: In recent years, consumption of E-cigarettes has increased dramatically. Several studies have focused on the prevalence of E-cigarettes among specific groups of people, using it as a substitute to traditional cigarettes, or the participant knowledge regarding risks. This research was aimed on E-cigarettes’ prevalence and its association to several factors in the general population of Western Saudi Arabia.Design and Methods: Using an observational cross-sectional study, data were collected from (n=465) above 18 years old smokers during the survey at public attractions. A validated self-administered questionnaire acquired from previous studies was employed to insure the suitability for the general population of Jeddah Saudi Arabia. Sample size was calculated via Raosoft@ and adults of either gender were included in the study. Descriptive or inferential statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.Results: The preponderance of e-cigarette smokers used entertainment as the reason for smoking, with an average of (33.9%). Although one reason for e-cigarette consumption was to cease traditional smoking, results showed an average of (49.4%), which is the majority of those who attempted to cease traditional smoking via e-cigarette, did not succeed in quitting traditional smoking. This study also demonstrated that participant that believed that e-cigarette is beneficial had a higher chance to cease conventional smoking than who did not (32.1% versus 14.6%) which is significant (p<0.001).Conclusions: In conclusion, this study estimated the prevalence of e-cigarette consumption among the population of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia along with assessment of elements which help increase the overall e-cigarette consumption in Jeddah
Decrease in new diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in the two years period 2019-2020: impact of COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe emergence SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 and early 2020 has caused a pandemic of unprecedented proportions. Management of COVID-19 became emergent public health priorities, and the impact on other public health initiatives, such as expanded HIV screening and linkage to care, remain largely unknown. In this Single-Center retrospective observational study, we describe the characteristics and circumstance of the new HIV cases during 2020 compared to 2019. We observed a decrease of HIV diagnosis during this period. Interestingly, median age at HIV diagnosis decreased of one decade and percentage of female patients was higher. In addition, more patients received diagnosis during hospitalization and more AIDS-defining conditions, such as Pneumocystis pneumonia, were detected. We express our concern that HIV new diagnoses will increase as a result of people's inability to get tested or treated in this period. More efforts are needed to improve local screening programs both during and after COVID-19 pandemic
Sexual violence: 10 years of case studies in a hospital in Northern Italy
Full text linkBackground: In the past twenty years, the fight against sexual violence has become a common goal of the entire European Union, due to a greater socio-cultural awareness of the population and the need to create guidelines for common action. Italian Law no. 66 of February 15, 1996 regarding the “Rules against sexual violence” which, with the appropriate amendments, is still in force today, defines 3 types of sexual offenses through the articles 609 of the Penal Code.
Design and Methods: This study analyzes the cases relating to one of the hospitals in Northern Italy, during the decade January 2010 - December 2019, relating to suspected/reported cases of sexual violence, group sexual violence and sexual acts with minors. This study was carried out by acquiring information relating to subjects who had been victims of a sexual crime through the analysis of the consultations drawn up by specialist medical staff in the submentioned hospital. These consultations are defined by specific medical protocols that must be activated every time a victim of a suspected sexual offense comes into the Emergency Room (ER). The data were processed with descriptive analyzes, the qualitative variables were synthesized with absolute and percentage frequencies, while the quantitative variables with mean and interpolation of the data, to identify a trend line. In order to hypothesize the possible future trend of the phenomenon, data were collected relating to the type of crime according to the Penal Code, gender and age of the victim. This article also outlines future directions for improving research.
Results: Our data show that females, of any age, are the most affected in all sexual crimes, often share home with their aggressor, usually a man, and in most cases, they come to the medical observation without any lesion on their body.
Conclusions: In order to provide a global vision of the situation and of the diffusion throughout the territory, studies like this one could be carried out in various Italian provinces. Besides, we hope that the high degree of commitment on the part of society and institutions in combating sexual violence, through information campaigns and incitements to report, will lead in a few years to a reduction in the number of victims of repeated violence (especially in family contexts) and, consequently, also in the total number of acts of violence that comes to the attention of the healthcare facilities. Finally, primary prevention of sexual violence must begin early because a substantial portion is experienced at a young age. It will be necessary to prevent these forms of violence with strategies that address known risk factors for perpetration (e.g., low family support, high poverty, low parental education, absent or single parenting, parental substance abuse, domestic violence, low caregiver warmth), by changing social norms and behaviors and by identifying protective factors that could be strengthened