Journal of Ideas in Health (JIDHealth)
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Knowledge, attitude, and practice of mothers about complementary feeding for infants aged 6-12 months in Anbar Province, Iraq
Get PDFBackground: The understanding of what mothers think about breastfeeding helps in developing successful breastfeeding promotion programs. This study aims to assess the maternal knowledge, attitude, and practice about the complementary feeding for infants aged 6-12 months.
Methods: A cross-sectional study designed to interview 219 mothers with children between 6-12 months. Data was collected between 1st March and 30th April 2019 from ten maternal and child health clinics (MCHCs) in Anbar Province, Iraq. SPSS version 16.0 was recruited to analyze the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square used to present data with the significance level set at less than 0.05.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 27.76 ± 6.3 years, and 31% were at the primary school level. Two third (66.82%) of the surveyed mothers exclusively used breastfeeding to feed their infants. Most women (84.09%) have the correct knowledge about the best time to start complementary food. The vast majority of women (93.64%) refused to give vitamins to children even with signs of malnutrition.
Conclusion: Although exclusive breastfeeding is common among mothers of the western region in Iraq, there is still a considerable percentage depend on the mixture of breastfeeding and bottle feeding. The positive impact of the family and society on mothers was evident. However, more attention should be given to improve knowledge, attitude, and practice through qualified healthcare providers
Curbing COVID-19: the quest continues in time
Get PDFThe menace of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) has made life more and more challenging throughout the world. Amidst these difficult times, doctors have proved their exceptional worth. They have performed their duties with notable dedication, diligence, resilience, and compassion. Here we share our experiences from the State of Rajasthan in Northern India. We were benefitted by very early lockdown by the Government, preventive strategies of containment, and the most effective contact tracing program. The creation of hundreds of surveillance teams and rapid response teams (RRT) was instrumental for the containment program. This was coupled with outstanding medical care exemplified by Sawai Man Singh Medical College Hospital (SMSMCH) at Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. The mortality rate-limiting to 1.98% in Rajasthan has been an outcome of the amalgamation of brisk administrative action, government support, and visionary action and the best of health care facilities. Our COVID-19 management program strategy was based on the advanced treatment guidelines from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
References
Gao Y, Li T, Han M, Li X, Wu D, Xu Y, et al. Diagnostic utility of clinical laboratory data determinations for patients with the severe COVID-19. J Med Virol. 2020;92(7):791-796. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25770.
Covid-19 data for Rajasthan, India. Available from: https://www.covid19india.org/state/RJ. [Accessed on 17 July 2020].
Clinical Management Protocol: Covid-19. Version 5, 03/07/20. Available from: http://www.rajswasthya.nic.in/PDF/COVID%20-19/FOR%20HOSPITALS/03.07.2020.pdf. [Accessed on 17 July 2020]
Brown BL, McCullough J. Treatment for emerging viruses: Convalescent plasma and COVID-19. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020;59(3):102790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transci.2020.102790.
Bhatnagar T, Murhekar MV, Soneja M, Gupta N, Giri S, Wig N, et al. Lopinavir/ritonavir combination therapy amongst symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 patients in India: Protocol for restricted public health emergency use. Indian J Med Res. 2020;151(2 & 3):184-189. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_502_20
Infection prevention and control (IPC) at a Lassa fever treatment center before and after the implementation of an intensive IPC program
Get PDFBackground: Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs are important to control the Lassa Fever (LF) outbreak. We reported IPC\u27s status at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, southwest Nigeria, before and after implementing the IPC program during a surge in the LF outbreak.
Methods: We conducted a longitudinal observational study among five health care professionals at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, between February 2019 and May 2019 using the IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF). The tool has eight core components with a score of 0-100 per component and provided a baseline assessment of the IPC program and evaluation after three months. We interviewed relevant unit heads and IPC committee members in the first phase. In the second phase, we designed and implemented the IPC program, and in the third phase, we conducted a repeat interview similar to the first phase. The program initiated included training healthcare workers and providing relevant IPC items according to identified gaps and available funding.
