Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene (JPMH)
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Impact of gender and education on cervical cancer knowledge amongst students: Implications for health policies and public health strategies in Wiesbaden, German
Full text linkAbstract
Introduction: Cervical cancer is a global health concern primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). It has a significant impact in Germany, with thousands of new diagnoses and deaths annually. Despite advancements in screening and treatment leading to improved survival rates of 65% for invasive cervical tumors, the financial burden remains substantial.
Aims: The study aims to assess the impact of gender and education of Wiesbaden students towards cervical cancer and its associated health policies. Data was collected through an online questionnaire distributed with 54 students in Wiesbaden, Germany participating in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, including one-way ANOVA, t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests. The respondents\u27 average age was 28.24 years, with a higher female participation.
Results: Education level did not significantly influence perceptions of ideal vaccination age (p<0.581). Females and males perceived a lower number of vaccine doses (<3) required compared to the standard. Education level showed a moderate association with knowledge of long-term complications, and gender had a moderate correlation with information sources (rho=27, p=0.090).
Conclusion: Gender disparities did not significantly impact knowledge of cervical cancer. Public health programs should consider education levels and tailor interventions to all age groups and genders.
 
University students in Central Italy: do they follow a proper lifestyle?
No full textBackground: Eating a healthy diet is acknowledged as one of the main factors in preventing malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. As young students represent a group more prone to poor dietary habits, the aim of this study was to analyse the lifestyle and the diets of a group of undergraduate students attending university in a city of central Italy, Siena.
Methods: 4700 students were invited to complete an online self-administered questionnaire about their food habits and lifestyle. The obtained data were analysed by Microsoft Excel 2021 and Stata 17 software, through the Mann-Whitney and the Kruskal-Wallis test; a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The students living at home consumed more fruit, vegetables, pasta, meat, fish, packaged foods, fruit juices, beer and wine; the only statistically significant differences were found for pizza and snacks. Even the gender influenced the consumption of many foods; women consumed more vegetables and coffee/tea, while males ate more pasta, meat, packaged foods, pizza, fries and beer. Among the leisure activities, the most performed was found to be sport; but the difference was statistically significant only between the two genders.
Conclusions: With the transition from secondary school to university, students are continuously challenged to make healthful food choices and they must be self-disciplined to take care of themselves. It would be important for health campaigns to be promoted in young adults to help them make the right choices
Longitudinal Trends in Physical Activity Levels and Lifetime Cardiovascular Disease Risk: insights from the ATTICA cohort study (2002-2022)
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: To evaluate trends in physical activity levels and their associations with demographic characteristics, health status, and lifetime cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. METHODS: A longitudinal analysis was conducted using data from 987 males and 1,001 females (45±12 years old) participating in the ATTICA cohort study. Physical activity levels were assessed at baseline (2001-2002) and subsequent follow-ups (2006, 2012, and 2022). Four physical activity trajectories according to participants’ physical activity tracking were defined, i.e., consistently active/inactive and changed from active/inactive. Twenty-year incidence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were evaluated in relation to physical activity trajectories; the life-table method was utilized to forecast the lifetime CVD risk (death without CVD was regarded as a competing event). RESULTS: in total, 47% of the participants were categorized as being consistently inactive, whereas only 9% of males and 15% of females sustained physical activity levels throughout the 20-year follow-up period (p<0.001). Participants being consistently inactive were from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (p=0.002). Transitioning to being physically active was associated with higher education level and being married (p<0.001). Consistently active individuals had up to 35% reduced lifetime CVD risk, and lower 20-year incidence of hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia (p<0.01); no association was observed regarding diabetes incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting and maintaining regular physical activity throughout lifespan is crucial for reducing lifetime CVD risk and related risk factors. Tailored interventions addressing demographic and socioeconomic factors may help enhance cardiovascular health outcomes
Risk Factors for Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections in Intensive Care Units: A Multicentre Case-Control Study with a Competing-Risks Analysis: Risk factors for CRKP infections
No full textAim: This study investigated the risk factors for the development of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections in adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
Methods: A multicentre case-control study was conducted in ICUs in three tertiary hospitals in Turkey. The cases were patients culture-confirmed CRKP and a condition associated with healthcare-associated infections. Two controls were randomly selected for each case from among all other patients with an ICU stay at least as long as that of the corresponding case patient. A proportional semiparametric subdistribution hazards regression model was used to assess risk factors for CRKP infection. ICU discharge and non-CRKP-related deaths were treated as competing risks.
Results: A total of 120 patients, 44 cases, and 76 controls were included in the analysis. Of the controls, 32 were discharged from the ICU and 44 died without acquiring CRKP infection. Endotracheal intubation (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–3.868) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (HR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.888–2.806) were associated with an increased risk of CRKP infection, whereas carbapenem exposure (HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.190–1.1175) and the presence of a nasogastric tube (HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.277–0.884) were associated with a decreased risk of CRKP infection.
Conclusions: Enteral nutrition support via a nasogastric tube may be associated with a reduced risk of CRKP-resistant infections in ICU patients. This hypothesis should be tested with a well-designed study
Characteristics of the health districts in Italy and their implication in primary health care policies: an analysis of socio‐demographic trends
Full text linkThe Health District (HD) is a critical component of Italy’s National Health Service, responsible for ensuring Primary Health Care (PHC) services in response to community health needs. The Italian government established a national strategic reform program, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), with a series of health interventions to reorganize the PHC setting (Ministerial Decree 77/2022). Our study aimed to provide a description of socio-demographic data and to assess the correlation between HDs, in order to suggest health intervention priorities in PHC reforms.
