Journal of Ideas in Health (JIDHealth)
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Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hand hygiene, health care utilization, spiritual and traditional medicine practices in Africa: a scoping review protocol
Get PDFDue to the impact of COVID-19 on conventional healthcare systems globally, communities have been compelled to modify numerous public health practices and adjust to new circumstances. This scoping review aims to delineate the existing research on the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on health behaviors in Africa. This review examines alterations in healthcare utilization, hand cleanliness practices, and spiritual and traditional medical methodologies. The evaluations will employ the analytical framework established by Arksey and O\u27Malley, incorporating modifications proposed by Levac, Colquhoun, and O\u27Brien to enhance the planning process. A variety of electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library, will be utilized to meticulously analyze peer-reviewed literature published from 2021 to 2025. Data will be collected using thematic analysis, and results will be presented in accordance with PRISMA-ScR principles to ensure clarity and consistency. This study aims to establish a robust evidence foundation for culturally responsive public health treatments in Africa that are appropriate for the post-pandemic context
When technology goes dark: implications of a complete digital shutdown on medical practice and medical education
Get PDFContemporary healthcare delivery is deeply intertwined with digital systems, including electronic health records (EHRs), artificial intelligence (AI) supported diagnostics, telemedicine, robotic surgery platforms, and automated laboratory technologies. While these systems have enhanced efficiency, safety, and accessibility, they have also introduced structural dependence on interconnected digital infrastructure. A prolonged and comprehensive technological shutdown whether triggered by large-scale cyberattacks, geomagnetic solar disturbances, grid failure, or geopolitical conflict would have far-reaching implications for clinical care, hospital management, surgical practice, and medical education. This paper examines how such a collapse might affect diagnostic accuracy, procedural outcomes, healthcare coordination, and training models. It also proposes preparedness frameworks and recovery strategies aimed at strengthening resilience. Although the immediate impact would likely compromise efficiency and outcomes, healthcare systems that maintain strong foundational clinical competencies and operational redundancy may better withstand digital disruption. Technological advancement should remain aligned with resilience planning to ensure continuity of care under extreme conditions
Dental conditions in the silvery mole rat (heliophobius argenteocenerius emini): a case report
Get PDFBackground: As in other organisms, the normal performance of rodents depends on health status of all the body systems including the oral cavity and associated structures. Any deviation from normal function of the oral cavity or teeth results in a complex clinical sign that may be related to other systems secondarily. The current case report describes four dental conditions encountered in the Silvery mole rat (Heliophobius argenteocenerius emini) kept at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.
Case presentation: Three out of twenty-two animals developed dental conditions associated with mandibular and maxillary incisors. Based on clinical presentations, the conditions were closely assessed under general anaesthesia using xylazine-ketamine protocol at 5 and 50 mg/kg respectively. Detailed examination revealed that all the three animals had more than one dental condition including incisor overgrowth, lateral deviation, malocclusion of different levels ranging from mild to severe and fractured incisor tooth presented as pseudo-oligodontia. Severe incisor overgrowth and malocclusion were managed by coronal reduction of the clinical crown.
Conclusion: The current report highlights few dental conditions encountered in the Silvery mole rats. Malocclusion of the incisors was common to all the three animals signifying that this probably is the most common dental condition in this species as reported in other rodents. Detailed studies are recommended to explore more on the prevalence of dental and periodontal diseases of this rodent group.
Keywords: Silvery Mole Rat, Incisor Overgrowth, Lateral Deviation, Malocclusion and Incisor Fracture, Tanzani
Artificial intelligence-assisted decision support for postpartum family planning: a machine learning framework for personalized contraceptive recommendations in resource-limited settings
Get PDFBackground: For postpartum women, access to proper family planning methods in underserved regions is limited, which has contributed to the high rate of unwanted pregnancies and their associated sequelae. Despite efforts to curtail these challenges through the institution of the World Health Organization (WHO) medical eligibility criteria (MEC) provided guidance, their application in postpartum care is impeded by factors such as breastfeeding status, contraceptive availability, prior side effects, and privacy concerns.
Methods: This study instituted a comparative analysis featuring machine learning frameworks like logistic regression, Random Forest and XGBoost trained using a synthetic dataset of 8,000 anonymized postpartum records derived from a publicly available contraceptive method choice dataset and augmented with postpartum-related variables to achieve a prediction goal of seven WHO- approved contraceptive methods with the best performing model integrated with a Telegram bot for accessibility.