Results: We interviewed five health care professionals, two female nurses, and three male doctors responsible for organizing and implementing IPC activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, with an in-depth understanding of IPC activities. The overall IPC level score increased from 318.5 at baseline to 545 at three months later. IPC improvements were reported in all the components, with IPC education and training [baseline (20), final (70)], IPC guidelines [baseline (50), final (92.5)] and monitoring/audits of IPC practices and feedback [baseline (40), final (82.5)] recording the highest improvements. Healthcare-associated infection [baseline (10), final (25)], and built environment, materials, and equipment for IPC [baseline (43.5), final (55)] had the least improvement. Poor motivation to adopt recommended changes among hospital staff were major issues preventing improvements.
Conclusion: Promotion of IPC program and activities should be implemented at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
References
World Health Organization, WHO. Lassa fever. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/lassa-fever/#tab=tab_1. [Accessed on 11 October 2020]
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Lassa fever. Available from: https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/factsheet/47. [Accessed on 11 October 2020].
World Health Organization, WHO. Lassa fever. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lassa-fever. [Accessed on 11 October 2020].
Ijarotimi IT, Ilesanmi OS, Aderinwale A, Abiodun-Adewusi O, Okon IM. Knowledge of Lassa fever and use of infection prevention and control facilities among health care workers during Lassa fever outbreak in Ondo state, Nigeria. Pan Afr Med J. 2018; 30:1-13. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.30.56.13125
Mateer EJ, Huang C, Shehu NY, Paessler S. Lassa fever–induced sensorineural hearing loss: A neglected public health and social burden. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018;12(2):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006187
Ijarotimi I., Oladejo J., Nasidi A, Jegede O. Lassa fever in the State Specialist Hospital Akure, Nigeria: Case report, Contact tracing and outcome of hospital contacts. Int J Infect Trop Dis. 2016;3(1):20-28. https://doi.org/10.14194/ijitd.3.1.4
Ireye F, Ejiyere H, Aigbiremolen AO, Famiyesin OE, Rowland-Udoh EA, Ogeyemhe CO, Okudo I, Onimisi AB. Knowledge, attitude and infection prevention and control practices regarding Lassa fever among healthcare workers in Edo State, Nigeria. Int J Prev Treat. 2019;8(1):21-27. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijpt.20190801.03
World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control assessment framework at the facility level. 2018; 2016:1-15. Available from: https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/tools/core-components/IPCAF-facility.PDF?ua=1 [Accessed on 11 October 2020].
World Health Organization, WHO. Communicable disease surveillance and response systems - Guide to monitoring and evaluating. Epidemic and pandemic alert and response. Published online 2006:90. doi: rr5305a1 [pii]
Ousman K, Kabego L, Talisuna A, Diaz J, Mbuyi J, Houndjo B, et al. The impact of Infection Prevention and control (IPC) bundle implementation on IPC compliance during the Ebola virus outbreak in Mbandaka/Democratic Republic of the Congo: A before and after design. BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029717
Nzinga J, Mbindyo P, Mbaabu L, Warira A, English M. Documenting the experiences of health workers expected to implement guidelines during an intervention study in Kenyan hospitals. Implement Sci. 2009;4(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-4-44.
Ataiyero Y, Dyson J, Graham M. Barriers to hand hygiene practices among health care workers in sub-Saharan African countries: A narrative review. Am J Infect Control. 2019 May;47(5):565-573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2018.09.014.
Gilbert GL, Kerridge I. The politics and ethics of hospital infection prevention and control: a qualitative case study of senior clinicians’ perceptions of professional and cultural factors that influence doctors’ attitudes and practices in a large Australian hospital. BMC Health Serv Res. 2019; 19(212). https://doi.org/1186/s12913-019-4044-y.
 
Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019: a comprehensive review
Get PDFThe new type of Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and can be transmitted from human to human. COVID-19, which has been declared as a pandemic by the world health organization and is infected with more than 50 million people, is also responsible for the death of more than 1 million people. There is no sufficient data from randomized clinical trials that any potential treatment improves outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, antivirals such as favipiravir, lopinavir/ritonavir, immunomodulatory agents tocilizumab, siltuximab, and sarilumab, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids are used for the treatment of COVID-19. Repurposing drugs can provide new treatment options faster than discovering new drugs due to the known safety profiles of existing drugs. On the other hand, there are new drug and vaccine trials for COVID-19. Many researchers, governmental or non-governmental institutions having clinical trials for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines. In this comprehensive review, we investigate the clinical features, management, and treatment of COVID-19 and possible adverse effects and important information related to drugs used for COVID-19. For future preparedness and readiness, new laws and legislations should be constituted. Besides, emergency teams and budgets should be prepared as well.