We conducted a retrospective analysis using a cross-sectional record linkage of data from multiple sources to compare organizational and socio-demographic variables. A dataset was created with each of the 21 Italian Regions’ HDs data of population, land area, mean age, ageing index, old-age dependency ratio, birth rate and death rate. We then linked the HD data with the Inland Areas Project in order to categorize them from a socio-economic point of view.
Our study identified comparable groups of HDs, considering demographical, socio-economic and geographical aspects.
The study provides a baseline understanding of the Italian situation prior to the implementation of DM77. It also highlights that inhabitants number cannot be the only variable to take into account for the definition of Italian HDs organisation and PHC reform, providing intercorrelated variables that take into account geographic location, demographic data, and socio-economic aspects
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infectious diseases reporting
Full text linkIntroduction. Directly or indirectly, COVID-19 have impacted the reporting of notifiable communicable diseases. Since the beginning of the pandemic and the introduction of COVID-19-related public health measures, notifications for most notifiable diseases have declined when compared to previous years. In this study, we aim to quantify the changes in the incidences of notifiable infectious diseases with different transmission modes before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Siracusa Local Health Authority, Italy.
Methods. We collected and analysed the infectious disease notifications made in two different three-years periods, 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 in Siracusa Local Health Authority, Italy.
Results. The total number of notifications significantly decreased by 69.3% in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic one, with the highest reduction of air-borne transmission diseases (-86.5%), followed by food-borne diseases (-68.2%) and sexually transmitted diseases (-39.3%). Conversely, an increase in number of notifications was found only for legionellosis, while an increase trend, but without any statistical significance, was found for food poisoning, syphilis, typhoid and paratyphoid fever.
Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to influence communicable disease reporting at multiple points. While the effects could vary considerably, the results would be expected to reduce the number and the detection of notifiable cases. Included would be changes in exposures, diagnostic testing, reporting to public health agencies, and public health investigations
How the Anthropocene is changing bioethics
Full text linkThe complex challenges of the Anthropocene imply a careful reconsideration of the ethical boundaries of human morality and a heightened sensitivity to the interconnectedness among all living beings. This means that bioethics, traditionally anchored in interhuman relations within the healthcare domain, is called upon to broaden the scope of its operational horizon, encompassing issues related to interspecific relations, environmental health, sustainability, equitable distribution of natural resources, and responsibility for environmental damages.
This article explores the intersection between the anthropocentric era and the ethical challenges arising from our increasing influence on the environment and other life forms with which we share the planet. The teaching of fundamental ethical concepts such as solidarity, social responsibility, and equity becomes crucial for nurturing informed and responsible citizens. In doing so, not only is greater awareness promoted regarding global challenges related to health and the environment, but critical skills are also developed to address them proactively
The History of Pertussis: from an Ancient Scourge to a Contemporary Health Burden
Full text linkThe present article offers a historical overview on pertussis (whooping cough) by analysing the ancient epidemic manifestations of the disease and the path towards the discovery of an effective vaccine against it. It also highlights some recent challenges posed to public health by this disease
Addressing childhood obesity through policy: A cross-sectional study in Malta: Addressing and preventing childhood obesity
No full textIntroduction: Childhood overweight and obesity are major public health challenges, with Malta having one of the highest prevalences among European countries. The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened this epidemic. The food and physical activity environments impact children’s behaviours. This study looks at barriers to maintain a healthy weight, responsibility to address obesity, and assesses parental support for 22 policies aimed at addressing or preventing childhood obesity. Public support for policy is key because it influences which policies are adopted and their success.
Methods: A cross-sectional, paper-based, quantitative survey was conducted amongst parents of primary school-aged children in Malta in 2019. Ethical approval was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.
Results: 1,169 parents participated. The food environment was more commonly identified as a barrier to maintain a healthy weight than the physical activity environment. Parents were least supportive of taxation policies, and most in favour of increasing spaces available for safe physical activity (94.0%), followed by providing free weight management services for children (90.8%). The level of support varied significantly by various socio-demographic/economic characteristics; parents with a higher educational level were significantly more supportive of most policies. Most findings were consistent with the international literature.
Conclusions: Most policies supported are trans-sectoral; a health-in-all policies approach is needed to address the obesogenic environment. The strong public support identified for several policies should embolden policymakers to consider policy options that were not previously considered. 
Knowledge, attitude and practice of Lassa fever prevention among adults in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria.: Knowledge, attitude and practice of Lassa fever prevention among adults.
No full textThis study determined the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice of Lassa fever prevention among adults in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey was employed for this cross sectional community based study. The target population was 176,634 and the sample size was 399 adults determined using TaroYamane’formula for finite population. A multi-staged sampling technique comprising simple and systematic random sampling techniques was used to select the respondents. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire with reliability coefficient of 0.843. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21 and statistical tests included frequencies, percentage, mean standard deviation, while hypotheses were tested using chi square at ≤0.05 level of significance. Result revealed that 75% of the respondents had knowledge of the Lassa fever and the preventive practices and about 66.7% were aware of the varied preventive measures at their disposal. The study further shows that 56% had positive attitudes that could affect their practice of preventive measures of Lassa fever. The acceptability level according to this study was very high (89%) among the adults of Bali L.G.A in Taraba state. In conclusion, knowledge and attitudes were key in influencing the acceptability of any health-related programs, and consequently determines its adoption, if such knowledge and attitudes are utilized properly. The study therefore, recommends; educational intervention to improve the knowledge of Lassa fever among community members this will help towards its preventive practices