Results: The XGBoost model achieved the best performance with a test accuracy of 88.5% and a macro-averaged F1-score of 0.734, demonstrating balanced predictive performance across the seven contraceptive classes.
Conclusion: This study, as a proof of concept shows the urgency in using AI to combat lack of access to healthcare. Despite the excellent outcome, the need for further validation with real world data is imperative after which clinical deployment can be mooted. This model, if successfully deployed in clinical settings may support postpartum women in making informed decisions about their health, thereby contributing positively to maternal health especially in underserved regions. This study, though promising, is however limited by the use of synthetic data which can affect model performance on unseen dataset
Artificial intelligence in the Iraqi health system: challenges, opportunities, and pathways towards universal health coverage
Get PDFBackground: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a transformative tool in healthcare management. In Iraq, the potential of AI remains underexplored due to systemic, infrastructural, and professional challenges. This narrative review explores the challenges, problems, and potential solutions of using AI to manage and control Iraq’s health system, with a particular focus on universal health coverage (UHC).
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025, complemented by WHO and Iraqi Ministry of Health reports.
Results: The findings highlight barriers including capacity building, availability and accessibility of data, professional preparedness, and legal frameworks. Recent innovations and policy initiatives demonstrate opportunities for integration of AI to strengthen health service delivery and monitoring.
Conclusion: AI adoption in Iraq requires multi-level reforms involving workforce training, legal regulation, robust digital infrastructure, and alignment with UHC objectives. These measures can enhance equity, efficiency, and resilience in Iraq’s health system
Efficacy of vitamin B6 plus magnesium in enhancing cognitive and language functions in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and well-controlled epilepsy: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
Get PDFBackground: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children often involves deficits in communication, social interaction, and behavioral regulation. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin B6 and magnesium supplementation may aid in alleviating these symptoms. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of vitamin B6 plus magnesium in improving social, nonverbal communication, speech, and language skills in preschool children with ASD and well-controlled epilepsy.
Methods: A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 50 children under 14 years diagnosed with ASD based on CARS-2 criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive vitamin B6 plus magnesium (n=25) or a placebo (n=25) for 120 days. Clinical outcomes were evaluated weekly and analyzed using SPSS v19.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement in social skills (Mean = 11.10, SD = 0.47, p = 0.0103), nonverbal communication (Mean = 10.67, SD = 0.59, p = 0.0024), and speech and language skills (Mean = 10.87, SD = 0.47, p = 0.0030) compared to the placebo group.
Conclusion: Vitamin B6 plus magnesium significantly improves cognitive and language functions in children with ASD and well-controlled epilepsy
Association of vitamin D and digital screen time with dry eye syndrome among Duhok health science students
Get PDFBackground: Dry eye disease (DED) is a growing issue, especially in younger groups that use digital devices extensively and among those with vitamin deficiencies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between DED among health science students and their digital device use and vitamin D levels.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with ninety health science students in Duhok. Participants filled out a standardized questionnaire that asked about their screen time, how they used devices, and their Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. We checked the levels of vitamin D in the blood. Statistical analyses encompassed t-tests, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Results: Many participants had sustained severe DED (61.1%). The majority of participants (69%) used digital devices for more than 6 hours daily. The average OSDI scores were significantly higher in prolonged users (>6 hours/day: 51.94 ± 20.273) compared to moderate and light users (p = 0.001). Almost 80% of participants had a low level of vitamin D (deficient or insufficient). Vitamin D levels and OSDI scores were strongly negatively correlated (r = -0.622, p < 0.001), while screen time and OSDI scores were positively correlated (r = 0.573, p < 0.001), accounting for 32.8% of the variance. There was a strong link between OSDI intensity and device type (χ² = 19.69, p = 0.02), with people who used more than one device reporting the worst symptoms. There were no strong links between gender (p = 0.146) or educational stress (p = 0.462).
Conclusion: Health science students who use digital devices for long periods of time and don\u27t get enough vitamin D have higher OSDI scores. Interventions should concentrate on regulating screen time, enhancing blink efficiency, and tackling nutritional aspects such as vitamin D supplementation
Non-medical pathways to cardiovascular health: a discourse analysis of dietary and lifestyle interventions in the United States
Get PDFBackground: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. While conventional medical treatments dominate cardiovascular care, non-medical pathways, such as plant-based dietary patterns and lifestyle modifications, have gained recognition for their potential to complement traditional approaches.