Pandemic effect on the elderly and their caregivers
Get PDFCOVID-19 pandemic forced governments to enact mobility restrictions to contain the spread of infection. Elderly, especially those with co-morbidities, are highly susceptible to infections. Hence, reverse quarantine measures have been enacted to protect the elderly. The barriers in social connectedness have an impact on the mental and physical well-being of the elderly. Stress, anxiety, anger, confusion, depression, and suicidal tendencies are reported among the elderly kept in social isolation. Apart from the elderly, their family caregivers also go through similar physical and psycho-social stress. Many times, the caregivers are also having additional responsibilities of childcare and homeschooling during the pandemic time. The authors outline the various intricate issues and dimensions of the pandemic\u27s effect on the elderly and their caregivers. Various feasible strategies to address these multidimensional problems faced by the elderly and their caregivers during the pandemic time, like mobile-based mindfulness meditation training, spiritual support, telephone-based psychotherapy, telehealth services, physical exercise promotion, and social support measures, are recommended.
 
To which extent a convalescent plasma therapy could be a benefit for COVID-19 patients?
Get PDFThe emergence of an unprecedented pandemic SARS-COV-2 caused perplexed in the medical community because of a high infection rate and rising mortality among COVID-19 patients. Till now, there is no particular treatment for the disease; nevertheless, there is an extensive effort from scientists to find out an immediate therapeutic plan to show how to deal with the current situation. One of the solutions currently presented is Convalescence plasma (CP). Through this narrative review, we will shed light on CP\u27s efficiency as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19, especially there is no proven vaccine or antiviral available up to date. CP could be considered one of the therapeutic approaches, but some limitations are still considered before it is established as a therapeutic agent. Along with evaluating CP from blood donors, the plasma companies could take future steps by manufacturing a target dose of globulins that contain standardized antibody, to reach the terms of health setting administering therapy
Concerns and confidences expressed by teaching staff about the shift of medical education to online mode in South India during the COVID 19 pandemic
Get PDFBackground: Online education is prevalent in the country since the beginning of the 21st century. The outbreak of COVID-19, the government declared lockdown, and subsequent closing of institutions was unexpected, and it forced medical colleges to launch online programs for undergraduate courses. Due to the sudden shifting to online mode, most teaching staff members face the challenges of lacking online teaching experience, early preparation, or support from educational technology teams. This institution was in touch with the teachers and students through online mode, enquiring about their welfare and wellness. The present study focuses on concerns and confidences presented by the medical teaching staff on online medical education.
Method: This study was conducted at Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute, a medical college in central Kerala in south India. This institution conducted online classes for undergraduate (UG) medical students through Google classroom and YouTube platforms. There was 186 teaching staff from 21 departments involved in undergraduate (MBBS) teaching in this Institute. In this study, we collected information from the teaching staff about the online classes that they handled. A 27-point survey form was designed using a Google survey and mailed to them. The responses were collected in a week. The data collected was analyzed.
Result: Fifty-one members responded. All responding teachers preferred regular classroom teaching due to the provision for better teacher-student interaction. However, one-third of respondents wanted the continuation of online classes, even after resuming classroom teaching. Out of 51 responses, 24 teachers graded the success of the programs more than 90%. The major suggestions received for further improvement of the program were that the departments provided their hardware and software, centralized online sessions for practical purposes, and collected regular feedback from students.
Conclusion: The successes of our online teaching programs were limited to didactic teaching only. It could not replace the actual patient examination in a clinical setting, which involves communication skills and emotional relationships. This adversary must be converted into an opportunity to develop e-learning programs. This pandemic should open our eyes, so we learn from it and be better prepared for the future
Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among Syrian people resident in Turkey
Get PDFBackground: Measuring knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 helps policymakers observe knowledge gaps and provide key messages to people to act better against the pandemic. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among Syrian people resident in Turkey.
Methods: A cross-sectional study designed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among the Syrian people resident in Turkey. The data were collected via a web-based and self-administered questionnaire of 313 participants from 17-31 July 2020. SPSS version 16.0 was recruited to analyze the data using univariate and multivariable regression data analyses.
Results: Our finding as the first study among Syrian people resident in Turkey found a high rate of good knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 accordingly with 83.0%, 72.0%, 84.0%. Regression analysis showed that age-group of 45 years and more years, marital status of being married, female gender, living in urban area were significantly associated with upper knowledge score. Age-group of 45 years and more significantly associated with positive attitude score but inversely being married and unemployed statues significantly associated with a negative attitude. Regarding practice score, married and female people had better practice, but poor-rated health status was significantly associated with the weak practice.
Conclusion: Although our finding showed a good rate for knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19, but it needs to improve cause of many barriers on Syrian people resident in Turkey, such as living in a crowded place, distant from health care services, losing whole or part of their income due to COVID-19 as an economic crisis, different language barriers. Some groups like men, people living in a rural area, and those unemployed or lost their job should be exposed by timely and accurate knowledge
Six months of COVID-19 response in Nigeria: lessons, challenges, and way forward
Get PDFBackground: The declaration of COVID-19 as a public health emergency by the World Health Organization necessitated countries across the globe to implement response and mitigation measures. We aimed to assess the Nigerian government\u27s response following six months of detection of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Methods: A narrative review of existing literature on the topic was done. The authors\u27 opinion as experts supporting the COVID-19 pandemic response was included. The review and opinion were summarized, covering six months of the outbreak response in Nigeria.
Results: Contact tracing commenced after identifying the index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria but has been faced with challenges such as inadequate equipment and shortage of funds. School closure was implemented barely three weeks after detecting the index case, but the resumption of terminal classes has been announced recently. The Nigerian government implemented restrictions on gatherings involving up to 11 people after three weeks following the detection of the index case of COVID-19. The lack of enforcement and supervision of gatherings and public events made many individuals disregard the restriction measures. Lockdowns on religious gatherings and public events have been recently eased nationwide, and regulatory measures have been put in place. The Nigerian government implemented bans on international travel from all countries, especially high-risk countries. However, the existence of porous borders limited success, which could have been obtained from the travel ban.
Conclusion: COVID-19 mitigation measures should be implemented and reinforced as required nationwide and get provided the needed support.
References
World Health Organization. COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) global research and innovation forum, 2020 February 12. In: WHO 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/covid-19-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-(pheic)-global-research-and-innovation-forum [Accessed on 26 August 2020].]
European centre for disease prevention and control. COVID-19 situation updates worldwide, as of 26 August 2020. In: ECDC 2020. Available from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases [ Accessed on 26 August 2020].]
Nigeria centre for disease control. COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria situation report. Abuja. In: NCDC. 2020 Contract No.: S/N: 001. Available from: https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Ogundele K. UPDATED: FG places travel ban on China, Italy, US, UK, nine others. Punch Newspapers, 2020 Mar 18. Available from: https://punchng.com/breaking-fg-places-travel-ban-on-china-italy-us-uk-others/ [ Accessed on 26 August 2020]
Presidential task force on COVID-19. Available from: https://statehouse.gov.ng/covid19/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Okunola A. 5 Challenges facing health care workers in Nigeria as they tackle COVID-19. On 9 June 2020. In: Global citizen. Available from: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/challenges-for-health-care-workers-nigeria-covid/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Sessou E. COVID-19: Why we provided testing kits in Kano- ADF. 2020 May 8. In: Vanguard. Available from: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-why-we-provided-testing-kits-in-kano-adf/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Ilesanmi OS, Afolabi AA. Time to move from vertical to horizontal approach in our COVID-19 response in Nigeria. SciMed J. 2020; 2:28-29. https://doi.org/10.28991/SciMedJ-2020-02-S1-3.