Methods: A qualitative discourse analysis was conducted on peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023. A systematic search across databases identified 10 studies that met inclusion criteria, focusing on non-medical interventions for reducing CVD risk in U.S.-based populations. Data extraction and thematic synthesis highlighted key patterns related to dietary and lifestyle interventions, cost implications, physiological outcomes, and implementation barriers.
Results: Five key themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Plant-based dietary patterns, including vegetarian and vegan diets, consistently improved blood pressure and lipid profiles. (2) Lifestyle modifications, such as increased physical activity and stress management, enhanced cardiovascular health when integrated into primary care frameworks. (3) Non-medical interventions demonstrated significant improvements in physiological outcomes, including reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. (4) These interventions were cost-effective and scalable, making them viable options for diverse populations. (5) Barriers to implementation included cultural and socioeconomic factors, as well as challenges in sustaining long-term adherence.
Conclusion: Non-medical pathways, particularly plant-based dietary patterns and lifestyle modifications, play a critical role in mitigating cardiovascular disease risks. These approaches not only address key physiological risk factors but also provide cost-effective, accessible, and scalable solutions for diverse populations. Overcoming barriers to implementation through tailored interventions and community-based strategies is essential to ensure their success. Integrating these non-medical pathways into healthcare frameworks could significantly reduce the burden of CVD and promote equitable health outcomes
Flexible ureterorenoscopy for renal stones in ectopic malrotated pelvic kidneys: a case report on safety and effectiveness
Get PDFBackground: An ectopic pelvic kidney is a rare congenital anomaly with a high incidence of complications such as reflux, the pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction, nephrolithiasis, and even renal failure. We here report a case of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of right pelvic kidney stones.
Case presentation: A 65-year-old male presented to the urology clinic at Life Hospital, Kalar, Iraq, on September 10, 2024, with complaints of lower abdominal pain, microscopic hematuria, and dysuria. The patient had a medical history of cardiovascular and unhealthy lifestyle-related diseases. Physical examination revealed lower abdominal pain without fever. Serum creatinine was 1.4 mg/dL and HbA1c was 8.7%, with microscopic hematuria and pyuria in urinalysis. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed an ectopic right iliac kidney with moderate hydronephrosis and two renal stones (11 mm and 13 mm). Flexible ureterorenoscopy (fURS) with Holmium: YAG laser stone dusting was performed under spinal anesthesia. The procedure lasted 50 minutes, achieving complete stone clearance. The patient was discharged the same day without complications, and follow-up confirmed successful outcomes.
Conclusion: A single-session RIRS has successfully disintegrated the stone. Proper preoperative assessment and selection of the most suitable surgical procedure are critical for successful treatment
Navigating the complexities of anesthetic management in a preterm neonate with double outlet right ventricle posted for noncardiac surgery
Get PDFBackground: Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is an uncommon congenital heart defect characterized by the simultaneous emergence of both the aorta and pulmonary artery from the right ventricle. This condition is frequently linked with other congenital anomalies, such as imperforate anus, which presents considerable challenges for anesthesiologists. This case report outlines the effective anesthetic management of a preterm neonate diagnosed with DORV and imperforate anus, who was scheduled for an urgent sigmoid colostomy.
Case presentation: A 6-day-old preterm female weighing 2.2 kg, exhibited DORV along with a subaortic ventricular septal defect, mild pulmonary stenosis, adequate biventricular function, and moderate pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, she presented with an imperforate anus accompanied by a recto-vaginal fistula. The preoperative assessment involved echocardiography, electrocardiography, and various laboratory tests. The pediatric cardiologist advised that the patient\u27s oxygen saturation should be maintained within the range of 80-85% throughout the emergency colostomy procedure. Anesthetic management involved premedication with glycopyrrolate, ondansetron, fentanyl, and dexamethasone. The patient was induced with sevoflurane and intubated with a 2 mm endotracheal tube. Anesthesia was maintained with a mixture of air and oxygen, sevoflurane, and atracurium. Hypothermia was prevented using a warmer, and fluid management was guided by the patient\u27s hemodynamic parameters. After the 1-hour surgery, the patient was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she was initially supported with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation and later extubated
Conclusion: The effective anesthetic management of this preterm neonate with DORV and imperforate anus necessitated a comprehensive understanding of the associated cardiac and anorectal anomalies, meticulous preoperative planning, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach to perioperative care. The anesthesiologist was instrumental in ensuring the patient\u27s safety and enhancing the surgical conditions throughout the emergency colostomy procedure