Olisa C. Covid-19: FG orders immediate shut down of all schools. 2020 March 20. In: Naira Metrics [Internet]. Available at: https://nairametrics.com/2020/03/20/covid-19-fg-orders-immediate-shut-down-of-all-schools/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Adejayan G. COVID-19: Lagos decontaminates schools for partial resumption. On 1 August 2020 [cited 26 August 2020]. In: Within Nigeria. Available from: https://www.withinnigeria.com/2020/08/01/covid-19-lagos-decontaminates-public-schools-for-partial-resumption/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Oyetimi K, Adewakun A. E-learning: How COVID-19 is reshaping education in Nigeria. On 10 April 2020. Publish In: MSN. Available at: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/e-learning-how-covid-19-is-reshaping-education-in-nigeria/ar-BB12pMEd [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Hale T, Webster S, Petherick A, Phillips T, Kira B. Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Blavatnik School of Government. 2020 March 21. In: Our World in Data. Oxford COVID-19 government response tracker. Available from: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/public-gathering-rules-covid?year=2020-08-26&time=2020-01-01.2020-08-04&region=Africa [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Lagos police command enforces ban on social gatherings to prevent spread of coronavirus. On 22 March 2020. In Vanguard. Available from: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/03/lagos-police-command-enforces-ban-on-social-gatherings-to-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Donohue JM, Miller E. COVID-19 and School Closures. JAMA. 2020;324(9):845-847. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.13092
Sahara Reporters. Nigerian government lifts ban on religious gatherings, reduces curfew hours. On 1 June 2020. In: Sahara Reporters. Available from: http://saharareporters.com/2020/06/01/nigerian-government-lifts-ban-religious-gatherings-reduces-curfew-hours [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
COVID-19: Lagos reels out guidelines for reopening of Mosques, Churches. On 6 August 2020. In: Vanguard. Available from: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/08/covid-19-lagos-reels-out-guidelines-for-reopening-of-mosques-churches/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020].
Vanguard. Porous borders, cause of rise in COVID-19 cases — FG. On 3 April 2020. In: Vanguard [internet]. Available from: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/04/porous-borders-cause-of-rise-in-covid-19-cases-fg/ [Accessed on 26 August 2020]
Research ethics challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: what should and what should not be done
Get PDFThis article is directed primarily at how clinical trials can be ethically conducted in the midst of the current global COVID-19 pandemic. We explain why ethical issues are more complicated than they once were. Furthermore, we discuss the relevant parties` roles in protecting participants` rights and in keeping basic research ethics of justice, respect, equity, and beneficence strongly implemented on the ground.
References
Moorthy V, Restrepo H, Preziosi MP, Swaminathan S. Data sharing for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Bull World Health Organ. 2020; 98: 150. http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.251561
Angus DC. Optimizing the trade-off between learning and doing in a pandemic. Epub ahead of print, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.4984)JAMA
Park YR, Koo H, Yoon YK, Park S, Lim Y-S, Baek S, et al. Expedited Safety Reporting to Sponsors Through the Implementation of an Alert System for Clinical Trial Management at an Academic Medical Center: Retrospective Design Study. JMIR Med Inform. 2020;8(2): e14379. https://doi.org/2196/14379.
Bae J, Lee J, Jang Y, Lee Y. Development of simulation education debriefing protocol with faculty guide for enhancement clinical reasoning. BMC Med Educ. 2019;19(1):197. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1633-8.
Cox EM, Edmund AV, Kratz E, Lockwood SH, Shankar A. Regulatory Affairs 101: Introduction to Expedited Regulatory Pathways. Clin Transl Sci. 2020;13(3):451‐ https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12745. Epub 2020 Feb 6.
Rivenbark JG, Ichou M. Discrimination in healthcare as a barrier to care: experiences of socially disadvantaged populations in France from a nationally representative survey. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):31. https://doi.org/1186/s12889-019-8124-z
Arsenijevic J, Tummers L, Bosma N. Adherence to Electronic Health Tools Among Vulnerable Groups: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(2): e11613. https://doi.org/2196/11613
Plotkin S, Robinson JM, Cunningham G, Iqbal R, Larsen S. The complexity and cost of vaccine manufacturing: An overview. Vaccine. 2017;35(33):4064–71. https://doi.org/1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.003.
Deming D. Do extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence? Philosophia (Ramat Gan). 2016;44(4):1319‐ https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.0011